Wednesday, 25 January 2012

IFALPA sources the following items from a wide variety of media and they may not necessarily represent the views of the Federation. Publication in The Daily News does not infer that IFALPA endorses the views expressed.

1.      Norwegian signs for 222 new aircraft

2.      Saudi Arabian orders eight B777s

3.      ILFC completes nearly 300 leases in 2011

4.      Sale of Barajas and El Prat airports halted

5.      Piece of Aviation History

6.      Quote of the Day

7.      A Bit of Light Relief

Norwegian signs for 222 new aircraft

Norwegian has announced that it has made the “largest ever aircraft acquisition in Europe”.

The orders, a mix of Boeing and Airbus products, are worth an estimated value, at list prices, of NOK 127 billion ($21.5 billion). Deliveries are due to commence in 2016.

For Boeing, the firm orders represent the largest ever from a European airline, and consists of 100 B737MAX8’s and 22 B737-800 Next Gens. It also makes Norwegian the European launch customer of the MAX.

The low cost carrier has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 100 A320neo’s. It is the first order Norwegian has placed with Airbus.

Also included in the agreements are purchase rights for another 150 aircraft, 100 B737MAX8’s and 50 A320neo’s.

“Today is a historic day for Norwegian. The order is the largest ever in European aviation history and marks a major milestone in the company’s 10 year history. We have secured our fleet renewal for years to come and are very pleased with the agreements with both Airbus and Boeing,” said CEO Bjørn Kjos.

Saudi Arabian orders eight B777s

Saudi Arabian Airlines has ordered eight B777-300ERs worth $2.4 billion at list prices.  The order was announced when the airline took delivery of two of the type from a previous order. Boeing said that the order for the eight aircraft had already been accounted for on its order and deliveries web site for 2011.

"With the ongoing growth of business and industry in Saudi Arabia”, said H.E. Eng. Khaled Al-Mulhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, “demand in domestic, regional and international travel is also increasing rapidly and the 777-300ER will play a significant role in our long-term strategy growth to expand and modernize our fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient airplanes”.

ILFC completes nearly 300 leases in 2011

ILFC completed a total of 296 lease transactions last year. The transactions, valued at more than $800 million, include extensions and placements from its own fleet and sale-leasebacks for another 20 aircraft.

The lessor’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Philip Scruggs commented “ILFC continues to move forward with initiatives to deepen our customer relationships and expand our customer base of over 180 airline operators. Our size and scope are important advantages that allow us to meet the ever-changing fleet needs of airlines around the world”.

Sale of Barajas and El Prat airports halted

The sell-off of Spain’s two largest airports, Madrid’s Barajas and Barcelona’s El Prat has been stopped. The sale had hoped to raise over €5 billion.

However, Development Minister, Ana Pastor, said that the current economic climate was not conducive to selling airports authority AENA, owner and operator of Barajas and El Prat, and that the issue had been postponed.

Piece of Aviation History for January 25

1959 – American Airlines becomes the first airline to begin operating a US coast-to-coast jet service.

The service from New York to Los Angeles, uses Boeing 707s.

Quote of the Day

Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.  Theophrastus, (372 BC - 287 BC)

A Bit of Light Relief

Recently I learned a lesson in marketing from a man who bought an old boat, a trailer and a motor from me. "Thanks," he said as he loaded them up. "I'm planning to resell them."
Good luck, I thought. I had been trying to get rid of them for months. But when I ran into him a few weeks later, he'd sold everything.
"How did you manage that?" I asked.
"I placed an advert in the local newspaper: 'Heavy-duty boat trailer with free boat.' When the buyer came to get it, I asked if he had a motor. He said no. I told him I happened to have one in my garage. He bought that, too."