CAPA News Briefs

Avianca, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (18-Jun-2019) the appointment of Anko van der Werff as Avianca Holdings CEO, effective 15-Jul-2019. Avianca's board set Mr van der Werff's main objective as "continuing the ambitious corporate transformation plan underway, strengthen client loyalty and consolidate the carrier's competitiveness".

AirAsia X Group CEO Nadda Buranasiri stated (17-Jun-2019) the addition of its A330neo aircraft increases the "ability to bring new destinations into play", adding: "Direct flights to Europe and the US are now possible, and we are working on many exciting network and product plans to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by this aircraft's extended range and significant cost efficiencies, which will be announced in due course". [more - original PR] 

Boeing released (17-Jun-2019) its market outlook for the 10 years to 2028 at the 2019 Paris Air Show, forecasting a strong commercial aviation industry, a growing aerospace and defence market and stable defence spending. Details include:

• Commercial aviation:
  • Commercial outlook projects a USD16 trillion market, driven by a rising requirement for 44,040 new aircraft and related services;
  • Projected demand for USD3.1 trillion in commercial aircraft as operators replace older aircraft with more capable and fuel efficient models and expand their fleets to accommodate steady growth in air travel across emerging and established markets;
• Aerospace, defence and services:
  • Aerospace and defence market value of USD8.7 trillion for the 10 years to 2028, up from USD8.1 trillion in 2018;
  • Defence and space opportunities projected at USD2.5 trillion as governments modernise military platforms and systems, pursue new technologies and capabilities and accelerate exploration. 40% of expenditure is expected to originate outside the US;
  • Services market valued at USD3.1 trillion.

Boeing CFO and EVP of enterprise performance and strategy Greg Smith commented: "Aerospace and defence continues to be a healthy and growing industry over the long term, boosted by strong fundamentals across the commercial, defence and services sectors and demand that is geographically diverse and more balanced between replacement and growth than ever before". [more - original PR]

Boeing released (17-Jun-2019) its 2019 commercial market outlook at the 2019 Paris Air Show, reporting that growth in passenger volumes and increasing aircraft retirements will drive the need for 44,040 new jet aircraft valued at USD6.8 trillion over the next 20 years. The global commercial aircraft fleet will sustain the need for aviation services valued at USD9.1 trillion, resulting in a total commercial market opportunity of USD16 trillion through to 2038. Details include:

• Passenger traffic to grow at an average of 4.6% and cargo traffic to grow at 4.2%;
• 44% of new aircraft deliveries will replace ageing aircraft, while the rest will accommodate growth;
• The global commercial fleet is expected to reach 50,660 aircraft by 2038, marking the first time the projected fleet has exceeded 50,000;
• Narrowbody aircraft will remain the largest segment, with projected demand for 32,420 new aircraft valued at USD3.8 trillion. The market will be driven "in large part" by the continued strength of LCCs, healthy replacement demand and continuing growth in Asia Pacific;
• Boeing forecasts demand for 8340 new widebody passenger aircraft valued at more than USD2.6 trillion. Demand is led in part by "a significant wave" of older aircraft requiring replacement "in a few years". Operators are expected to require 1040 new large production freighters;
• Asia Pacific, including China, will continue to lead future growth, accounting for 40% of aircraft deliveries and 38% of total services value. North America and Europe round out the top three regions for future growth;
• The global fleet will continue to generate significant demand for aviation services, including supply chain support, maintenance and engineering services, aircraft modifications and airline operations. Boeing forecasts a USD9.1 trillion market for commercial aviation services with growth of 4.2% p/a;
• Major services categories are forecast to include a USD2.4 trillion market for maintenance and engineering and a USD1.1 trillion market for flight operations.

Boeing VP commercial marketing Randy Tinseth commented: "Notwithstanding some recent moderation in passenger and cargo traffic growth, all indications are pointing to our industry sustaining its unprecedented streak of profitable expansion. In fact, we see a market that is broader, deeper and more balanced than we have seen in the past. The healthy market fundamentals will fuel a doubling of the commercial fleet over the next two decades and a massive ecosystem of lifecycle solutions to maintain and support it". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

S7 Airlines received (17-Jun-2019) a new A320neo aircraft on lease from AerCap, marking the 100th aircraft in its fleet. The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G-JM engines and configured with eight business and 156 economy class seats. S7 Group chairman Vladislav Filev said new A320neo are replacing older aircraft in the fleet, with five A319s to be returned to the lessor in 2019. S7 Airlines operates 17 A320neo and A321neo aircraft. [more - original PR - Russian]

Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) reported (17-Jun-2019) the following US air ticket sales statistics for May-2019:

• USD9.2 billion in airline tickets sold by travel agencies, +5% year-on-year;
• USD511 average round trip ticket price;
• 27.4 million passenger trips settled by ARC for travel agencies, +3.5%;
• USD7.4 million in electronic miscellaneous document sales, -16% decrease. [more - original PR]

Lufthansa Group signed (17-Jun-2019) a new multi year partnership with Expedia Group to integrate Expedia into its network airlines' New Distribution Capability (NDC) partner programme. The agreement enables the display of travel offers by Lufthansa Group's network airlines Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines via Expedia's website, including the group's 'NDC Smart Offer'. The two companies will work together in expanding offerings globally, including the North American market throughout 2019 and 2020, as well as jointly develop technologies to provide travellers improved access to additional offers and ancillary services. [more - original PR - English/German]

Middle East Airlines signed (17-Jun-2019) a firm order for four A321XLR aircraft, making it the launch customer of Airbus' latest A320neo family aircraft. The agreement takes the carrier's A320neo family order to 15 aircraft, including 11 A321neo and four A321XLRs with deliveries set to commence in 2020. [more - original PR]

CFM International announced (17-Jun-2019) IndiGo placed an order for LEAP-1A engines for 280 A320neo and A321neo aircraft, the largest single engine order ever recorded. The contract is valued at more than USD20 billion at list price and includes spare engines and an overall support agreement. The LCC also signed a long term service agreement with CFM to support its LEAP-1A fleet. IndiGo is expected to take delivery of its first LEAP-1A equipped A320neo aircraft in 2020. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Virgin Atlantic signed (17-Jun-2019) an order for 14 A330-900neo aircraft with a further six options, valued at USD4.1 billion. The aircraft are set to replace the carrier's A330ceo fleet, with eight on firm order from Airbus and six to be leased from Air Lease Corporation. The A330-900neos will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines. Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said the acquisition will "play a pivotal role in our fleet transformation", adding the carrier will have improved the fuel efficiency of its aircraft by 32% compared with 2014. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in 2021 through to 2024. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Air Lease Corporation (ALC) signed (17-Jun-2019) an LoI for 100 Airbus aircraft at the 2019 Paris Air Show, including 50 A220-300s and 27 A321XLRs, making ALC the launch customer for the new A321XLR. The LoI also includes an incremental order for an additional 23 A321neos. The order increases ALC's cumulative orders to 387 Airbus aircraft, making it the OEM's third largest lessor customer. [more - original PR]

Airbus launched (17-Jun-2019) the A321XLR to complement the A321neo family, following "very positive feedback from the market". Key details of the new aircraft programme include:

• Range: 4700nm;
• Capacity: Typical 180 to 220 seats;
• Entry into service: 2023;
• Changes from the A321LR:
  • New permanent rear centre tank (RCT) for more fuel volume;
  • Modified landing gear for an increased maximum take off weight of 101 tonnes;
  • Optimised wing trailing edge flap configuration to preserve the same take off performance and engine thrust requirements as the A321neo;
• Cargo space: New RCT frees up extra underfloor volume for additional cargo and baggage on long range routes. [more - original PR]