Tag Archives: Toulouse

Airbus today begins passenger testing of the A350 with the help of Air France

Airbus (Toulouse) today (June 2) began actual passenger flight testing on its test Airbus A350-941 F-WWCF (msn 002). The manufacturer issued this statement:

As preparations continue for the A350 XWB’s first delivery later in 2014, Airbus is ensuring this next-generation widebody jetliner provides an unmatched cabin experience with the initial flight test carrying a full passenger load – which commenced today from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in France.

While it is not part of the technical certification campaign, this evaluation – called an Early Long Flight (ELF) – marks an important step toward the A350 XWB’s commercial service entry, allowing Airbus to assess the cabin environment and related systems in a typical operating scenario.

Today’s ELF is being performed by the second of five A350 XWB test aircraft, designated msn 002. Airbus experimental test pilots are at the flight controls, while a crew from Air France tends to the passengers – made up of Airbus employees selected in recognition of strong work performance. The Air France crew was trained to operate the A350 XWB’s cabin – including public address systems, galleys and safety equipment – prior to this test activity.

Depending on weather conditions, the scheduled ELF flight path will take the aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean, as well as much of western and central Europe, before returning to Toulouse. This test aims to replicate a normal commercial flight according to ELF test director Christophe Bertrand, with confirming A350 XWB airport compatibility as one key objective.

Another focus will be observing the behavior of cabin systems. “We’ll be looking at everything from the in-flight entertainment system and overhead storage bins to the air conditioning and lavatories,” explained Bertrand ahead of today’s ELF take-off. “We also want the crew to experiment with their systems and see how they like the crew rest areas.”

Questionnaires to be filled out by passengers and crew will provide valuable feedback on such qualities as noise, air flow, comfort and ergonomics, as well as the A350 XWB’s many new cabin features – including its LED lighting system and in-flight entertainment.

The A350 XWB’s wide fuselage cross-section was designed for an optimum travel experience in all classes of service. Passengers will enjoy more headroom, wider panoramic windows and larger overhead storage space. With a cross-section of 220 inches from armrest to armrest, the jetliner’s cabin provides the widest seats in its category, being five inches larger than the nearest competitor.

In addition to providing the space for unmatched premium first class and business solutions, the A350 XWB allows for high-comfort economy seating in a nine-abreast arrangement, with Airbus’ standard 18-inch seat width.

Top Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A350-941 F-WWCF (msn 002) in the special “Carbon Fiber” livery arrives back at Toulouse on a previous test flight.

Middle Copyright Photo: Airbus. Air France flight attendants serve the volunteer passengers on board F-WWCF.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Airbus. Volunteer passengers are issued boarding passes and flight simulates a long-range airline flight.

Tiger Airways Holdings swings to the red for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year

Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd (Tigerair) (Singapore) reported an operating loss of $24.2 million (all amounts in Singapore dollars) for the fiscal fourth quarter ended 31 March 31, 2014, compared to an operating profit of $12.7 million recorded in the previous corresponding quarter.

Total revenue declined by 32.7% to $161.9 million in the fourth quarter, while total expenses fell 18.3% to $186.1 million year-on-year, mainly due to the exclusion of Tigerair Australia from the Group’s results, as the airline ceased to be a subsidiary from July 8, 2013.

Loss after tax of $95.5 million for the fourth quarter was largely attributed to $52.4 million in exceptional charges and $21.5 million in share of losses of associate and joint venture. Exceptional charges comprised a $25.0 million provision for a planned grounding of eight aircraft and a $27.4 million impairment of associate, while the share of losses of associate and joint venture included an $11.9 million provision relating to Tigerair Mandala. These exceptional charges and provisions, which amounted to $64.3 million, demonstrate the Group’s resolve to re-set its strategy and consolidate its capacity.

For the full fiscal year ended March 31, 2014, the Group recorded an operating loss of $52.0 million compared to an operating profit of $7.3 million year-on-year. Group loss after tax widened to $223.0 million, compared to the previous year’s loss after tax of $45.4 million.

Operations Review (fourth quarter)

Despite an increase in traffic volume (+13.4%), Tigerair Singapore’s revenue for 4Q declined by 4.5% to $159.0 million, as yield fell 16.3% and load factor dropped 9.1 percentage points to 75.1%. Unit cost rose by 2.2% as the increase in expenses (+29.9%) outpaced capacity growth (+27.1%). Consequently, Tigerair Singapore recorded an operating loss of $29.4 million for the quarter compared to an operating profit of $21.5 million a year ago.

The company warned of a bleak outlook and was re-assessing its investment in Tigerair Mandala, the group’s Indonesian venture according to Reuters.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A320-232 F-WWDS (msn 4973) became 9V-TRE on delivery.

Image Below: Tigerair. Tigerair in March 2014 signed an Airbus deal to bring 37 new fuel-efficient A320neo aircraft from 2018 onwards. The new aircraft will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney 1100G-JM engine and equipped with large Sharklet wing tips, these new-generation aircraft deliver 15% greater fuel efficiency than the current A320ceos.

Tigerair (Singapore):

Airbus starts the final assembly of the first A320neo in Toulouse

Airbus has started final assembly of the first A320neo (msn 6101) at its Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse (France), with the join-up of the forward and aft fuselage sections which recently arrived from St. Nazaire in France and Hamburg in Germany respectively.

Once this phase is completed, the next stage is the wing to fuselage join-up. Overall it takes about one month to complete the final assembly of an A320 Family aircraft. On average, every seven hours an A320 Family aircraft leaves one of the three A320 Family FAL’s in Toulouse, Hamburg, or Tianjin.

According to Airbus, “The A320neo first flight will take place in the fourth quarter of 2014 and first delivery in the fourth quarter of 2015. The A320neo “new engine option” incorporates many innovations, including latest generation engines and large Sharklet wing-tip devices, which together deliver 15 percent in fuel savings and a reduction of 3,600 tonnes of C0₂ per aircraft per year. With a total of more than 2,600 orders received from 50 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent of the market, clearly demonstrating its leadership.”

Concorde F-WTSB arrives at its final resting spot at the Aeroscopia Museum in Toulouse

One of the first Concorde jetliners built at Toulouse, France has made its final “voyage” with the aircraft’s ground transfer to the Airbus-supported Aeroscopia Museum site at the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. Designated as an Aerospatiale BAC Concorde 100 and registered as F-WTSB (msn 1), this Concorde made its last flight in April 1985, returning to Toulouse after a career that included a full range of test and development activity.

The Aeroscopia Museum where Concorde msn 1 will be permanently displayed has received funding from Airbus, and its collection will also include one of the initial A300s – the cornerstone widebody jetliner in Airbus’ product line – as well as the msn 1 flight test A400M military airlifter.

All photos by Airbus.

Skymark Airlines takes delivery of its first two Airbus A330-300s

Skymark Airlines (Tokyo), Japan’s third largest airline has taken delivery of the first two A330-300s (JA330A and JA330B) out of a total of ten on lease. Skymark Airlines becomes the first Japanese carrier to operate the Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft.

Skymark Airlines’ A330s, configured in a very high comfort, all ”Green Seat” cabin with 271 seats, will start scheduled flights on May 31, 2014 (delayed from April 18) from Tokyo Haneda to Fukuoka. Skymark Airlines has also announced plans for A330-300 services from Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo and Naha at a later date.

The A330-300 received Validation Type Certificate (VTC) from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in January 2014. Skymark Airlines signed a Flight Hour Services (FHS) components contract with Airbus covering support for all of 10 leased A330 aircraft. Airbus Customer Services will provide spare parts availability guaranteed through an extensive scope of more than 700 line replaceable units. Skymark Airlines’ A330s will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

Skymark Airlines will soon be adding its first Airbus A380.

AirAsia to unveil a Taylor Swift logo jet in June, net profit for 2013 falls, AirAsia India moves ahead

AirAsia (Malaysia) (Kuala Lumpur) according to Reuters, saw its fourth-quarter profit drop by 19 percent on higher expenses for fuel and aircraft maintenance.

Net profit for the three months ending on December 31, 2013 fell to 245.4 million ringgit ($75.05 million), while net profit for the full year of 2013 was 364.1 million ringgit ($111.4 million) compared to 789.6 million ringgit ($241.5 million) in 2012 due to the prior year’s gain from the disposal of its shares in Thai AirAsia joint venture.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Meanwhile, AirAsia India (Madras-Chennai) (above), the new joint venture with the Tata Group moves ahead. The DGCA has rejected the objections of other Indian airlines that new joint venture would disrupt Indian airline industry “equilibrium” according to The Economic Times.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

In other news, AirAsia announced that it will be the official airline for seven-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift’s The Red Tour presented by Cornetto, which will be coming to southeast Asia this year. Taylor Swift will be bringing her tour to Southeast Asia in June 2014, with shows in Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

As the official airline for Taylor Swift’s The Red Tour presented by Cornetto, AirAsia will unveil an exclusive Airbus A320 aircraft livery featuring international superstar Taylor Swift.

Siegtraund Teh, Group Chief Commercial Officer for AirAsia said, “We are very proud to be the official airline for Taylor Swift’s tour in Southeast Asia, which is aptly named The Red Tour, synonymous with AirAsia’s corporate colors. With AirAsia’s strong route network in Asia, especially in Asean, we are definitely the best people to connect Taylor and her crew to all of her tour destinations. Taylor Swift fans can look forward to spotting the special Taylor Swift branded Airbus A320 painting the skies of Asean Red this coming June.”

“We’ve always taken branding to a different level at AirAsia and this opportunity to work with Taylor and her team marks yet another milestone for us as we continue to build the AirAsia brand globally. We will be running contests across our network, which will surely be a treat to all of her fans.” Siegtraund Teh added.

Taylor’s The Red Tour performance features two stages, elaborate costumes, dancers, and changing sets. Taylor moves around the venue, giving every audience member a great seat. Taylor plays electric guitar, banjo, piano and acoustic guitar and changes costumes multiple times over the course of the evening. Her set features several songs from her record-breaking RED album, as well as new takes on other fan favorites.

Taylor Swift, who writes all of her own songs, is a seven-time Grammy winner, and is the youngest winner in history of the music industry’s highest honor, the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. She is the #1 digital music artist of all time, the only female artist in music history (and just the fourth artist ever) to twice have an album hit the 1 million first-week sales figure, and is the first artist since the Beatles (and the only female artist in history) to log six or more weeks at #1 with three consecutive studio albums. Taylor has an album on Rolling Stone’s prestigious The 50 Greatest Albums of All Time (by women) list, Time magazine has named her one of the 100 Most Influential people in the world, and she is Billboard’s youngest-ever Woman of the Year. Taylor, who is signed to Big Machine Records, has career record sales in excess of 26 million albums and 75 million song downloads worldwide, and has had singles top both the country and pop radio charts around the globe.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. The first Airbus A320 for AirAsia India is now painted at Toulouse. Wearing a test registration of F-WWBV (msn 6015), the pictured A320-216 with Sharklets will become VT-AIF on delivery.

AirAsia (Malaysia):

XL Airways France to return to Miami this summer

XL Airways (France) (Paris-CDG) will return to Miami for the second summer in a row. The French airline will offer three flights a week with its 408-seat Airbus A330-300s from May 25 until August 31.

Miami has become the second most important North American destination for XL Airways after New York.

Additionally, as previously reported, AirEuropa will also return for the summer to Miami from Madrid with three weekly flights starting on June 4.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-303 F-WWKA (msn 1360) became F-HXLF on delivery on November 30, 2012.

Routes from Paris (CDG):

XL Airways (France):

Iberia reaches an historic agreement with its pilots

Iberia (Madrid) and the International Airlines Group (IAG) (London) have issued this statement about a break through agreement with its pilots, represented by SEPLA:

International Airlines Group (IAG) announces today (February 13) that Iberia has reached agreement in principle with its pilots’ union, SEPLA, to introduce permanent structural change and improve the airline’s viability. It also heralds a new positive working relationship between Iberia and SEPLA after years of conflict.

This landmark agreement provides a strong foundation to put Iberia on the path towards sustainable profitable growth – the more positive of the two scenarios outlined at IAG’s Capital Markets Day in November 2013. It will also enable Iberia to become more competitive and reduce its cost base.

The main impacts of the agreement are:

· Fundamental productivity improvements within Iberia.

· Salaries to remain frozen until 2015 as outlined in the Mediation Agreement. After that date, increases will be subject to the airline’s profitability.

· The Mediation Agreement provided a 14 per cent salary reduction for pilots and an additional 4 per cent cut linked to the productivity agreement. With these productivity improvements, the 4 per cent will be returned.

· Facilitates the growth of Iberia and Iberia Express.

Luis Gallego, Iberia’s executive chairman, said: “I would like to thank the efforts made by SEPLA, the pilots and Iberia’s management team who worked together to reach this agreement. This groundbreaking deal reduces the cost structure and provides the foundation for the airline to grow profitably. A strong and profitable Iberia can protect jobs in the long term and boost tourism which is a key driver in Barajas and Spain’s economic recovery.

“Iberia is the natural airline choice for Latin America and this agreement will enable it to be a formidable competitor and build on its new brand, providing customers with great service and an extensive network.

“This agreement also enables the growth of Iberia Express with a competitive cost base and provides promotion opportunities for current Iberia and Iberia Express first officers. Iberia Express will help make Iberia profitable and stronger, by providing short haul feed, and will provide Spanish competition to low cost carriers”.

Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive said: “‘Luis Gallego, his team and SEPLA deserve congratulations for striking a bold deal that will mark the turning point in Iberia’s future. Luis has deservedly won the respect of the industry, his colleagues and the trade unions. Permanent structural change was the only way to save Iberia from slow decline. This agreement marks the beginning of its future”.

This agreement in principle is subject to the approval of SEPLA’s general assembly.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. Iberia wanted labor peace with its pilots before it unveiled this livery. It went ahead anyway and now it has the labor peace, at lease for now with the pilots. New Airbus A330-302 F-WWKA (man 1437) became EC-LYF on delivery on November 13, 2013. It is named “Juan Carlos I”.

Iberia:

Aeroflot becomes the first Russian operator with Sharklets

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) has taken delivery of its first A320 aircraft equipped with sharklets, becoming the first in Russia to benefit from these new fuel saving wing tip devices. Aeroflot’s pictured A320-214 VQ-BRV (man 5967, ex F-WWIS), powered by CFM56 engines, features a comfortable two class cabin, seating 158 passengers with 8 in business class and 150 in economy. The aircraft is named after a famous Russian chemist Alexander Butlerov.

According to Airbus, “Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by up to four per cent on longer sectors. They are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 meters tall.”

Aeroflot was the first airline in Russia to operate the Airbus A310, with an entry into service in 1992, as well as the first to operate the A320 Family in 2003. The airline is operating the biggest Airbus fleet in the region with 90 A320 Family aircraft and 22 A330 Family aircraft.

Aeroflot:

Skymark Airlines to start Airbus A330 flights on April 18

Skymark Airlines (Tokyo-Haneda) will place its new Airbus A330-300 into revenue service on April 18 according to ZipanguFlyer. The initial route will be from Tokyo (Haneda) to Fukuoka five times a day.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Olivier Gregoire/AirlinersGallery.com. The first Airbus A330, the pictured A330-343 F-WWKH (msn 1483) at Toulouse will become JA330A when it is delivered to the carrier around March 1.

Skymark Airlines: