Dubai Airshow deals, World Airways returns and more

In just two deals at this week’s Dubai Airshow, Airbus and Boeing racked up sales worth $US75 billion at list prices. All were for single-aisled jets popular with discount airlines. In one order – said to be the largest in aviation history – US private-equity group IndiGo Partners agreed to buy 430 aircraft from Airbus worth $US49.5 billion.

IndiGo has stakes in some of the fastest-growing low-cost carriers on three continents. It helped launch US-based Spirit Airlines before selling out to acquire Frontier. Other interests are Hungary’s Wizz Air, Mexico’s Volaris and JetSmart, a Chilean carrier that launched this year. The preliminary agreement is for 73 A320neos and 157 of the larger A321neos. Deliveries stretch from 2021 to 2026.

Meanwhile, Boeing agreed to sell Flydubai up to 225 more of its 737 Max aircraft, including the newest and largest version, the Max 10. The deal is for 175 firm commitments with purchase rights for more. The combined list price value is $US27 billion. Deliveries run until 2029.

Emirates opts for Dreamliners
Earlier, Emirates Airline renewed its aircraft buying spree, committing to buy 40 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, worth $US15.1 billion. This has come after Emirates chief executive Sir Tim Clark cancelled an order for the new Airbus A350. Deliveries are planned to start in 2022. Emirates is the world's largest Boeing 777 operator and will be the first to receive the new 777X in 2020. Among other Boeing orders announced at Dubai, Azerbaijan Airlines will get five more 787-8 Dreamliners and has made a commitment for two large freighters.

Thai upgrades to daily with a Dreamliner
Thai Airways has replaced the Boeing 777-200ER on its Auckland-Bangkok route to a daily service with a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The additional flights will add 1200 seats a week and increase freight capacity by 51 tonnes per week, an increase of 68%. Business class capacity has increased 40% with 30 Royal Silk Class seats on each flight. Thai will been flying to New Zealand for 30 years in December and this is the first upgrade in aircraft since 2008.

Qatar adds Greek destination
Qatar Airways will launch flights to Thessaloniki, Greece, from March 27 next year. The four weekly flights will use an Airbus A320 aircraft. Thessaloniki, the airline’s second destination in Greece after Athens, is well-known for its many archaeological sites and historic structures.

Adelaide-Hobart proves popular
Jetstar Australia says its new Adelaide-Hobart route has become permanent, with 15,000 tickets already sold. Jetstar’s chief commercial officer, Catriona Larritt, says up to 55,000 passengers are likely to travel in the first year.

World Airways returns
A US-based investment firm, 777 Partners, has acquired the intellectual property of World Airways and is planning to re-launch it as a low-cost, long-haul carrier. World Airways ceased operations in March 2014, almost 66 years after the day it began on March 29, 1948.

“World has a rich and storied history,” founding chief executive Ed Wegel says. “It was once the world’s largest independent charter airline, and served the US military and other clients with great distinction for many years.”

In another historic touch, the launch event will be under the direction of software entrepreneur Freddie A Laker, son of Sir Freddie, founder of Laker Airways. 777 Partners will base World at Miami International Airport with Los Angeles International Airport as the other initial operating hub. World will have 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners that will operate throughout the US and Latin America using a new logo.

AirCalin-Air Vanuatu tie-up
AirCalin and Air Vanuatu will launch a codeshare partnership on January 1, 2018, enhancing flight options between Nouméa, New Caledonia and Port Vila, Vanuatu. Air Vanuatu operates the route four times a week with an ATR72, while AirCalin 
flies twice a week with an A320.

Route news of the week
Tianjin Airlines confirmed it will fly the Tianjin-Xi’An-Auckland route once a week from December 29, using an A330-200 aircraft.
Singapore Airlines has moved forward its planned service increase on the Singapore-Dusseldorf route to March 27, The fourth weekly flight, using an A350-900, was previously scheduled to start on October 28, 2018.