Iran orders 118 Airbus aircraft

The state of Iran has officially announced that it has placed a US$ 25 billion order with Airbus for the supply of 118 aircraft to completely replace Iran Air's aging fleet. The break down is as follows:

12 A380s
16 A350-900s
45 A330s
45 A320s 

The government has said that it is in talks with Boeing too for an order for 100 planes as well as ATR/Bombardier/Embraer for another order of up to 40 regional jets.

Thai Airways A350 configuration revealed

Thai Airways has revealed via filing to OAG, the interior cabin configuration of its fleet of Airbus A 350-900s of which the airline has ordered 12 units.

TG's A359s will seat 321 passengers in a dual class layout with 32 business class + 289 in economy class. The first route shall be Melbourne-Bangkok nonstop on a daily basis effective 01JUL16.

Oman Air announces China and USA plans

Article source: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/oman-...st-china-route-in-july-619266.html

Main highlights:

i. 4 weekly MCT-CAN (Guangzhou) flights to be launched from July using a B788. PEK was first choice but could not be accommodated due to a variety of issues. (I bet it was slots related)

ii. New York daily operation to commence from S18 season

iii. New flights to IST to be launched this summer

iv. Total frequencies to Iran to increase to 21 from this summer due to anticipated market growth demand

v. CDG to be increased to daily nonstop flights from the current 5

vi. LHR to be increased from daily to double daily but no clear cut start date mentioned

Delta announces $4.5 billion net profit in 2015 and interested in C Series

Delta Airlines has officially announced a record breaking net profit result for the 2015 full year totaling US$ 4.5 billion. 

In addition, their CEO Mr Richard Anderson has stated that the Bombardier C Series aircraft is "very impressive" and he would seriously consider purchasing many "for the right price". 

DL has a serious requirement for both the C100 and C300 as long term future replacement aircraft for its fleet of 87 B717s + 57 A319s + 20 E90s + 10 B737-700s.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/delta-air-lines-announces-december-120000618.html

Kuwait Airways increases Manila

Kuwait Airways has confirmed that it has secured bilateral approval to boost its Manila bound flights from the current 6 to 9 weekly effective 27MAR16. 

Currently, KU operates 6 times per week to MNL via BKK using an A332 with full 5th freedom traffic rights on the BKK-MNL-BKK sectors however from the on set of the IATA S16 season, these shall be boosted to 9 times weekly with the 3 new flights being scheduled as follows:

Days: MON/WED/FRI 
Aircraft: A340-300
 
KU 417 Dep KWI 0355 Arr MNL 1910
KU 418 Dep MNL 2110 Arr KWI 0135+1 

Comments:

The additional 3 weekly flights offer no convenient connections in any direction via KWI to any of KU's existing online destinations unless passengers wait for 8 hours at KWI airport which is very cumbersome!

China Southern to start Toronto

China Southern Airlines based out of Guangzhou has confirmed that it has applied to launch new nonstop services to YYZ-Toronto, Canada out of its hub base airport effective August 2016.

CZ's planned schedule is as follows:

Days: 1/3/5/7

CZ 311 Dep CAN 1430 Arr YYZ 1725
CZ 312 Dep YYZ 0130 Arr CAN 0530+1

All flights are to be operated using a Boeing 777-300ER which seats 309 pax in a 4 class layout i.e. 4F + 34J + 44PE + 227Y. Point to point demand between YYZ and CAN (Guangzhou) over the past year was 31,000 passengers but the main focus of CZ's service will be trying to poach away transfer traffic bound to mainland China via CAN + HKG/BKK/Vietnam. 

Arik Air announces Freetown and Libreville

Nigeria's largest airline i.e. Arik Air has unveiled its latest round of expansion into the West African market place after the outbreak of Ebola halted prior planned moves a year ago. 

The main highlights are as follows:

LBV (Libreville) - new 3 weekly flights to be launched effective 12FEB using a CRJ 1000 operated as LOS-PHC-LBV

FNA (Freetown) - reinstatement of flights effective 23FEB however it will be operated via ACC using a B737-800 three times per week with full 5th freedom traffic rights on ACC-FNA-ACC sector

On the ACC-FNA sector, the main competitor is Kenya Airways who currently operates a daily triangular service as ACC-FNA-ROB-ACC.

FYI ASKY used to operate LOS-LBV nonstop 4 times per week until it suspended the service in March 2015 in favor of increasing their own hub service i.e. LFW-LBV to all flights being nonstop. ASKY's current daily LFW-LBV service extends onwards to BZV.