MIAMI – Dutch regional airline KLM Cityhopper (KL) has announced the maiden flight for its first Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, Dutch news portal Scramble reported on January 24.
The E195-E2, registered PR-EDK, will adopt the registration PH-NXA in the Netherlands, and its delivery will take place next month. According to the portal, KL “KLM Cityhopper has orders for 21 E195-E2s, which will be leased via Aircastle and ICBC,” with options to 14 more.
The new planes will carry up to 132 passengers, and were originally set to be used for expansion and replacement of older E195s, but plans may change due to low passenger demand. KLM Cityhopper currently operates a fleet of 49 Embraer aircraft, comprising 17 ERJ175s and 32 ERJ190s.
MIAMI – Singapore Airlines (SQ) will initiate Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft operations on flights to Phuket from March 4, 2021, ending SilkAir’s (MI) 30-year existence as an independent national arm of SQ. The merger of the airlines was confirmed earlier in 2018.
According to
sbr.com, s nine B737-800 NG aircraft progressively go to the SQ fleet, More MI routes will also integrate into its network. To clarify, flights to Paddy Seri Begawan from March 1 are integrating to SQ. This will also encourage the SQ to operate the aircraft within its current network, beginning with Brunei in March 2021.
Back in November 2014, Boeing and MI celebrated the delivery of the carrier’s first Next-Generation 737-800. The delivery also marked the start of the Singapore-based airline’s transition to an all-Boeing fleet. Over the coming years, Boeing planned to deliver a total of 23 737-800s and 31 737 MAX 8s to SilkAir.
LONDON – SWISS International Air Lines (LX) has appointed Benedikt Escher (36) as its new Head of Network Management. Benedikt Escher will take up his new duties on February 1.
Escher will report directly to LX CCO Tamur Goudarzi Pour and within the Lufthansa Group to Senior Vice President Network & Mobility Offer Heiko Reitz in his new capacity.
Benedikt Escher succeeds Michael Trestl, who moved to Austrian Airlines (OS) as its Chief Commercial Officer at the beginning of this year.
Photo: John Leivaditis/Airways
Benedikt Escher. SWISS
Benedikt Escher joined LX as Head of Scheduling & Slot Management in February 2019. In this capacity, he has been responsible for ensuring efficient, competitive and profitable LX flight schedules by optimizing the use of the company’s operational resources such as fleet and crew planning, aircraft maintenance, ground services and airport slots.
MIAMI – Today, the creditors of the HNA Group have filed for its bankruptcy, forcing an immediate reorganization of the business.
The Group is one of China’s largest conglomerates, mostly connected to the aviation and tourism sector. The firm has been characterized as one of the most aggressive dealmakers of the market after using US$50bn on a global acquisition spree which included companies such as Deutsche Bank and Hilton Worldwide.
Three years ago China’s central government and some overseas regulators forced the company to sell many of its shares and concentrate on the aviation and tourism industry. In the following years, the firm constantly grew and finally owned over 2,300 companies. As of June 2019, HNA Group’s total assets reached ¥980.62bn (US$151.77bn) with its gross liabilities hitting ¥706.73bn.
MIAMI – The new Frontier Airlines (F9) A320neo family aircraft delivered from 2022 will now have the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The partnership is for 268 powerplants including spares.
The GTF engines will power 49 A320neo, 67 A321neo, and 18 A321XLR aircraft. The agreement includes 268 installed engines plus spares. In a dual press release released Monday, F9 and Pratt and Whitney announced a new partnership for 268 powerplants including spares.
Greener skies ☁️ are ahead for @FlyFrontier who earlier this week announced they have selected GTF engines to power their new fleet of 134 @Airbus#A320neo family aircraft. #WeArePW#FlyFrontier#FrontierAirlinespic.twitter.com/oCGqLpRVV4 Pratt & Whitney (@prattandwhitney) January 28, 2021