China, Portugal boost frequencies under revised ASA ch-aviation PRO exclusive

Arkia Israeli Airlines (IZ, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) will become the launch operator for the A321neo(LR) variant following the collapse of Primera Air Scandinavia (PF, Billund), which was previously due to become the type's first user, FlightGlobal has reported.

Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) has reportedly not firmed the date of the first delivery yet, although it is likely to happen before the end of 2018.

Primera Air, a leisure focused airline turned transatlantic scheduled low-cost carrier, ceased operations on October 2. It was due to source its A321neo(LR)s via AerCap. At the time of its collapse, Primera blamed the delayed deliveries of the type as one of the reasons for its financial woes.

Arkia has three A321neo on order directly with Airbus, of which at least two have already been confirmed as the LR variant. The carrier will most likely use the twinjets to replace its last remaining B757-300. Arkia also operates two EMB-190s, and three EMB-195s, and has two A330-900s on order. It also wet-leases...

Portugália Airlines (NI, Lisbon) is considering its fleet growth options and might choose to replace its EMB-190s and EMB-195s with a larger type seating between 110 and 140 passengers, CEO Valter Fernandes told MRO Network.

"I hope to have a larger regional jet in the future - in the 110-140-seat bracket to keep it below the A319-100. We will definitely keep one fleet type only because we are not big enough to justify multiple manufacturers, so we will try to maximise our capacity in the sub-140-seat range. I don’t think we’ll grow next year, but there’s a strong chance we’ll grow in 2020," Fernandes said.

He did not elaborate whether Portugália would be looking at Embraer E2s or Airbus A220s for the possible growth.

The Portuguese regional production carrier is currently also limited by a scope clause with its parent TAP Air Portugal (TP, Lisbon).

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Portugália currently operates nine EMB-190LRs and four EMB-195ARs. It operates exclusively on behalf of its parent...

The new US start-up low-cost carrier promoted by David Neeleman would be targeting secondary cities and offer a mix of short- and medium-haul services onboard its A220-300s, Neeleman told Bloomberg.

Tentatively, the airline plans to avoid major hubs and is also considering international destinations. The main base has not been selected yet.

Neeleman said that the carrier, tentatively named Moxy Airways, would focus on technology to improve its product.

"jetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK) was a customer service company that just happened to fly airplanes. Moxy will take that a little bit further. It will be a technology company that just happens to fly airplanes," Neeleman said, referring to jetBlue, which he also founded.

Neeleman clarified that he expected to finalise the order for Pratt & Whitney engines for its sixty A220-300s in the coming weeks. The new airline would then apply for all necessary permits in 2019, but would only commence flights in 2021, when the first of the Airbus narrowbodies are due to deliver.

The...