World2Fly’s first Airbus A350-900 takes to the skies

World2Fly (Palma de Mallorca and Madrid), the new Spanish leisure airline, saw its first Airbus A350-900 with the test registration of F-WZHI, perform its first flight (below) over France on April 23. The pictured F-WZHI will become EC-NOI on delivery.

Above Photo: Airbus.

World2Fly is owned by the Spanish hotel chain Iberostar.

World2Fly intends to be taking off in the spring 2021 to destinations such as Punta Cana – Dominican Republic, Cancún – Mexico and La Habana – Cuba.

Top Copyright Photo: World2Fly Airbus A350-941 F-WZHI (EC-NOI) (msn 448) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 953537.

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SkyWest to receive $250 million through Payroll Support Program 3 under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

SkyWest, Inc. has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary SkyWest Airlines has entered into a Payroll Support Program 3 Agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to receive a total of approximately $250 million under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. SkyWest received half of the $250 million on April 23, 2021 and expects to receive the remaining funding during the second quarter of 2021.

In consideration for the funding, approximately $45 million will be in the form of a ten-year, low interest unsecured term loan, and SkyWest will issue to the U.S. Treasury Department (“Treasury”) warrants to purchase approximately 78,317 shares of SkyWest common stock at a strike price of $57.47.

The funds received under this Payroll Support Program will be used to pay for the wages, salaries and benefits of thousands of SkyWest Airlines employees.

This Program includes certain restrictions similar to the first two Payroll Support Programs, including limitations on involuntary terminations and furloughs through September 30, 2021, restrictions on the payment of dividends and the repurchase of shares through September 30, 2022, and certain limitations on executive compensation through April 1, 2023.

Additionally, SkyWest also announced it received an additional $35 million payroll support funding on April 23, 2021 from Treasury under the Payroll Support Program Extension agreement (“PSP 2”). In consideration for the additional funding under PSP 2, approximately $10 million will be in the form of a ten-year low interest unsecured term loan, and SkyWest will issue to Treasury warrants to purchase approximately 25,958 shares of SkyWest common stock at a strike price of $40.41.

Top Copyright Photo: United Express-SkyWest Airlines Embraer ERJ 170-200LL (ERJ 175) N614UX (msn 17000815) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 953190.

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AeroMexico to add 24 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and four 787-9 Dreamliners

AeroMexico has made this announcement:

Aeromexico has reached agreement to increase its fleet with twenty-four (24) new Boeing 737 aircraft, including B737-8 and B737-9 MAX, and four (4) 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft as part of the airline’s restructured agreements with the manufacturer and certain lessors to incorporate new aircraft. Other suppliers and financial entities also participated in these transactions, resulting in a comprehensive deal that offers multiple benefits to the carrier.

Note: AeroMexico resumed 737 MAX operations on November 18, 2020.

Image: Boeing.

Image AeroMexico.

The addition of the first aircraft is scheduled for this year, with nine (9) offering service beginning this summer season, and the rest arriving in the second half of 2021 and during 2022. These transactions represent a milestone in Aeromexico’s transformation for the upcoming years, and their economic terms are highly competitive compared to current market levels.

These transactions make it possible for Aeromexico to modify long-term maintenance contracts and reduce leasing costs of eighteen (18) other aircraft that are part of the current fleet. Aeromexico estimates that reaching this comprehensive agreement will lead to total savings of approximately 2 billion dollars.

The comprehensive agreements are subject to the approval of the United States Court for the Southern District of New York, in charge of Aeromexico’s Chapter 11 voluntary financial restructuring process.

Aeromexico’s current fleet is comprised of 107 aircraft: 47 Embraer 190s, 42 Boeing 737s, and 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Image: AeroMexico.

Aeromexico will continue pursuing, in an orderly manner, its voluntary financial restructuring through Chapter 11, while continuing to operate and offer services to its customers and contracting from its suppliers the goods and services required for operations. The Company will continue to strengthen its financial position and liquidity, protect and preserve its operations and assets, and implement the necessary adjustments to face the impact from COVID-19.

Top Copyright Photo: AeroMexico Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner XA-ADG (msn 44426) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 940208.

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United to operate over 3,100 daily domestic flights this summer

United Airlines has made this announcement:

In June, United will fly its largest schedule since before the pandemic to meet growing demand for summer travel. The airline is adding more than 480 daily flights to its U.S. schedule to offer an average of over 3,100 total daily domestic flights to more than 240 U.S. destinations.

This includes the addition of new flights to Hawaii, Alaska and Montana. Overall, United plans to fly 67% of its domestic schedule and 60% of its overall network schedule compared to its 2019 June schedule.

United will add nine brand-new routes in June, including daily flights from Denver to West Yellowstone, Montana – the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park.

In addition, United plans to add two new direct flights to Hawaii – from Chicago O’Hare to Kona, and from Newark to Maui.

And as peak travel season to Alaska resumes, United will restart service from Chicago O’Hare to Fairbanks and from Chicago O’Hare, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Newark and San Francisco to Anchorage. United will also introduce brand new service between Fairbanks and Anchorage in June.

June Domestic Schedule Highlights

United will fly over 40 flights to the Hawaiian Islands on peak days in June, including new service to Kona from Chicago O’Hare and Maui from Newark – United will be the only carrier to operate these routes.
United will operate up to 12 daily/69 weekly flights to Alaska from five hubs including Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Newark and San Francisco.
United will operate over 500 daily flights to 66 national park destinations including brand new service between Denver and West Yellowstone. United will fly to more national parks this summer than any other airline.

Top Copyright Photo: United Airlines Boeing 737-824 SSWL N77530 (msn 39998) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 952307.

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Lufthansa Cargo sets important course for the future of the airfreight center in Frankfurt

Lufthansa Cargo is pushing ahead with the modernization of its logistics center: Today, the airfreight company signed one of the highest-volume contracts in its comprehensive infrastructure program. The detailed planning and realization of the new central high-rack storage system, the centerpiece of the Frankfurt hub, will be implemented with the German mechanical engineering company Bleichert Automation GmbH & Co. KG in the future.

Lufthansa Cargo will further develop and renew the logistics center at its home hub in Frankfurt on a modular basis. The transit high-rack storage system, which will be around 40 meters high in the future, with four aisles over 13 levels as well as a multi-level distribution axis along the production areas, forms the centerpiece of the renewal of cargo handling at the Frankfurt hub. The new building will further improve handling times at Lufthansa Cargo’s central location and increase efficiency. This means a higher turn-over rate, smoother transport processes and an improvement in service quality for all customers.

Construction and commissioning will take place in several stages, with realization of the high-rack storage system and the first part of the material distribution axis planned between 2022 and 2025. The complete modernization of the Lufthansa Cargo Center is scheduled for completion in 2029.

Top Copyright Photo: Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777F D-ALFI (msn 66912) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 951471.

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EVA Air to repaint its Boeing 777-300 “Hello Kitty – Hand in Hand” logo jet

EVA Air has announced it will repaint its Boeing 777-300 (B-16703, msn 32643) “Hello Kitty – Hand in Hand” logo jet into its standard livery on May 16, 2021.

The airline made this announcement on social media:

Farewell “Hand in Hand”! Our Hello Kitty Jet “Hand in Hand” will be reinstated to standard livery on 5/16. If you are located near SFO, you can enjoy a last look at the “Hand in Hand” jet in the SFO sky before mid-May.

Top Copyright Photo: EVA Air Boeing 777-35E ER B-16703 (msn 32643) (Hello Kitty – Sanrio Family) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 920984.

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airBaltic to build Baltic Cargo Hub at Riga Airport

airBaltic and Riga Airport have signed a land reservation agreement for building a new Baltic Cargo Hub at Riga Airport. The new cargo hangar will be the largest dedicated air cargo handling facility in the Baltics.

airBaltic was the winner of a tender for the rent of land and construction of multimodal logistics centre issued by Riga Airport in November 2020. According to initial plans, the planned size of the Baltic Cargo Hub is 6000 m². It is currently planned to begin construction in late 2022 and finish the hangar by early 2024. The project will be financed through banks and operated by Baltijas Kravu centrs SIA – cargo handling subsidiary of airBaltic.

Top Copyright Photo: airBaltic Airbus A220-300 (Bombardier CS300 – BD-500-1A11) YL-CSK (msn 55039) (Lithuania) AMS (Karl Cornil). Image: 947447.

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Delta expands its Airbus A321neo fleet

Delta Air Lines and Airbus have agreed to add incremental aircraft to Delta’s order book of cutting-edge, safe, reliable and lower-emissions aircraft by converting purchase rights for 25 A321neo aircraft into firm orders, and replenishing Delta’s purchase rights. Delta and Airbus also have agreed to move up two existing A350-900 and one A330-900neo deliveries to occur in the second half of 2022.

Exercises 25 purchase rights into firm narrow body A321neo aircraft and adds 25 additional purchase rights to its order book
Accelerates delivery of two A350-900 and one A330-900neo wide body aircraft for second half of 2022
Fuel-efficient aircraft helps address Delta’s carbon footprint and elevates the customer experience as projected demand for travel grows in the years ahead

These moves reinforce Delta’s strategic fleet objectives to boost operational simplification, achieve economies of scale and drive productivity.

Delta expects to take delivery of its first A321neo in the first half of 2022. With these incremental aircraft, Delta’s total purchase commitment for the A321neo will now be 125 firm aircraft, with 100 purchase rights.

Delta’s A321neo will be powered by next-generation Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofan engines that bring 12 percent better fuel efficiency gains than A321 current engine (ceo) aircraft, in alignment with our sustainability goals and commitment to being a carbon neutral airline. The engines will be primarily maintained by Delta TechOps technicians at Delta’s advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Atlanta.

Delta’s A321neos will be equipped with total seating for 194 customers with 20 in First Class, 42 in Delta Comfort+ and 132 in the Main Cabin. The new aircraft will be deployed primarily across Delta’s extensive domestic network, complementing Delta’s Airbus A321ceo fleet of more than 100 aircraft.

Top Copyright Photo: Delta Air Lines Airbus A321-211 WL N391DN (msn 9027) (Thank You) FLL (Andy Cripps). Image: 949110.

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GECAS arranges purchase leaseback agreements with IndiGo for 14 Airbus Neo aircraft

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) along with the ventures it services have agreed to a Purchase/Leaseback (PLB) arrangement for 14 LEAP-powered Airbus neo aircraft with IndiGo. The seven A320neo and seven A321neo are scheduled to deliver between the fourth quarter of 2021 and the middle of 2022.

Currently India’s largest airline (by passengers carried and fleet size), GECAS has supported the fleet needs of IndiGo since it commenced operations in 2006.

LATAM Group adjusts operational projection to 25% in April

LATAM estimates the passenger operation in April 2021 to reach 25% (measured in available seat kilometers – ASK) compared to the same month in 2019 and a pre-pandemic context. This operational projection is in line with the demand, which has been affected by new border closures and passenger travel restrictions due to the current impact of COVID-19 in the region.

The group plans to operate approximately 400 daily domestic and international flights this month, connecting 114 destinations in 15 countries. Meanwhile, in the Cargo Division, there are more than 1,150 cargo freighter flights scheduled.

All projections are subject to the evolution of the pandemic, as well as travel restrictions in the countries where LATAM operates.

During March 2021, passenger traffic (measured in revenue passenger-kilometers – RPK) was 22.6% in relation to the same period in 2019, based on an operation of 31.5% (measured in available seat-kilometers – ASK) compared to March 2019. As a result, the load factor decreased 23.3% percentage points to 59.5%.

With regard to the cargo operation, the load factor in March reached 67.2%, 9.1 percentage points higher than the same month of 2019.

LATAM Group Operational Estimate – April 2021 (measured in ASK):

Brazil ● 27% projected operation (versus April 2019) ○ 38% domestic and 16% international ● Total April routes: 72 domestic (equivalent to 190 daily flights) and 9 international.

Chile ● 18% projected operation (versus April 2019) ○ 50% domestic and 5% international ● Total April routes: 17 domestic (equivalent to 66 daily flights) and 11 international.

Colombia ● 64% projected operation (versus April 2019) ○ 107% domestic and 26% international ● Total April routes: 23 domestic (equivalent to 99 daily flights) and 2 international.

Ecuador ● 20% projected operation (versus April 2019) ○ 54% domestic and 11% international ● Total April routes: 6 domestic (equivalent to 14 daily flights) and 3 international.

Peru ● 31% projected operation (versus April 2019)○ 48% domestic and 25% international ● Total April routes: 18 domestic (equivalent to 67 daily flights) and 15 international.

Cargo Division ● 78% projected operation (versus April 2019) ○ 61% domestic belly y 36% international belly* ○ 128% freighter

*Belly: goods transported in the cargo hold (lower deck) of the aircraft.

Top Copyright Photo: LATAM Airlines (Chile) Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner CC-BGP (msn 38469) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 953352.

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