Aviation
Airbus Commercial Aircraft delivers record performance
· Total deliveries reached 718 – four percent higher than the previous record
· 1,109 total net orders from 44 customers; Book-to-bill ratio at 1.5
Toulouse, 15th January 2018 – Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft deliveries in 2017 were up for the 15th year in a row, reaching a new company record of 718 aircraft delivered to 85 customers. Deliveries were more than four percent higher than the previous record of 688 set in 2016. The 2017 total comprises: 558 single aisle A320 Family (of which 181 were A320neo – an increase of 166 percent over 2016); 67 A330s; 78 A350 XWBs (up by nearly 60 percent from 2016) and 15 A380s. Furthermore, to cap this resounding annual production achievement, Airbus achieved 1,109 net orders from 44 customers. At the end of 2017 Airbus’ overall backlog stood at 7,265 aircraft valued at US$1.059 trillion at list prices.
Fabrice Brégier, Airbus Chief Operating Officer and President Commercial Aircraft commented: “A new Airbus delivery record coupled with our fifth best order intake wraps up a remarkable year for us. This outstanding achievement is testimony to the dedication of all our teams, and makes the company fitter, stronger and ready for the opportunities ahead.”
With this year’s performance Airbus has steadily built on deliveries year on year – with 15 consecutive years of production increase. From its four A320 Family plants in Hamburg, Tianjin, Mobile, and Toulouse, Airbus is on track to achieve rate 60 per month on single-aisle by mid-2019. Meanwhile, the A350 XWB is equally on track for rate 10 by the end 2018. Airbus’ healthy order intake in 2017 resulted in a ‘book-to-bill’ ratio of 1.5.
There were many industrial milestones achieved by Airbus Commercial Aircraft in 2017, which included: delivery of the 100th A350 XWB; the delivery of the 50th A320 Family aircraft from our FAL in Mobile; delivery of Emirates’ 100th A380; first flight of the A330neo; certification of the A350-1000; first A321neos delivered with CFM and P&W engines; inauguration of the new A330 Completion and Delivery Centre in Tianjin, China, with two first deliveries; and structural completion of the first Beluga XL. On internationalisation, our partnership with China is expanding while our Americas footprint is equally extended. Moreover, in the provision of Services worldwide Airbus is significantly enhancing its local presence to be closer to its customers.
Airlines
Air India Enters Into Codeshare Agreement With AIX Connect for 100 Flights
A codeshare arrangement has been made between AIX Connect, formerly known as Air Asia India, and Air India, which is controlled by the Tata Group. A codeshare arrangement allows one airline to sell seats on a different carrier’s flights while both use the other’s flight number.
ANA and EI AI Israel Airlines Sign Codeshare Agreement(Opens in a new browser tab)
Over 100 flights per day on 21 destinations operated by AIX Connect will now have Air India’s ‘AI’ designator code. It will gradually add more routes covered by the codeshare agreement. In a statement, Air India announces that reservations for the codeshare flights are now being accepted at all points of sale, with travel beginning on September 27, 2023.
Tatas rename AirAsia India as AIX Connect ahead of merger(Opens in a new browser tab)
The codeshare flights are now accepting reservations at all points of sale, with travel beginning this Wednesday. The extent of the agreement between the two airlines allows passengers to have their bags checked in all the way to their ultimate destinations and receive their boarding tickets at the initial point of departure for all of the travel sectors on a single ticket. To comply with government regulations, passengers connecting from international to domestic flights must go through customs at the initial point of entrance into India, according to Air India.
In addition to the shared destinations between the route networks of the two airlines, Air India has expanded its domestic route network with the introduction of the codeshare agreement to include Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, and Surat.
Airlines
British Airways will be the sole airline offering full business class suites on routes between the UK & Japan
British Airways launching its latest business class Club Suite cabin, on flights between London Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda. From 31 October, it will be the only airline offering a business class suite with a full privacy door on direct flights between the UK and Japan. Club Suite has been designed to offer privacy, comfort, and space for customers wanting to work, rest, and play.
Chefs have designed commemorative dishes for all four cabins based on heritage menus from the airline’s enormous collection, which will be served on Heathrow to Haneda flights from September 1 to October 31. Customers will be able to experience the most popular foods served on the route in 1969 – beef stroganoff and beef cheek okaribayaki – and the airline has also produced a festive cherry meringue gateau, the characteristic dessert enjoyed by flyers on the London to Anchorage segment that same year.
Emirates Resume Tokyo Haneda Flights(Opens in a new browser tab)
In a 1-2-1 layout, the airline’s Club Suite flat-bed seat provides direct aisle access and a suite door for increased privacy. boasting an impressive 18.5-inch in-flight entertainment screen, WiFi, a vanity stand with a mirror, and 40% extra storage. The B777-300ER* fleet’s BA6 and BA5 flights will provide the most recent business class seats. Across the Club World cabin, customers enjoy a luxurious plush pillow and warm quilt from The White Company, an amenity kit and an improved dining experience.
Customers flying in the airline’s First cabin to and from Tokyo starting on September 1 will enjoy the most luxurious service available, including custom loungewear and amenity kits created by Temperley London, a high-end British fashion label, as well as goods from ELEMIS, including the renowned ULTRA SMART PRO-COLLAGEN range and bedding made from recycled plastic bottles.
Airlines
Air France-KLM Orders 90 Airbus A350 Long-Range Aircraft
The Air France-KLM Group has today stated that it intends to place a historic aircraft order in an effort to modernize and simplify its long-haul fleet, enhancing the Group’s economic and environmental performance.
First deliveries of the 50 Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft under this group order are scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue through 2030, with the option to purchase a further 40 aircraft. In accordance with market dynamics and regional regulatory frameworks, the Group will have the flexibility to assign aircraft among its portfolio of airlines under this evolving order.
These aircraft will replace previous-generation aircraft, namely Airbus A330 and older Boeing 777 aircraft. This new order will come in addition to an existing Air France-KLM order for 41 Airbus A350-900s for Air France, of which 22 have been delivered to date. With these combined orders, covering up to 99 aircraft, Air France-KLM would become the world’s largest A350 family aircraft operator.
The Airbus A350 symbolizes the transition to a more sustainable air transport industry. The aircraft consumes 25% less fuel than an equivalent-sized, previous-generation aircraft, thanks to the use of lighter materials: 53% composites and 14% titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40%.
By 2028, the share of new-generation aircraft in the Air France-KLM fleet will reach 64%, compared to 5% in 2019. Air France-KLM was flying 533 aircraft as of September 25, 2023, to more than 300 locations across the world. After placing this order, the Group will have over 220 aircraft on order, including 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, with maiden deliveries anticipated by the end of 2023.
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