23 Jul 2018

China Aviation Industry Newsletter 23 July

BOC Aviation purchases 17 A320neo Family aircraft from Airbus BOC Aviation (BOCA), via a Cayman-based subsidiary, agreed to purchase 17 A320neo and A321neo aircraft from Airbus for approximately US$2.2 billion at list prices. BOC Aviation expects to take delivery of the aircraft in 2020 and 2021, and deliver them to an airline customer. The transaction will be funded through cash on hand, the proceeds of loans or other borrowings by BOCA and/or cash generated from the company's business operations. CAAC Clears Airbus A350 For Delivery To Chinese Airlines According to a report Aviation Week 20 July stated Air China and Sichuan Airlines will each begin receiving Airbus A350s early in August following delayed Chinese validation of the type’s airworthiness certification. CALC signs CFM engine orders valued at $550 million China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC) announced that it has selected CFM International’s advanced LEAP-1A engine to power 17 firm and up to 50 option new Airbus A320neo family aircraft. In addition, the leasing company finalized an order for CFM56-5B engines to power three firm, nine option Airbus A320ceo aircraft. These two agreements are valued at $550 million U.S. at list price. Cathay Pacific announces new non-stop service to Seattle Cathay Pacific will commence a new non-stop service to Seattle on 31 March 2019, becoming the only airline that will directly link Hong Kong with the fastest-growing city on the west coast of the United States. Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Officer Rupert Hogg said the Seattle route, which will be operated by the Airbus A350-900 aircraft, underscores the airline’s expansion strategy to connect new destinations not otherwise served from Hong Kong – and to link its home, one of the most innovative cities in Asia, with tech hubs the world over. China Eastern Airlines Selects AFI KLM E&M for the Component Support of its 787 Fleet AFI KLM E&M and China Eastern Airlines have signed a component support contract for the Chinese company's Boeing 787-9 fleet, which will eventually include 15 aircraft. The agreement covers repair services, access to a regional spare parts pool as well as the provision of a local parts stock, and additional services in the field of training and industrial development support. Etihad Aviation Group Sign Major Agreement with Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company A strategic partnership and mutual promotion mechanism was established as Etihad Aviation Group (EAG) CEO Tony Douglas and Jiangsu Provincial Overseas Cooperation and Investment Company Limited (JOCIC) Chairman Luo Hua inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to the United Arab Emirates. The MoU signifies that EAG will provide the companies investing in the China-UAE Industrial Park with preferred air transportation and cargo rates on the routes and services between China and other cities on Etihad Airways entire network. JOCIC and the companies of the China-UAE Industrial Park also designate Etihad Airways as their preferred airline. Hainan Airlines Awarded the SKYTRAX Five-Star Airline Designation for the 8th Consecutive Year at 2018 SKYTRAX World Airline Awards SKYTRAX announced the winners of the 2018 SKYTRAX World Airline Awards during a coveted ceremony at The Langham Hotel in London. Hainan Airlines was named a SKYTRAX Five-Star Airline for the eighth consecutive year, in addition to being awarded Best Business Class Amenities, Best Airline China, and Best Airlines Staff in China designations. After joining the roster of SKYTRAX World's Top 10 Airlines for the first time in 2017, the airline moved up the rankings to claim eighth place this year, becoming the first mainland China-based airline to win the honour for the second year in a row. Hainan Airlines and BBC Global News sign a major new deal Hainan Airlines and BBC Global News signed a major new deal at a special signing ceremony at the BBC's headquarters in London to celebrate their partnership. Yufei Wang, Vice President, Branding, Hainan Airlines and Jim Egan, CEO, BBC Global News, spoke about the significance of this strategic commercial partnership which will see BBC StoryWorks, the award-winning content marketing division of BBC Global News, produce digital and video content for Hainan Airlines to mark the launch of its new route and the beauty of its destinations. Hainan Airlines Will Receive a New A330-300 Aircraft this Month Hainan Airlines will receive the A330-300 aircraft by the end of July. It will be the first A330-300 aircraft that Hainan Airlines introduces this year, which will also be the 18^th new A330-300 aircraft of the fleet. The introduction of A330 aircraft will improve the capacity of Hainan Airlines Acumen Aviation © 23 July All Rights Reserved.