Aircraft News - Asia / Pacific

Airguide Online, July 30, 2007

Jul 30, 2007

Air India, Boeing

India-based Air India took delivery of the airline's first 777-200LR (Longer Range) Worldliner airplane. This is the first 777 from Air India's order of 68 Boeing jetliners. The airline will receive an additional three 777-200LR Worldliner and three 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes this year. Air India's order for 68 Boeing jetliners, placed in December 2005, was the largest commercial airplane order in India's civil aviation history in terms of price. The order consisted of 23 777s, including eight 777-200LR Worldliners and 15 777-300ERs, and 27 787-8 Dreamliners. Additionally, Air India Express, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, ordered 18 Next-Generation 737-800s. Jul 27, 2007

Air India, Boeing

Air India will use the 777-200LR to offer for the first tme nonstop flights between the United States and India. It begins service to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport from Mumbai, India, on Aug. 1. Air India's 777-200LR will have a three-class configuration, including eight first-class cabins, 35 executive class and 195 economy seats. All executive class seats will turn into flat beds and economy seats will be larger, at 18.5 inches in width. Passengers also will have access to an in-flight entertainment system provided by Thales on video screens that measure 23 inches in first class, 15.4 inches in executive class and 10.6 inches in economy. Additionally, the airplane will be able to carry up to 15 tons of cargo. Jul 27, 2007

China Eastern Airlines, Airbus

China Eastern Airlines said it had agreed to buy 10 Airbus A320 series aircraft from Airbus with a list price of CNY4.64 billion yuan (USD$613 million). The airline said in a statement it would fund the purchase by bank loans or other financial arrangements, and the aircraft are expected to be delivered from March 2011 to June 2012. It gave no further details. In June, China Eastern said it had signed a contract to buy 30 A320 passenger jets from Airbus for less than the CNY13.9 billion (USD$1.74 billion) list price of the planes. Jul 23, 2007

Jet Airways, Boeing

Jet Airways Buys Three More Boeing 777s. India's Jet Airways said on Thursday it had exercised an option to buy three additional Boeing 777-300 aircraft scheduled for delivery in May, October and November 2009. Jet Airways has also purchased seven ATR72-500 aircraft scheduled for deliveries between December 2008 and July 2010, and leased six ATR72-500 aircraft, scheduled for delivery between November 2007 and November 2008, it said in a statement. It did not disclose the value of the deals. Jul 27, 2007

Jetstar, Airbus

Jetstar Jet In Bali Emergency Landing. A passenger jet operated by Australia's Jetstar with more than 300 people on board had to make an emergency landing on Indonesian island Bali due to engine problems, an airport official said on Monday. The Airbus was traveling from Bangkok to Melbourne when a fault was detected in one of its engines, Denpasar Airport spokesman Munir said. The plane diverted to Denpasar, where it made a successful emergency landing at 04:46 a.m. local time (2046 GMT on Sunday), and the problem was being investigated, the official said. Officials at Jetstar in Bali could not immediately be reached for comment. Jetstar, the low-cost subsidiary of Qantas Airways, has tripled in size since its launch three years ago. The international arm of the carrier currently flies to 10 Asian cities, with plans to add more flights this year. Jul 23, 2007

Jetstar, Qantas Airways, Airbus

Jetstar Eyes Major Airbus Order. Qantas Airways' low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar, said on Tuesday it was looking at making a large order for Airbus A320 aircraft to meet its growth plans for Australia and Asia. Jetstar Chief Executive Alan Joyce said the airline needed a "very large" order to meet growth plans from 2009 onwards, particularly in Asia where it has bought a stake in Vietnam's Pacific Airlines. Parent Qantas said in March it had ordered nine additional A320 aircraft for Jetstar, which is also scheduled to take delivery of 15 Boeing 787 planes in 2008. Jul 24, 2007

Lao Airlines, AVIC I

Lao Airlines sealed a deal with AVIC I for two MA60s. Earlier this month the Laotian flag carrier became the first foreign customer for the ARJ21 when it signed an LOI for two aircraft. Jul 23, 2007

Okay Airways, AVIC I

Okay Airways signed a lease agreement with AVIC I under which it will lease 10 of the 30 MA60s to which it committed at last year's Zhuhai Air Show. It will purchase the remaining 20. Okay is the first Chinese carrier to order the aircraft, which previously had been sold in Africa. Jul 23, 2007

Qantas Airways, Airbus

Qantas Airways' low-cost subsidiary, Jetstar, said on Tuesday it was looking at making a large order for Airbus A320 aircraft to meet its growth plans for Australia and Asia. Jul 24, 2007

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