iAero Group to acquire Swift Air (USA)

El Al is coming to Las Vegas and San Francisco

Avianca Brasil files for bankruptcy protection

Air France opens a revamped lounge at New York-JFK

Airbus delivers 100th A320 Family aircraft assembled in the U.S.

Boeing’s updated orders through November 30, 2018

Orders and Deliveries

Tayaran Jet opens a base in Tirana for the Christmas holiday season

Spirit Airlines grows its network into Indianapolis

Boeing delivers the first 787-9 Dreamliner to Royal Air Maroc

Delta extends branded fares to boarding order, launches color palette to tie it all together

Orders through November 30, 2018

iAero Group (Miami), a leading integrated aviation business, has signed a deﬁnitive agreement to purchase Swift Air (USA), the leading independent US airline charter business.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q1, 2019. With the pending acquisition of Swift Air, iAero Group will add to its portfolio of aviation businesses acquired since its inception earlier this year including the leading engine MRO and leasing company, AeroThrust and airframe MRO AeroTech. iAero Group is headquartered in Miami along with its MRO service businesses on a campus with more than 350,000 square feet of office and MRO space at Miami International Airport.

“Bringing Swift Air into the iAero Group creates an integrated aviation services platform and will enable the airline to leverage our capabilities to further their already exemplary customer service and impeccable safety record through access to our high quality, efﬁcient, stateside maintenance services,” says iAero Group Chief Executive Officer, Robert Caputo. “In addition, with our aircraft acquisition capabilities in our engine and airframe leasing division we have developed a pipeline of assets that will allow Swift Air to meet its customers growth needs in a manner that is unmatched in the industry.”

Jeff Conry will remain as the leader of Swift Air as its CEO. Jeff brings over thirty years of airline management experience and will be a welcomed addition to the iAero Group management team.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Swift Air): Swift Air (2nd) (USA) Boeing 737-401 N420US (msn 23988) BWI (Tony Storck). Image: 939056.

Swift Air aircraft slide show:

El Al Israel Airlines has announced the only nonstop flights between Las Vegas and Tel Aviv, Israel starting on June 14, 2019. The weekly nonstop flight (roundtrip) will utilize a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

Also, for Northern California residents and neighboring states, as of May 13, 2019, El Al will operate three weekly nonstop flights from San Francisco to Tel Aviv Israel on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft offering Economy, Premium, and Business Class.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by El Al): El Al Israel Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner 4X-EDC (msn 38086) (70 Years) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 944741.

El Al aircraft slide show:

Avianca Brasil on December 11, 2018 announced it was filing for bankruptcy protection.

The airline also stated its passengers flights will continue. The debts from its creditors amounts to almost 493 million reais ($127 million).

The airline issued this statement (translated from Portuguese):

We are here to clarify the news circulated in the press.

Due to the resistance of our aircraft lessors to an amicable agreement, we had to file a request for judicial recovery to protect you, our customers and passengers. As the first court decision, we have had the release of our fleet to comply with all scheduled flights at the airports where we operate.

That is, our operations WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

You, our passengers, can have absolute peace of mind in making your reservations and purchasing your tickets, since all sales and flights are and will be kept.

We will continue here, serving all customers, flying to all destinations with the quality and excellence for which we are known and recognized.

Let’s continue with our mission: make you fall in love. Just come!

Avianca Brasil

Air France is unveiling a completely renovated dining area in its New York-JFK lounge. Business customers can thus enjoy the Night Service offer in a brand new setting, with a more convivial and contemporary feel.

As from February 2019, this Air France lounge will also introduce a range of new attentions dedicated to its customers’ well-being.

Located in terminal 1 at the New York airport, the Air France lounge is accessible to La Première, Business and Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members.

A new dining experience

After inaugurating its lounge for the first time in 2014, the company continues to offer its customers the best possible service, revamping its dining area dominated by white and wood tones.

In this area located on the mezzanine, new furniture and imitation leather couches, inspired by a Parisian brasserie, have been custom designed to offer a convivial atmosphere. Blue and grey tones along with atmospheric lighting have been added to create a more intimate atmosphere. The mezzanine floor has also been redesigned, incorporating light and anthracite grey shades. In total, the area is equipped with close to 34 tables for 2, a high table with 6 seats for dining opposite the runways and a round table seating 6.

Night Service – dine in the lounge and sleep on board

This new dining area has been designed to offer customers the Night Service. This service anticipates Business customers’ need to enjoy a good night’s sleep on night flights between New York and Paris. They can thus enjoy at no extra charge the same gourmet French meal in the airport lounge as the one served on board, with their meal served at their table. Each customer can thus enjoy a full meal comprising a starter, hot dish, cheese, dessert and a wine and Champagnes list.

During the flight, customers can enjoy a good night’s sleep in the comfort of the Business class cabin. A quiet, private cabin, with a guarantee of a peaceful night’s sleep in a seat that transforms into a lie-flat bed. Customers with a very healthy appetite can choose to eat again during the flight.

When they awake, when the French coast looms on the horizon, breakfast is served before landing at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

Since the launch of the Night Service in 2016, close to 50% of customers travelling in Business class on night flights dine in the lounge.

Flights (in local time) qualified for the Night Service offer –

AF009: leaves New York – JFK at 22:50, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 12:00 the next day;
AF011: leaves New York – JFK at 21:30, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 10:50 the next day.
Flights operated daily.

Airbus has delivered its 100th aircraft from the company’s U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama. The A320neo, serial number (MSN) 8580, was delivered to Frontier Airlines. The aircraft features two horses, Meadow and West, on its tailplane.

Airbus’ Mobile facility is delivering four A320 Family aircraft per month and has delivered to eight U.S.-based customers thus far, including Air Lease Corporation, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines.

Airbus has three other A320 Family production facilities around the world: Hamburg, Germany; Tianjin, China; and Toulouse, France.

Photo: Airbus.

Boeing ended November with 61 737 deliveries and solid order activity including 40 737 MAXs for Jeju Air and 3 777s for Turkish Airlines.

Revenue Recognition Accounting Standard ASC 606 Information

During the first quarter of 2018, Boeing adopted a new revenue recognition accounting standard (ASC 606) which, among other things, imposes additional criteria for recognizing contracted backlog with customers beyond the existence of a firm contract to deliver. In connection with the application of ASC 606, 78 orders have been removed from backlog. Apart from adding the table below and modifying the “Changes” line in the 2018 Net Orders table to reflect any ASC 606 adjustments applicable to 2018 Net Orders, this site has not been adjusted for the adoption of ASC 606, and reflects all orders for which we have a firm contractual commitment. As such, aircraft identified for a specific customer on this site may not necessarily contribute to the totals for backlog and/or other amounts included in our financial statements. The figures in the table for Total Unfilled Orders and Backlog include the orders, listed on this site, of Boeing Capital Corporation.

	737	747	767	777	787	Total
Total Unfilled Orders	4,651	20	121	419	639	5,850
ASC 606 Adjustment	(55)	–	–	(5)	(18)	(78)
Backlog	4,596	20	121	414	621	5,772

	737	747	767	777	787	Total
2018 Net Orders	494	14	39	34	109	690

Customers	737	747	767	777	787	Total
Air Lease Corporation	38	–	–	–	3	41
Air Peace	10	–	–	–	–	10
American Airlines	–	–	–	–	25	25
ANA Holdings Inc.	–	–	–	2	–	2
Aviation Capital Group	23	–	–	–	–	23
BDS Japan International Tanker	–	–	1	–	–	1
BDS USAF Tanker Program	–	–	18	–	–	18
BOC Aviation Limited	–	–	–	–	9	9
Boeing Capital Corporation	75	–	–	1	29	105
Business Jet / VIP Customer(s)	4	–	–	–	–	4
DHL	–	–	–	10	–	10
FedEx Express	–	–	11	12	–	23
GOL Linhas Aereas	15	–	–	–	–	15
Goshawk Aviation Limited	20	–	–	–	–	20
Hawaiian Airlines	–	–	–	–	10	10
Jackson Square Aviation	30	–	–	–	–	30
Jeju Air	40	–	–	–	–	40
Jet Airways	150	–	–	–	–	150
Lufthansa Cargo	–	–	–	2	–	2
Qantas Airways	–	–	–	–	6	6
Qatar Airways	–	–	–	5	–	5
Ryanair	25	–	–	–	–	25
Novus Aviation Capital	–	–	–	3	–	3
SkyUp Airlines	6	–	–	–	–	6
Southwest Airlines	40	–	–	–	–	40
Swiss International Air Lines	–	–	–	2	–	2
TAROM Romanian Air Transport	5	–	–	–	–	5
TUI Travel PLC	2	–	–	–	–	2
Turkish Airlines	–	–	–	3	25	28
Turkmenistan Airlines	3	–	–	–	–	3
UK P-8	3	–	–	–	–	3
Unidentified Customer(s)	114	–	–	1	8	123
United Airlines	–	–	–	–	13	13
UPS	–	14	9	–	–	23
US Navy P-8 Poseidon	10	–	–	–	–	10
UTair Aviation	30	–	–	–	–	30
Uzbekistan	–	–	–	–	1	1
Vistara	–	–	–	–	6	6
2018 Gross Orders	643	14	39	41	135	872
Changes (including any ASC 606 adjustment)	-149	–	–	-7	-26	-182
2018 Net Orders	494	14	39	34	109	690

Tayaran Jet (Sofia) is a new airline in Bulgaria with two Boeing 737-300s.

On November 26, 2018, the new charter airline started operating for Ernest Airlines with an aircraft and crews based in Tirana, Albania.

The crews will be based in Tirana until the end of January 2019.

The carrier has been operating for Ernest since August.

The first flight was flown on July 24, 2018 (below).

Tayaran Jet was founded in 2017.

The trademark property “Tayaran Jet” belongs to the company Tayaran Holding Ltd based in Malta. Tayaran Jet is 100% owned by Tayaran Holding Ltd.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Tayaran Jet (tayaranjet.com) Boeing 737-330 LZ-

TYR (msn 25414) BLQ (Marco Finelli). Image: 944739.

Spirit Airlines is coming to Indianapolis. Beginning on March 14, 2019, Spirit will begin nonstop daily service from Indianapolis International Airport (IND) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) and McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas. Just about two months later, on May 2, 2019 Spirit will add nonstop seasonal flights between Indianapolis and Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) three times weekly.

Indianapolis, IN (IND)	Starts:	Frequency:
Orlando, FL (MCO)	March 14, 2019	Daily, year-round
Las Vegas, NV (LAS)	March 14, 2019	Daily, year-round
Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR)	May 2, 2019	3x weekly, seasonal

This latest expansion announcement comes just weeks after Spirit announced it would be launching service in Austin, Texas (below), Cali, Colombia, and expanding its Caribbean service throughout its network. The airline is also in the process of installing state-of-the-art high-speed satellite-based Wi-Fi to its entire fleet.

Top Copyright Photo: Spirit Airlines Airbus A321-231 WL N669NK (msn 7296) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 943096.

Spirit Airlines aircraft slide show:

Route Map:

Boeing today delivered the first 787-9 Dreamliner for Royal Air Maroc, introducing a second member of the super-efficient Dreamliner family to the airline’s fleet. The new airplane offers more seats and more range, which will help Morocco’s flag carrier grow its international business.

“We are particularly pleased to receive today our airline’s first 787-9, which will soon be joined by three other models from the same family. The choice of this airplane forms part of our strategy to continuously expand and modernize our fleet, and comes just a few days after the announcement of the invitation made to Royal Air Maroc to join the highly prestigious Oneworld Alliance. This will further strengthen our country’s and Royal Air Maroc’s leadership position on the continent,” says Abdelhamid Addou, CEO and Chairman of Royal Air Maroc.

In 2015, the airline was the first in the Mediterranean to fly the 787-8, the initial Dreamliner that offered 20 percent less fuel and fewer emissions. With the airplane’s exceptional fuel efficiency and performance, Royal Air Maroc planned new, non-stop routes such as Casablanca to Washington, D.C and to Miami.

With the larger, longer-range 787-9, Royal Air Maroc will be able to accommodate about 30 additional passengers (for a total of 302) and fly several hundred miles farther (up to 7,635 nautical miles or 14,140 km). The airline plans to deploy the 787-9 on routes such as Casablanca to Paris (Orly), to New York and to Sao Paulo.

To celebrate its inaugural 787-9, Royal Air Maroc unveiled a special livery that honors contemporary Moroccan culture.

The airline also debuted a new interior to enhance the flying experience. Passengers in business class will have three seat options, including ‘full flat’ and ‘full privacy’. All travelers will enjoy the Dreamliner’s larger windows, lower cabin altitude, smooth-ride technology, and other amenities.

For your new cabin, we wanted a precious and natural color, Amethyst’s color. A stone we can find easily in Morocco.

Later this month, Royal Air Maroc will begin modernizing its single-aisle fleet when it takes delivery of its first 737 MAX, the latest and more efficient version of the 737 airplane. The jet will join a fleet of more than 60 Boeing airplanes.

The carrier also uses Boeing Global Services to enhance its operations through offerings such as Software Distribution Manager, a cloud-based solution that ensures operational data flows securely to and from the airplane while it is on the ground.

Boeing’s relationship with Morocco goes beyond airplanes and services. The company has supported the development of the kingdom’s aviation industry through partnerships such as a joint venture named MATIS Aerospace that specializes in producing wire bundles and wire harnesses for new airplanes. Boeing is also helping to educate local youth through partnerships with EFE-Morocco and the INJAZ Al-Maghrib association.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Royal Air Maroc Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner CN-RAM (msn 64625) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 944636.

RAM aircraft slide show:

As of January 2018 the Orders & Deliveries will be updated on a monthly (rather than weekly) basis.

Year to date information:

737 net orders: -24 NG and 518 MAX

777 net orders: 34 777 and 0 777X

The list of customers available on this site is not intended to represent and may not represent the total number of unique customers for a given model. Consistent with long-standing practice, Boeing does not display the names of customers who wish to remain anonymous when placing an order for a particular model aircraft. Orders from these “unidentified” customers are grouped together in one of two categories: “Unidentified Customer(s)” for commercial operators; or “Business Jet/VIP Customer(s)” for individual operators.

This chart includes both gross and net total orders for the current year. The net total includes order changes such as conversions or cancellations subtracted from the gross total orders (net year of cancel). The totals displayed in the reporting database are ‘net year of order’ totals.

Delta Air Lines made this announcement today:

Zone boarding, an aviation standard for decades, will soon be a thing of the past for Delta customers as the airline makes a global shift to boarding by branded fare purchased. This is the latest evolution in Delta’s multi-year work to bring consistency, simplicity and clarity to the gate and boarding experience, efforts that have driven all-time high customer experience scores. SkyMiles Medallion Members and eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Card Members will continue to receive priority boarding.

The boarding order change – coming to all Delta-operated flights globally starting Jan. 23 – will be accompanied by new color accents distinguishing Delta’s fare products (Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, Delta Premium Select/First Class and Delta One), each of which, in addition to Sky Priority, will have a specific, complementary color – from booking through boarding. The colors are inspired by Delta’s primary brand palette and the Passport Plum shade of purple introduced with the global airline’s 2018 Zac Posen-designed uniforms.

Branded boarding builds on Delta’s latest boarding enhancement, the addition of zone 4 earlier this year, specifically for Basic Economy customers. This change resulted in customer satisfaction scores improving dramatically for the reduced number of customers in zone 3, and improving in every other zone, including by double digits for the Main Cabin zones. Basic Economy customers are notified during the shopping experience that their carry-on bag may need to be checked at the gate, free of charge, which helps manage expectations for checking bags at the gate. This practice will continue with the introduction of Delta’s new branded boarding order.

What this means for customers

Boarding zones for Delta-operated flights worldwide will be renamed to reflect the branded fare purchased, while still prioritizing customer loyalty. As a result, Delta will increase the number of boarding groups to encourage fewer customers to line up in the gate area at any one time. Here’s the boarding order launching Jan. 23: