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Record Breaking deals Day at Dubai Airshow 2017.

Dubai Airshow
Dubai, UAE. November 15, 2017: The penultimate day of the Dubai Airshow saw two enormous aircraft purchase orders for both Airbus and Boeing, in one of the most exciting days in recent aviation business history.

Airbus revealed its largest single announcement ever this morning – a US$49.5 billion deal with Indigo Partners to purchase 430 aircraft in its A320neo family, described as Airbus’ largest ever single announcement.

Meanwhile Boeing inked a US$27 billion deal with carrier flydubai for 225 aircraft in its 737 MAX family, the largest-ever single-aisle jet order – by number of airplanes and total value – from a Middle East carrier.

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With the Airbus order, Indigo Partners, a US-based private equity fund, has doubled its existing order of 427 A320 family aircraft. The fund owns four ultra low cost airlines, amongst which the new fleet will be shared as follows: Wizz Air (Hungary) 72 A320neo, 74 A321neo; Frontier Airlines (USA) 100 A320neo, 34 A321neo; JetSMART (Chile) 56 A320neo, 14 A321neo, and Volaris (Mexico) 46 A320neo, 34 A321neo.

Bill Franke, Managing Partner of Indigo Partners, and a man widely credited with creating the ultra low cost carrier sector, said: “This underscores our optimistic view of the growth potential of our family of low-cost airlines, as well as our confidence in the A320neo Family as a platform for that growth.”

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The mammoth deal puts Indigo Partners among the biggest customers by order number for Airbus single-aisle aircraft.

John Leahy, COO, Customer, Airbus Commercial Aircraft, described the deal as ‘remarkable, and thanked his sales team. He said: “It’s gratifying that [this order] comes from a group of airline professionals who know our products as well as the folks at Indigo Partners do. We are proud to augment [Indigo Partner’s] airline fleets in Latin America, North America and Europe with the single-aisle aircraft that offers the lowest operating costs, longest range and most spacious cabin. ”

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Increasing demand for air travel will push jetliner sales to more than 34,000 worldwide in the next 20 years, according to Airbus’s 2017 global market forecast. Almost three-quarters of that will be single-aisle models, the company said.

Most of the aircraft included in the Indigo Partners order will be delivered after 2021, with precise engine details as yet undecided.

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Later on Wednesday, November 15, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai, signed an agreement between Boeing and flydubai for the 225 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, saying: “Today’s order underlines the success of flydubai’s founding vision in changing the way people travel across the region. In under a decade, flydubai has extended its network to 97 destinations in 44 countries, transporting more than 44 million passengers. We look forward to the arrival of the new aircraft from 2019 in support of our future ambitions.”

The new Boeing order marks the third order placed by the airline with the US manufacturer in its eight-year history, following on from others placed in 2008 and 2013. The new crop of aircraft will be added to the flydubai fleet from as soon as 2019. The agreement includes a commitment for 175 MAX airplanes, and purchase rights for 50 additional MAXs. More than 50 of the first 175 airplanes will be 737 MAX 10s, launched earlier this year, and said to have the lowest seat-mile cost of any single-aisle airplane. The rest of the order comprises MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft.

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Kevin McAllister, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO said the deal marked a great day, and secured hundreds of jobs across the region and in the US.  “We are honoured that flydubai has selected to be an all-Boeing operator for many years to come. This record-breaking agreement builds on our strong partnership with flydubai. This caps a terrific week for all of us at Boeing.”

Both Airbus and Boeing also marked leasing deals with EgyptAir amongst today’s frenetic business.

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Leasing company AerCap will be providing 15 Airbus A320neo aircraft to the north African carrier, for delivery in 2020.

AerCap is also behind a leasing deal to provide EgyptAir with six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which will start operating in 2019. AerCap is the world’s largest lessor of the Airbus A320neo; and the largest customer of the Boeing 787, with 116 on order and owned.

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Michele van Akelijen, Managing Director of organisers, Tarsus F&E LLC Middle East, said: “Today’s most memorable deals underline that Dubai Airshow is the place where the global industry comes to do business. These deals are certainly breathtaking in their scope and size. The rapidly growing aviation sector here in Dubai supports more than a quarter of a million jobs and contributes more than US$22 billion to the local economy – or 19% of total employment in Dubai, and 28% of the city’s GDP. These figures will continue to grow given all the business we are seeing this week.”

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He is an aviation journalist and the founder of Jetline Marvel. Dawal gained a comprehensive understanding of the commercial aviation industry.  He has worked in a range of roles for more than 9 years in the aviation and aerospace industry. He has written more than 1700 articles in the aerospace industry. When he was 19 years old, he received a national award for his general innovations and holds the patent. He completed two postgraduate degrees simultaneously, one in Aerospace and the other in Management. Additionally, he authored nearly six textbooks on aviation and aerospace tailored for students in various educational institutions. jetlinem4(at)gmail.com

Aviation

All passengers killed in plane crash, after pilot let his children to control the plane

All passengers killed in plane crash, after pilot let his children to control the plane

When boarding a plane, passengers entrust their safety to the skilled hands of the pilot. However, tragedy struck when one of the flight ended in disaster as all passengers lost their lives in a horrific plane crash.

In 1994, during a flight from Moscow to Hong Kong, tragedy struck as an Aeroflot relief pilot made a fateful decision. In a move that would have devastating consequences, the pilot invited his own children into the cockpit to play with the controls. Little did anyone know, this seemingly innocent gesture would lead to the loss of all 75 lives aboard the aircraft.

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It was a seemingly innocent act that led to catastrophic results. The relief pilot, Mr. Kudrinsky, invited his two children, Yana, 12, and Eldar, 15, into the cockpit during the late hours of the night. Little did anyone know, this simple gesture would set off a chain of events that would end in tragedy.

Once in the cockpit, the children were allowed to sit in the captain’s chair and play with the controls, unaware that they should have been disabled as the plane was in autopilot mode.

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Eldar, perhaps in a moment of curiosity or innocence, held the control column down for a mere 30 seconds. Yet, in those brief moments, the autopilot disengaged, thrusting the aircraft into manual control.

By the time the pilots regained their seats and attempted to regain control, it was too late. Despite their efforts to pull the plane out of a dive, they overcorrected, causing the flight to climb almost vertically, ultimately stalling it.

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Final moment Flight 593 crash

In the final moments, as the pilots struggled to stabilize the aircraft, Flight 593 crashed into the Kuznetsk Alatau Mountain range in southern Russia, completely obliterating the plane and claiming the lives of everyone on board.

Investigations revealed a chilling truth: there was no evidence of technical failure. Instead, the crash was attributed to the unthinkable decision to allow inexperienced hands to manipulate the controls of a commercial aircraft.

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The black box recording captured the harrowing sequence of events, providing a grim reminder of the human cost of a lapse in judgment. In just over two minutes, the lives of all on board were tragically short, leaving behind a legacy of sorrow and unanswered questions.

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Aviation

American Airlines Flight Attendant Orders First-Class Traveler to use Economy Restroom

American Airlines Flight Attendant Orders First-Class Traveler to use Economy Restroom

On a recent American Airlines flight from Chicago O’Hare to Phoenix, Pamela Hill-Veal, a retired circuit court judge, found herself at the center of a disturbing incident.

Despite traveling in First Class, she was directed by a flight attendant to use the Economy Class restroom, sparking allegations of racial discrimination. According to Hill-Veal, the ordeal began when she used the dedicated First Class lavatory during the flight. A flight attendant approached her, accusing her of slamming the door and issued a warning.

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Despite remaining calm, Hill-Veal faced further confrontation when she attempted to use the First Class restroom again later in the flight. The situation escalated as the flight attendant persisted in berating Hill-Veal, who felt targeted due to her race. She highlighted the disparate treatment, noting that white passengers were not subjected to similar directives.

In a distressing turn, the flight attendant followed Hill-Veal to her seat and allegedly touched her while threatening arrest upon landing. This alarming encounter left Hill-Veal feeling humiliated and traumatized, impacting her ability to rest even after the flight.

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American Airlines has responded, expressing a commitment to investigating the matter and addressing discrimination claims seriously. However, the incident underscores ongoing concerns about racial bias in air travel and the need for accountability in ensuring all passengers are treated with dignity and respect.

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Aviation

Southwest CEO Signals Major Shift: Farewell to Open Seating

Southwest CEO Signals Major Shift: Farewell to Open Seating

Southwest Airlines is contemplating a significant shift away from its traditional open seating policy, a move that could signal a departure from its long-standing business model.

The potential change, which would introduce assigned seating and premium seat options, is being considered to appeal to a younger demographic of travelers. This adjustment would mark one of the most substantial alterations for the carrier since its inception in 1971.

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Unlike its competitors who have embraced premium seating offerings, Southwest has stuck to its open seating approach, albeit providing the option for early boarding at a fee. However, with rivals like United Airlines witnessing revenue growth from premium seating, Southwest is reevaluating its strategy. According to Forbes, the airline industry has seen a shift in customer preferences over time, prompting Southwest to reconsider its seating model designed during an era of lower load factors.

While Southwest CEO, Jordan,told to CNBC that he has neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of premium seating, he acknowledges that the company is exploring various options. He emphasized that while it’s still early in the decision-making process, the initial results are promising, hinting at potential changes in the future.

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Southwest currently operates with a single economy class cabin across its all-Boeing 737 fleet, with no assigned seating. However, the airline does offer the option for early boarding for passengers to secure their preferred seats for an additional fee. Over the years, Southwest has maintained a focus on simplicity and user-friendliness in its offerings, striving to minimize costs and complexity.

In contrast, competitors like Delta and United have capitalized on revenue growth from premium seating options such as business class, demonstrating strong upsell rates. Analysts have repeatedly questioned Southwest about the potential for introducing premium seating or additional fees, although the airline has traditionally refrained from charging for the first two checked bags.

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For now, the only way Southwest passengers can secure their preferred seats is by paying for an earlier boarding position, as the airline continues to operate without assigned seating, allowing passengers to choose their seats upon boarding in a predetermined order.

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