QATAR AIRWAYS SECURES $500 MILLION
Qatar Airways has secured US$500 million for three B777 aircraft.
Two of the B777-300ERs have been delivered and the third is expected to arrive in the spring of 2009. The finance for the first two aircraft was arranged by Calyon and Natixis Transport Finance. The third aircraft finance was arranged by Calyon, Natixis, Arab Bank, ING Bank and Europe Arab Bank.
SAS GROUP SELLS AIRBALTIC
The SAS Group has signed an agreement to sell its 47.2% holding in airBaltic to the management of the Latvian airline. The sale was worth MLAT 14.
FLY DUBAI TO START SERVICES IN JUNE 2009
Fly Dubai, the new low-cost airline based in Dubai, UAE is likely to begin operations in June 2009. It will operate B737-800s.
ICAO REPORT
According to ICAO, 2008 world pax traffic (RPKs) rose only 1.8% over 2007 (capacity grew 3%), and forecasts traffic growth of 0.9% for 2009 and 5.1% in 2010. Member airlines are expected to suffer $2.7b operating loss for 2008 but profits are expected to be $3.8b and $6.7b respectively in 2009 and 2010.
AZUL LAUNCHES IN BRAZIL
Azul will be the first Brazilian airline to operate the E-Jet. Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras, launched by JetBlue founder David Neeleman, inaugurated operations on 15th December with three E195s and two E190s. The new airline also took delivery of its first of 31 new E195s on December 11. It also has five 190s on order, plus options for another 20 planes and purchase rights for 20 more.
JAL TO FLY WITH BIOFUELS
The world’s first camelina-powered biofuel demonstration flight will take place on 30th January 2009 with a Japan Airlines JT9D-powered 747-300. JAL will launch the 1-hour flight out of Haneda Airport, Tokyo. It will be operated by JAL staff with no passengers. Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, UOP (Honeywell), Terasol Energy, Sapphire Energy and Sustainable Oils are participating in the programme.
AIRBUS FOR UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan Airways ordered four more A320s with CFM56-5Bs. It has 10 aircraft in total on order.
GROWTH FOR IMAGINEAIR
ImagineAir’s third quarter report for 2008 showed continuous growth with record numbers for flight demand and revenue. Since the first quarter of 2008, this air-taxi service has experienced growth in flight demand of 23% and an increase in revenue of 64%.
Forthcoming events:
General Aviation in the Middle East - GAME 2009
6th - 8th April 2009
Dubai, UAE
www.miuevents.com/game-09
Financing Aviation in the Middle East – FAME 2009
4th – 5th May 2009
Dubai, UAE
www.miuevents.com/fame-09
European Aviation Finance
4th - 5th June 2009
Riga, Latvia
www.miuevents.com/eaf2009
Very Light Jets - Europe
24th - 25th September 2009
Barcelona, Spain
www.miuevents.com/vlj-e09
Very Light Jets - Latin America & The Caribbean
26th - 27th October 2009
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
www.miuevents.com/vlj-lac-09
International Air Taxi & Charter Convention - IATC 2009
11th - 12th November 2009
Dubai, UAE
www.miuevents.com/iatc09 |
