Etihad Regional plan a challenge for Etihad as BAZL investigates

Virgin Australia eyes A$1bn IPO in mid-4Q23 - reports

Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) is eyeing a November 2023 stock market initial public offering (IPO) according to a Reuters report. That outlet, citing a "source with direct knowledge of the matter," says the listing aims to raise AUD1 billion Australian dollars (USD660 million).

The timing aligns with Australian financial reporting requirements and the end of the local financial year on June 30. Given it will take around two months to compile and audit the FY22/23 accounts, the airline can take fresh financial accounts to investors over the September/October period. Those accounts will show the highest profits margins in 15 years and a profit running into the hundreds of millions of dollars.

US-based private equity firm Bain Capital acquired a 93% stake in Virgin Australia in 2020 after the airline filed for voluntary administration earlier that year. The airline consequently delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Bain picked up Australia's second biggest passenger airline for AUD3.5 billion (USD2.31 billion), including AUD731 million (USD482.6 million) in cash. As reported in ch-aviation earlier this...

Malabo shortlists two firms to manage CEIBA Intercont'l

Bangladesh blocks UAE's bid for 5th freedom rights

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has declined to extend fifth freedom traffic rights to Emirati carriers, saying the ongoing construction of the third terminal at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport means increasing the amount of traffic into the airport isn't presently appropriate. However, the CAAB did say their position could change once the works are complete.

The rejection followed two days of bi-lateral talks in Dhaka this week between Bangladeshi and UAE officials. Also in attendance were representatives of Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia. The Arab airlines were reportedly keen to acquire additional landing rights at Dhaka, as well as fifth freedom rights, although there were no details disclosed about where those fifth freedom flights might be to.

"Proposals for increased flight operations will be reviewed subject to future capacity expansion of airports. However, implementation of the fifth freedom air rights will not be possible," said the CAAB in a statement.

According to ch-aviation capacities data, seven airlines fly between the UAE and Bangladesh, with UAE carriers dominating....

Airbus delays A350F service entry to early 2026

Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) has confirmed the delivery of its first A350F to a customer will now take place in early 2026, a few months later than originally planned.

Airbus recently began machining the first components for the A350F at its Nantes plant and had originally hoped to deliver the first aircraft by the end of 2025. It did not provide a specific reason for the revised timeline.

"We are in the execution of the program, we are in the development phase, we are starting the initialisation of the product, so we are updating constantly the planning and what we have said today reflects a slight slippage of the overall planning," Interim Chief Financial Officer Xavier Tardy said during an earnings call.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Airbus has so far gained 39 firm orders for the A350F, which will be a derivative of the A350-1000. The largest disclosed customers are Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways, each with seven units on order.

The rival B777-8F...