Latest news with #AirbusA320Neo
Reuters
15-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Vietnam Airlines to raise core capital, buy 50 narrow-body planes
HANOI, May 15 (Reuters) - Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has received shareholder approval to increase its charter capital by 9 trillion dong ($347.10 million) for a long-term plan that included new planes purchases, the official Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday. At an extraordinary meeting, shareholders approved the airline's plan to buy 50 narrow-body planes, which can be either Airbus A320 Neo or Boeing B737-Max, the report said. ($1 = 25,929.0000 dong)
Arab News
02-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's flynas Middle East's fastest-growing airline from 2019-2024: report
RIYADH: Saudi low-cost carrier flynas's capacity increased by 63 percent from 2019 to 2024, making it the fastest-growing airline in the Middle East region, according to an analysis. In its latest report, UK-headquartered global travel data provider OAG said that flynas was closely followed by the UAE's flydubai, which witnessed a capacity rise of 55 percent from 2019 to 2024. The analysis revealed that both carriers operated nearly 14.4 million departing seats each during the period, with flynas edging ahead by 25,000 travelers. The strong capacity growth of flynas aligns with Saudi Arabia's national goal to establish itself as a global tourist and business destination. The Kingdom aims to attract over 150 million visitors by the end of this decade. 'The Middle East region's strategic position as a global hub, coupled with the dynamic expansion of both low-cost and network carriers, is driving unprecedented opportunities. This vibrant market is setting the stage for future advancements in aviation technology and passenger experience,' said Filip Filipov, chief operating officer of OAG. Although flydubai and flynas' networks are similar, the latter benefits from a large domestic market within Saudi Arabia, allowing it to operate a more diverse route network, OAG added. In February, flynas announced that it expects to receive more than 100 Airbus aircraft over the next five years, part of its broader deal for 280 Airbus jets. The airline aims to operate over 160 aircraft by 2030, with its 280-plane order worth more than SR161 billion ($43 billion), making it the largest holder of single-aisle aircraft purchase orders in the Middle East. Commenting on the growth of flynas in recent years, Paolo Carlomagno, partner at Arthur D. Little, said that competitive pricing and top-notch quality have played a crucial role in the airlines' rising popularity among travelers. 'In the past five years, flynas has delivered stellar growth thanks to several factors — endogenous and exogenous. A well-planned and executed network strategy and efficient seat capacity increases, primarily driven by fleet expansion with the Airbus A320Neo, which offers lower operating costs,' said Carlomagno. He added: 'Flynas has also expertly managed the difficult trade-off between pricing and quality of service and delivered strong operational performance over the past five years.' The Arthur D. Little official added that the growth of flynas as a leading air carrier globally could help Saudi Arabia achieve its national tourism goals as outlined in the Vision 2030 initiative. He further highlighted that flynas has a significant opportunity to expand, as the market penetration of low-cost carriers in the Kingdom is comparatively low compared to other leading markets. 'LCC market penetration in Saudi Arabia is still significantly lower than some other major aviation markets such as South East Asia and so there is still enormous potential for them to grow further. The 'democratization' air travel trend and the connectivity with 'secondary' routes will continue to boost demand in the Kingdom,' said Carlomagno. Middle East aviation market's outlook In its latest report, OAG stated that the Middle East's aviation market has grown by 5 percent since 2019, making it the world's second-fastest-growing region after South Asia, which saw a 12 percent increase over the same period. The analysis further said that this increase was fueled by a robust combination of low-cost carrier growth and legacy carrier capacity. 'In recent years, the Middle East has established a leading position in developing new markets and connecting the region to the rest of the world with non-stop services to all continents and key cities,' said OAG. It added: 'The region has a highly competitive environment with best-in-class airlines operating in all segments, alongside ambitious plans for new aircraft and routes. This makes the Middle East a real hot spot in the aviation industry.' The report highlighted that the Middle East is the sixth-largest region in the world based on available capacity, with 270 million one-way seats in 2024, placing the area ahead of Eastern Europe and behind South Asia. According to OAG, airlines operating in the Middle East region witnessed an international travel capacity expansion of 8.9 percent by the end of 2024 compared to 2019, the second-strongest pandemic recovery, only next to South Asia, whose capacity grew by 11 percent during the same period. Affirming the growth of the aviation sector in the region, a recent report by the International Air Transport Association revealed that airlines operating in the Middle East witnessed a 3.3 percent increase in passenger demand growth in February compared to the same month in 2024. IATA added that the total capacity of Middle Eastern flights also rose by 1.3 percent year on year in February. In March, another report by Oliver Wyman also highlighted the growth of the aviation sector in the region. It underscored that the fleet of commercial airlines in the Middle East is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1 percent from 2025 to 2035 to reach 2,557 aircraft. The consultant management firm added that this significant growth in the region is almost double the annual global growth rate, which is projected at 2.8 percent during the same period. According to the latest OAG report, low-cost carriers accounted for 29 percent of the capacity in the Middle East region in 2024, having more than doubled in the last decade from just 13 percent of capacity in 2014. Globally, low-cost carriers operated 34 percent of the capacity last year. Competition intensifies in Middle East market According to OAG, two Middle Eastern carriers have gained prominence worldwide. Emirates and Qatar Airways are the only regional airlines to feature in 2024's Top 20 Global Airlines for Capacity and the Top 10 Global Airlines by available seat kilometers — a measure of an airline's passenger carrying capacity. The report revealed that Emirates is now the 14th largest carrier globally by seat capacity and ranks 4th in terms of available seat kilometers. On the other hand, Qatar Airways has experienced dramatic growth over the last decade, as it developed Doha into a global connecting point and moved from being the 36th largest airline globally 10 years ago to the 19th in 2024. Regarding available seat kilometers, Qatar Airways also advanced from 17th in 2019 to the sixth largest globally in 2024. The capacity of Qatar Airways increased by 18 percent between 2019 and 2024. The capacity of Emirates dropped by 7 percent in 2024 compared to 2019, while Saudia's capacity declined by 11 percent during the same period. 'Competition across the region's leading airlines is increasing, with as much investment in product as network expansion,' said OAG. The study further stated that the Middle East market is likely to experience significant disruptions in the future as additional airline capacity is added through various airline business models and the creation of new airlines in the region. 'The launch of Riyadh Air is likely to be one of the most interesting disruptions in the Middle East market in the coming years, alongside the planned growth of rival Saudi airline Saudia and its move to a new base at Jeddah,' said OAG. It added: 'Although neither of these airlines is likely to challenge Emirates' traffic in the short term, they will create a new competitive landscape as Saudi carriers vie for both transfer traffic and inbound tourism.' According to OAG, the key feature of the aviation sector in the Middle East, and particularly the bigger markets of the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, is the depth of network that they offer to travelers. The report added that non-stop flights from the region's major hub airports reach every continent, with only a handful of international markets remaining unserved directly. Markets in South America, including Lima and Santiago, fall just outside the operational reach of the Middle East region. OAG further said that Doha to Auckland is currently the longest non-stop route operated from the Middle East by Qatar Airways, followed by Emirates' Dubai to Auckland route. 'In time, with ever-increasing aircraft ranges, it is likely these destinations will provide new markets for the network carriers to increase their revenues further,' the report added. It concluded: 'For the traveler, a seemingly ever-expanding choice of destinations to reach, along with increased competition, is likely to result in airfares remaining competitive throughout the region.'
BBC News
11-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Public Inquiry to start into Leeds Bradford Airport night flights
A public inquiry into night-time flying rules at Leeds Bradford Airport's is set to begin later. Ahead of the hearing, BBC Yorkshire's Transport Correspondent Spencer Stokes takes a look at the key issues at stake. What is the inquiry about? Chaired by an independent planning inspector, the inquiry will consider the legal meaning of the night-time flying rules at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA).Currently the airport is permitted 2,920 take offs and landings between 23:00 and 07:00 during the campaign group Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport (GALBA) say the airport has breached that limit in each of the past three LBA chief executive, Vincent Hodder says the rules, agreed by Leeds City Council in 1994, do not take into account changes to aircraft technology over the past 30 years to reduce noise. What's the background to the inquiry? GALBA say LBA has exceeded its night-time flight limits in 2022, 2023, and 2024 - in the most recent year it said the airport operated 820 more flights than airport has admitted it did "accidentally" breach the night time regulations in 2022 due to "errors taking place in reporting procedures", but claimed it had not gone over in 2023 and 2024 based on its interpretation of the a bid to update the 1994 planning consents, LBA applied to Leeds City Council last year for a Certificates of Lawfulness of Existing Use Development (CLEUDs).It said updating the rules would "provide the correct legal interpretation of the existing planning conditions governing the operation of night flights at LBA".However, two CLEUD applications were rejected by the council and the third was left "undecided", prompting LBA to appeal to the government's planning inspectorate. Where does Leeds City Council stand? Leeds City Council agreed the original planning consent in 1994 permitting 2,920 night flights, and is responsible for monitoring to make sure LBA does not breach the night time flights issued a breach of condition notice against LBA for the additional flights in 2022 and accepted the rules were broken again in 2023, but said the public interest for a prosecution had not been action has been taken after the alleged breach in summer 2024. Has aircraft technology changed? The European Commission said aircraft have become 75% quieter over the last 30 years, but an increase in the number of flights has resulted in a rise in noise disturbance for a greater number of who are based at Leeds Bradford Airport, have ordered 146 Airbus A320 Neo aircraft, which the airline said are 50% quieter than their current Boeing 737s. When will the public inquiry reach a decision? The Planning Inspector will hear evidence for four days, but it's likely to be several weeks or months before the final decision is says if LBA is successful at public inquiry "they will continue to fly hundreds more night flights than the original rules intended to allow.".The airport said it would not be going through the "difficult, time-consuming and expensive process if this wasn't important to our customers and the airport". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The National
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Sanad jet engine deal with Pratt & Whitney to create 1,000 jobs in Abu Dhabi
Jet engine maintenance specialist Sanad said its new aircraft engines overhaul deal with Pratt & Whitney will more than double its workforce and create more than 1,000 new jobs in Abu Dhabi, providing high-tech roles for Emiratis and diversifying economic activity. The Mubadala-owned Sanad will increase its workforce to as many as 2,000 employees, up from 700 in 2025, as it prepares to open a new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Al Ain by the end of 2028, Mansoor Janahi, managing director and chief executive of Sanad, said in an interview on the sidelines of Idex 2025 in Abu Dhabi. "Job creation with this new project will be 1,080, based in Al Ain. Our current workforce is 600 and we're going to be 700 by the end of this year. So you're talking about a workforce of anywhere between 1,700 and 2,000 [people] for this project," he told The National. "Currently our Emiratisation rate is 32 per cent and we are looking to reach over 50 per cent with the new project." The 30-year agreement with Pratt & Whitney is a "step-change" for Sanad because it will become the only MRO service provider for GTF engines in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions, according to Mr Janahi. Pratt & Whitney, which is owned by US aerospace giant RTX, last week said it added Sanad to its global network of GTF engine maintenance providers. The Al Ain-based facility will service PW1100G-JM and PW1500G engines for the Airbus A320 Neo and A220 aircraft, respectively, as well as the PW1900G engine for the Embraer E-Jet E2 aircraft with full MRO services and test capability. The Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network includes 20 shops across four continents, providing aftermarket services. The installed base of the GTF is 5,000 engines – powering the Airbus A320 Neo, the Airbus A220 and the Embraer's E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft – which is expected to double to 10,000 engines that will provide a strong demand for aftermarket services, according to Mr Janahi. Sanad's share of GTF engines' maintenance will be roughly 15 per cent of the global market, he said. This is expected to result in 360 shop visits per year, in addition to the 170 that Sanad completed in 2024 and the 200 shop visits it expects this year, he added. Its existing facility has capacity for 250 engines. Construction of the GTF facility will start "immediately" and when completed will span 64,000 square metres, Mr Janahi said. Sanad will invest in the construction of the plant, the company's boss said, declining to provide the size of investment or the means of funding. Separately, Sanad last week also announced that it will expand its MRO operations by using an existing facility in Al Ain belonging to Abu Dhabi's Ammroc, an MRO service provider for military and commercial aviation. Ammroc's plant spans 4,900 square metres and will become Sanad's fourth facility as it increases capacity to meet rising global demand for MRO services. This facility will expand Sanad's production capacity from 250 to 300 engines per year. Soaring air travel demand and delays in new jet deliveries are forcing airlines to keep older aircraft in their fleet for longer, putting pressure on repair shops globally. Surging demand for jet maintenance also comes as airlines and manufacturers struggle with supply chain snags in the wake of the pandemic and more frequent engine repairs. "There's a huge demand for engine MRO services and we work with all OEMs and we've built that credibility and trust. The OEMs are coming to us to say 'we'd like to do more'. The Ammroc facility in Al Ain will be purely to address the existing portfolio," Mr Janahi said. Sanad's new facility in Al Ain will be operational by end of 2028 and will be "purpose-built" to specifically service the GTF engines, he said. "Our strategy has been to invest in a diversified product portfolio with a nice mix of legacy and new-generation engine. We are seeing legacy [engines] flying longer and the new ones having challenges in terms of durability. So the strategy is coming together from a maintenance perspective because there is demand for legacy and new engines," Mr Janahi said. "It's always been a strategy to future-proof the business ... with multi-OEMs and multiple products." That strategy to diversify the portfolio has paid off in terms of reducing risk, he added. Sanad has a long-standing relationship with Pratt & Whitney spanning more than 12 years through an MRO deal for V2500 engines that power the classic version of A320 aircraft. The agreement to add Sanad to Pratt & Whitney's GTF MRO network is part of RTX's offset programme with the UAE's Tawazun Council, the companies said. There are 11,000 GTF engines on order to date so there is a "tremendous opportunity" for aftermarket services, Marc Meredith, vice president of GTF Aftermarket Programmes at Pratt & Whitney, told The National. Pratt & Whitney's upgraded engine, the GTF Advantage, will be coming to market and the company is looking to win a share of the 34,000 single-aisle aircraft that airlines will require over the next two decades. "We see a long, bright future for the GTF as a programme, so as part of that, we need to have a number of engine overhaul centres to repair engines and that's where Sanad comes in," he said. Having an MRO centre in the region for GTF engines will save transport time and cost, filling the gap that existed in its global network of centres, he added. P&W will train 20 Sanad engineers on overhauling GTF engines and then they will train the local workforce. The deal will help ease MRO service capacity and satisfy the existing order and new orders in the future, Mr Meredith said. He declined to comment on the problems currently facing the GTF engines. A rare powder metal defect in these engines has affected mainly the A320 Neo jets, leading the manufacturer to call for inspections.
