Tag Archives: Boeing 737-800

GECAS to convert up to 20 Boeing 737-800 passenger aircraft to freighters

GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the aviation leasing and financing arm of GE, today (June 19) announced the launch of its 737-800NG passenger-to-freighter conversion program.

GECAS plans to convert up to 20 of its Boeing 737-800NG passenger aircraft to freighters (above).

AEI Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. will perform the conversions at its facilities in the U.S. and China. The first aircraft is scheduled for conversion starting in 2016 in order to earn FAA supplemental type certification (STC) in 2017 and subsequently enter service as a leased freighter.

Formed in 2000, GECAS’ Cargo Aircraft Group currently leases nearly 100 freighters to airline customers worldwide. Its fleet includes the 737, 767, 747 and 777 freighter models. In 2001, GECAS announced plans to convert Boeing 737-300 and -400 aircraft from its portfolio to freighter aircraft. In 2002, the passenger-to-freighter program expanded to include Boeing 767-200 models. In 2005, GECAS began converting Boeing 747-400s to freighters. In total, GECAS has leased over 60 converted freighters to air cargo carriers worldwide to help them expand or modernize their fleets.

All images by GECAS and AEI.

AEI already converts the Boeing 737-400 to freighters:

United to add seasonal flights to Costa Rica and the Turks and Caicos Islands

United Airlines (Chicago) is adding three seasonal routes from both Chicago (O’Hare) and Denver. The carrier will launched weekly Chicago (O’Hare) – Providenciales (Provo) service with Boeing 737-800s starting on December 19 per Airline Route.

Additionally from Denver its is also starting weekly flights to San Jose and Liberia in Costa Rica.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-824 N77296 (msn 34002) with APB Split Scimitar Winglets departs from Los Angeles.

United Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):

Fast-growing Ruili Airlines commits to purchase 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and Ruili Airlines (Kunming, Yunnan, China) today announced at the Paris Air Show that the airline has committed to purchase 30 737 MAXs with the financial support of AVIC International Leasing, amid a surge in China’s passenger traffic.

The commitment, valued at $3.2 billion at current list prices, will be subject to the approval of the Chinese government and will be posted on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

Currently, Ruili Airlines operates 34 daily flights on 11 scheduled routes with a fleet of five Boeing 737 airplanes. According to its development plan, the start-up carrier will expand its fleet to seven aircraft by the end of this year and 26 by 2020.

Ruili Airlines obtained its public air transport enterprise business license from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) in February 2014, marking the formal establishment of the carrier. The start-up airline is the first private carrier approved by CAAC after the regulator relaxed restrictions on new carriers in 2013.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Ruili Airlines already operates both the Boeing 737-700 and the 737-800. The pictured Boeing 737-86J D-ABMX (msn 37786) became B-1960 on delivery.

Ruili Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Sriwijaya Air orders two Boeing 737-900 ERs

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and Sriwijaya Air (Jakarta) today announced an order for two Next-Generation 737-900 ER (Extended Range) airplanes during a signing ceremony at the Paris Air Show.

The order, previously attributed to an unidentified customer on the Orders and Deliveries website, marks the first all-new airplane purchase for the Indonesian airline and included a letter of intent to exercise options for up to 20 additional 737 airplanes.

Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sriwijaya Air is the country’s third largest carrier. The airline operates an all-Boeing fleet of 737 airplanes and offers flights to various Indonesian destinations as well as a few international cities.

According to the airline, “Our aircraft are painted in blue, red and white colors which each of the color represents:

White : Clean hearthed employees
Red : The courage and wisdom in solving problems and making decisions of the team
Blue : Passion for traveling to all corners of our beloved archipelago.”

Image Above: Boeing. All others by Sriwijaya Air.

Sriwijaya Air aircraft slide show:

Copyright Photo below: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Sriwijaya Air is already operating the smaller brother, the Boeing 737-800. Boeing 737-8K5 PK-CLT (msn 27991) taxies at Denpasar.

Garuda Indonesia to acquire 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and up to 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and Garuda Indonesia (Jakarta) announced today (June 15) the airline’s intent to purchase 30 787-9 Dreamliners, as well as up to 30 737 MAX 8 airplanes.

Above Photo: Brandon Farris/AirlinersGallery.com.

Boeing will work with Garuda Indonesia to finalize the order, at which time it will be posted to Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

In addition to the announcement today, the flag carrier also reconfirmed its intent to purchase 50 737 MAX 8s, originally announced in October 2014. The airline currently operates more than 90 Boeing airplanes, including Next-Generation versions of the 737, 777-300ERs and 747-400s.

Garuda Indonesia seamlessly connects 76 destinations worldwide to not only one of the largest economies in Southeast Asia, but also an array of exotic locations in the beautiful archipelago of Indonesia all at once. With close to 600 daily flights and a fleet of 169 aircraft with the average age of less than five years old, Garuda Indonesia proudly serves its passengers with the award-winning “Garuda Indonesia Experience” service, which highlights Indonesia’s warm hospitality and rich diverse culture.

Top Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. The new Boeing 737 MAX 8s will replace the current Boeing 737-800 fleet. The 787-9 will be a new type for Garuda. The pictured Boeing 737-8U3 PK-GMC (msn 30155) arrives in Bangkok.

Garuda Indonesia aircraft slide show:

Garuda Indonesia domestic route map:

Myanmar National Airlines takes delivery of its first Boeing 737-800, painted in a new livery

Myanmar National Airlines (formerly Myanma Airways) (Yangon) and Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) yesterday (June 11) celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first Next-Generation 737-800 leased from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing arm of GE. The celebration also marked the first all-new Boeing airplane to be delivered to any Myanmar-based airline.

The airplane is the first to feature Myanmar National Airlines’ new livery and interior, and the airline plans to expand its network outside Myanmar with the introduction of its 737.

“Our new 737 will allow us to expand our network to international markets and offer an even better experience for our passengers,” said Myanmar National Airlines CEO Than Tun. “Investing in new technology aircraft such as the 737 will ensure Myanmar National Airlines continues to be the pride of the country and positions us for future success.”

Myanmar National Airlines, previously Myanma Airways (below), has the most extensive route network within Myanmar, serving more than 25 domestic locations, and is headquartered in Yangon.

Copyright Photo above: Richard Vandervord/AirlinersGallery.com. Myanma Airways Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW XY-AGP (msn 19000154) taxies at Yangon.

Founded in 1948 as Union of Burma Airways (below), the flag carrier is also one of Asia’s pioneering airlines.

Copyright Photo above: Christian Volpati/AirlinersGallery.com. Union of Burma Airways Boeing 727-193 XY-ADR (msn 19620) is pictured at Hong Kong.

Top Photo: Boeing. The formal ceremonies of the handover of Myanmar National Airlines new Boeing 737-86N XY-ALB (msn 43405) at Seattle’s Boeing Field via GECAS.

Jet2 adds two new destinations for its expanding summer schedule

Jet2 (Jet2.com) and Jet2holidays (Leeds-Bradford) has added two new routes to its ever expanding summer of 2016 program, announcing new routes to Girona (Costa Brava), Spain from Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle and Naples, Italy from Edinburgh and Manchester.

In addition to the two brand new destinations, Jet2.com is also launching Krakow as a new route from Manchester Airport. The twice-weekly flights will commence on April 28, 2016.

Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock reporting from Manchester.

Copyright Photo: Paul Bannwarth/AirlinersGallery.com. Jet2 operates under two brands, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays. Boeing 737-86N G-GDFS (msn 32243) prepares to land at Tenerife Sur in the Canary Islands.

Jet2 aircraft slide show:

Skymark Airlines and Intrepid file rival reorganization plans

Skymark Airlines‘ (Tokyo) biggest creditor Intrepid, which is opposing ANA’s (Tokyo) involvement in the Skymark reorganization plan, also submitted a rival reorganization plan on May 29. The plan states Integral would be the primary sponsor, but it would select an alternative airline partner other than ANA. The U.S.-based leasing firm is already talking with Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) according to ZipanguFlyer.

Read the full report from our partner ZipanguFlyer: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Akira Uekawa/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8Q8 JA737T (msn 35290) approaches the runway at Tokyo (Haneda).

Skymark Airlines aircraft slide show:

Pobeda reaches the one million passenger milestone

Pobeda (Moscow-Vnukovo), the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Aeroflot Group, yesterday (June 3) carried its millionth passenger.

Anna Bryk, a student at the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia in Moscow, bought a ticket for the Moscow-Sochi flight departing at 1:00 pm.

A ceremony to celebrate the landmark was held at Pobeda’s home airport of Vnukovo in Moscow. Participants included Russia’s Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vnukovo airport Vitaly Vantsev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pobeda and CEO of Aeroflot Vitaly Saveliev, and CEO of Pobeda Andrei Kalmykov.

Pobeda made its first flight on December 1, 2014 and currently operates flights to 34 destinations in Russia with a fleet of 11 brand-new Boeing 737-800NG aircraft. In the first three months of 2015, it became one of Russia’s 10 largest airlines.

In January to May 2015, passenger numbers rose by 27.9% to 5.668 million.

Copyright Photo: OSDU/AirlinersGallery.com. Pobeda Boeing 737-8LJ WL VQ-BTC (msn 41203) arrives at the Vnukovo Airport base.