China’s Sichuan Airlines offers cash to Air Belgium - report

Air Belgium retires last A330-200F

Air Belgium (KF, Brussels Charleroi) retired its last A330-200F in mid-October 2023, ch-aviation research has revealed.

OO-SEA (msn 1594) completed its last long-term ACMI contract for Air France at the end of September. It flew its final single cargo charter from Marseilles to N'Djamena and return on October 5, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows. It was then ferried from Brussels National to Châteauroux Déols Marcel Dassault on return to the lessor on October 16.

The aircraft was the last of four ex-Qatar Airways freighters operated by Air Belgium under a CMI deal with French logistics giant CMA CGM. The other three were already moved to the firm's in-house carrier CMA CGM Air Cargo.

The airline's cargo fleet comprises two A330-200(P2F)s and three B747-8Fs (of which one is parked for maintenance). It also operates two A330-200s and two A330-900s. The carrier is currently in judicial restructuring after exiting its "chronically unprofitable" scheduled passenger operations.

Madagascar Airlines axes E2 plan, ends ACMI long haul ops

Madagascar Airlines (MGY, Antananarivo) has axed a plan to add E190-E2s, suspended its international operations, and replaced its chairwoman as it grapples with a "critical financial situation" and focuses on restoring its core domestic operations.

The carrier previously said in December 2022, it would source three E190-E2s via Azorra Aviation, but ch-aviation understands an agreement has never actually been signed with the lessor. Madagascar Airlines Managing Director Thierry de Bailleul, who took up his post around the time the government announced the plan, said that on reflection, the type was not as well suited to the carrier's needs as first thought. "It is too early for Madagascar Airlines to bet on an Embraer 190-E2," he said.

de Bailleul also said he had concerns about the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines fitted to the Embraers, saying there was too much uncertainty around their reliability. "There are huge concerns with these engines," he said. "The engine manufacturer who designs them certainly uses revolutionary, high-performance technology, but these engines remain fragile for...

Editorial Comment: Adjusted article to further clarify that the aircraft were not on order from Embraer but were to be leased from Azorra, even though an agreement with Azorra was not actually reached either. - 11.11.2023 - 13:34 UTC

Air Greenland extends network, eyes narrowbody purchase

Court approves judicial restructuring of Air Belgium

Nivelles Commercial Court, south of Brussels, has approved the request of Air Belgium (KF, Brussels Charleroi) to initiate judicial restructuring, the newspapers La Libre Belgique and L'Echo reported on the evening of September 25. The airline, headquartered in nearby Mont-Saint-Guibert, now has four months, until January 22, to submit its new business plan.

“For now, our activities are protected and your jobs are preserved,” Niky Terzakis, Air Belgium’s chief executive and accountable manager, declared in a message addressed to the approximately 500 employees.

Last week, the carrier announced it would end its “chronically unprofitable” passenger flights from October 3, affecting around 11,000 passengers, and seek protection from creditors through court-led restructuring (Procédure de Réorganisation Judiciaire - PRJ). It intends instead to focus exclusively on cargo and ACMI operations.

Air Belgium sustained a loss of more than EUR44 million euros (USD46.5 million) in 2022, making cumulative losses since the start of operations in 2016 around EUR91.6 million (USD97 million) and giving the company negative equity by the end of last year of EUR41 million (USD43.4...