07.12.2023 - 06:37 UTC
S7 Airlines (S7, Novosibirsk) has been unable to acquire the much-anticipated Irkut-manufactured MC-21-300 narrowbody as almost all have been pre-ordered several years in advance by Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo). But this is not necessarily bad, as their new PD-14 turbofan engines have such a short service life, S7 Group’s chairman of the board of directors, Evgeny Elin, said at a recent conference.
Speaking at the Russian Industrialist Forum in St. Petersburg last week, Elin said that the engines will have only 3,600 flight hours between overhauls, in contrast to the 40,000 hours of on-wing time typical of the Franco-American CFM International CFM56. This means the engines will have to be removed and sent for overhaul every year, implying more time on the ground and less commercial service.
Even the Aviadvigatel PS-90 turbofan that powers the Il-76, Il-96, and Tu-204/Tu-214 series has a period between repairs that is almost twice as long, 6,000 hours, he added.
The MC-21, for which the Russian flag carrier firmed...
06.12.2023 - 22:20 UTC
Cebu Pacific Air (5J, Manila Ninoy Aquino International) has sealed a deal with Bulgaria Air (FB, Sofia) to take two A320-200s over five months in 2024 on a damp lease basis. The aircraft will primarily work two domestic routes - Manila Ninoy Aquino to Cebu and Manila Ninoy Aquino to Davao.
"We continue to explore various opportunities to supplement the fleet and ensure operational resilience. This includes signing a damp lease agreement with Bulgaria Air for five months in 2024," Cebu Pacific President and CCO Xander Lao told local outlets this week.
A spokeswoman has since confirmed to ch-aviation LZ-FBD (msn 2596) and LZ-FBK (msn 7345) should start flying in Southeast Asia from mid-January.
The short-term arrangement is in response to burgeoning demand and capacity restraint, partly due to ongoing Pratt & Whitney engine issues that currently see two of Cebu's A320-200Ns parked for maintenance purposes. Bulgaria Air has five A320-200s, with three of those in storage at Varna.
"We expect to increase our...
06.12.2023 - 03:38 UTC
Cathay Pacific (CX, Hong Kong International) is favouring Airbus over Boeing as it mulls an upcoming freighter order, according to Reuters. The airline, previously keen on the B777-200F, now reportedly prefers the A350F and is working on an order for six of the type.
The news agency, citing industry sources, did not say why the airline was switching but did say it had recently paused the decision-making process for several months before coming back to the table. Speaking to ch-aviation at the recent Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) Assembly of Presidents in Singapore, CEO Ronald Lam said they were "actively working" on a new order.
"Hong Kong has been the world's number one air cargo hub in terms of volume and expertise, and Cathay Cargo has been a key part of that success," he said. "We are determined to retain that success, and to do that, we believe that investment in freighters is important. We're committed to it and working with OEMs on it."
Cathay Pacific is the...
