PHOTO & VIDEO: Malaysia Airlines A380 with Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKM fly past at Langkawi show

At the start of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition, a Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 9M-MNE flanked by four Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30MKM performed a fly past. A fifth Su-30MKM acted as spotter and coordinator.

A video of the fly past is embedded below.



Langkawi is a popular island getaway in the Andaman sea off the North-West coast of Malaysia. The Su-30MKM (Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Malaysia or Modernized Export Malaysia) is very similar to the Su-30MKI of the Indian Air Force.

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Boeing deliveries for Q1 2013

US air-framer Boeing reported its deliveries for the first calendar quarter for the year 2013. The impact of the 787 Dreamliner grounding is noticeable in the figures.

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Boeing opens new delivery centre at Everett factory for wide-bodies

Boeing has opened its new expanded Everett Delivery Center (EDC), from which, deliveries of the 747-8, 767, 777 and 787 will be effected.

The 180,000 sq. ft. facility triples the amount of office, conference and delivery operations space as the old EDC and is designed to increase operational efficiencies.

The building features three floors dedicated to customers and the delivery experience. Amenities include a customer lounge, a Tully's cafe, over 20 conference rooms, four contract signing rooms and 35 offices to support resident customers and on-site delivery teams. The building's highlight, a customer event area, offers sweeping views the Olympic Mountains beyond the neighbouring flight-line and Paine Field.

Seattle-based DLR Group created the "Embrace the Plane" design which features a unique, curved architecture. The design allows airplanes to pull up to the building and connect by custom boarding bridges, enhancing ease of customer travel. Construction led by Skanska began in March 2012.

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'Painted Skies News' - special aircraft liveries - Apr 3

This fortnight's edition of news on special liveries from Karsten Heiligtag. *cs = colour scheme

by Devesh Agarwal

A300B4-622R(F) 734 TC-MCC MNG Airlines Cargo
in service since 26/02/13 now in nearly full latest cs after paint (titles on white fuselage (blue tail cs do not swing into the rear fuselage as usually) but has the latest revised larger tail logo), ex all white cs http://www.fap.fi/view_photo.php?id=5142

A330-343(E) 1160 TC-JNI Turkish Airlines
seen at IST 23/03/13 with special "ISTANBUL2020" decal on forward lower fuselage http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=1208375

ATR 72-500 570 CX-LFL BQB Lineas Aéreas
seen at POA 19/03/13 with additional *leafes* , *snow* and *flower blossom* stickers
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7574682

BAe 146-300 3134 D-AWBA WDL
seen at CGN 13/03/13 with special "publitec" titles/logos on white cs
http://www.flugzeugbilder.de/show.php?id=1206571

B717-231 55058 / 5017 N936AT AirTran Airways
seen at ATL 06/03/13 back in full standard cs, ex special *Indianapolis Colts* cs http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=N936AT&distinct_entry=true

B737-83N(wl) 32616 / 1212 HS-DBJ Nok Air
arrived at DMK 17/02/13 in full *orange clownfish* cs named "Nok Raroeng" on delivery (2nd Nok Air aircraft painted in *orange clownfish* cs), seen in service at HKT 22/02/13, ex Jet Airways VT-JGN http://www.planespotters.net/Aviation_Photos/photo.show?id=361781

B737-86N(wl) 35220 / 2406 PH-TFF Arkefly
r/o at EMA 25/03/13 in new cs after paint http://www.irishairpics.com/photo/1046361/L/Boeing-737-86NWL/PH-TFF/Arkefly-OR--TFL/

DHC-8-402Q 4016 D-ADHQ Augsburg Airways
ferried 25/02/13 MUC-IGS for paint, ferried 01/03/13 IGS-MUC after paint into all white fuselage & all black tail cs (= basic STAR ALLIANCE cs, not painted in full STAR ALLIANCE cs as reported before), ferried 03/03/13 MUC-EXT, ferried 24/03/13 EXT-MUC prior operations for Swiss from 01/04/13 http://www.flickr.com/photos/66241575@N08/8586667843/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Embraer 195SR 19000169 VP-CQR NAS Air
seen at EXT 24/03/13 now with VP-reg and "nasair" titles on Windrose Air cs (was seen at EXT 16/03/13 still with UR-reg but already with "nasair" titles on Windrose Air cs), ex Windrose Air UR-WRF http://www.flickr.com/photos/66241575@N08/8587286444/sizes/l/in/photostream/

MD-11(F) 48481 / 482 N585FE FedEx
seen at DEL 25/03/13 in special "Panda Express" cs http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7577745

A320-216 2612 9M-AFA AirAsia
in service since 21/03/13 now in special "The Apprentice Asia" cs, ex special "Truly Asean" cs (last service 28/02/13) http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7579205

A320-214 2768 9H-AEO Air Malta (special "VALLETTA European Capital Of Culture 2018 Candidate City" cs)
ferried 02/04/13 MLA-OSR for tail section to be painted into new cs

ATR 72-500 758 HS-DRD Nok Air
delivered 20/02/13 XSP-DMK in ??? cs with M-reg, seen at DMK 01/04/13 with HS-reg in *violet/purple/pale pink/white/yellow* cs named "Nok Sai-Lom", ex M-IBAD, ex Kingfisher Airlines VT-KAK http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=608760295819266&set=o.310508655705024&type=1&relevant_count=1


B737-8BG(wl) 32356 / 819 ZS-SJL Mango
seen at JNB 09/02/13 with a special "brother at your side print copy scan fax label ... and more" decal
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7574829

B737-838(wl) 34187 / 3826 VH-VZU Qantas
seen at ADL 28/03/13 with an additional *Qantas loves ellen* sticker
http://planespottingadelaide.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/VH-VZU.jpg

B737-89P(wl) 39724 / 4383 B-5756 China Eastern Yunnan Airlines
delivered 29/03/13 ex BFI in special *Peacock* cs and with an additional "1000th Boeing airplane delivered to China" sticker next to front door
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOYhoKhv52znEIUDO7oVNqJOGKHd-wWHZrNY7s7Q5sseIsK41wS-MgaS6iU0zTs24fEP_u7f4EKPXMmJLWzUKG8X5bfCliW_YEGpx9A8q3EzHSNjnD718Ct20Q1VCBg0v9EPQr8lnxj4/s1600/B738+B-5756+CHINA+EASTERN.jpg

B737-8V3 40781 / 4396 HP-1830CMP Copa Airlines
delivered 28/03/13 BFI-SJO in STAR ALLIANCE cs without winglets
http://www.flickr.com/photos/smartjunco/8594413190/sizes/o/in/photostream/

B777-246 27652 / 72 JA8985 Japan Airlines
seen at HND 27/03/13 in special "Tokyo Disney Resort 30 The Happiness Year" cs, officially named "JAL Happiness Express" (different cs on port side / starbord side) ………. Reportedly Japan Airlines will paint six aircraft with this special "JAL Happiness Express" livery, two Boeing 777-200 and four Boeing 737-800.
http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=JA8985&distinct_entry=true

DHC-8-402Q 4016 D-ADHQ Augsburg Airways
seen at MUC 31/03/13 now in full STAR ALLIANCE, ex basic STAR ALLIANCE cs ............ ferried 01/04/13 MUC-ZRH on wet-lease to Swiss http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=1209764

MD-82 49524 / 1746 EP-MDC Iran Air Tours
seen at MHD 25/03/13 in hybrid Taban Air / Iran Air Tours cs, ex Taban Air EP-ARA
http://www.myaviation.ir/details.aspx?id=5456

Sukhoi SSJ 100-95B 95018 RA-89010 Aeroflot
seen at SVO 29/03/13 with special additional *CSKA* cheatline/titles/stickers
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Aeroflot---Russian/Sukhoi-Superjet-100-95B/2245950/L/&;sid=325306aa93c8099965a4c6878c2bb164

Japan Transocean Air's B737-4Q3 JA8939 *Whale Shark Jet* flying over the sea. Great shot!
http://www.airliners.net/photo/Japan-TransOcean-Air/Boeing-737-4Q3/2245256/L/&sid=ba77713fd1f6e38be5c3382cd01c4d9a

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IATA reports rising passenger traffic growth as business confidence returns

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), an airline industry association which represents some 240 airlines comprising 84% of global air traffic, announced global passenger traffic results for February showing that demand growth is accelerating on the back of stronger business confidence, particularly in emerging regions. Passenger demand rose 3.7% compared to February 2012.

October 2012 appears to have been a turning point for air travel markets. Since October, passenger demand has been growing at an annualized rate of 9%. This is almost double the growth trend over the first 9 months of 2012.

Read the Passenger Traffic Analysis for February 2013 at the end of the article

Tony Tyler, IATA Director General and CEO said

“February’s performance was good news. Demand for air travel continues to rise on economic optimism and improved business confidence. But that comes with a few caveats. Much of the growth is concentrated on emerging markets. Europe continues to be a laggard. And the handling of the banking crisis in Cyprus has reminded all of us that the deep problems in the Eurozone economies still remain,”

Capacity was up 1.0% on the previous February and the industry load factor stood at 77.1%. “Airlines are carefully managing capacity expansion, which is keeping the load factor at a record high. This is helping the industry to remain profitable despite persistently high oil prices.”

International Passenger Markets

February international passenger demand was up 3.6% compared to the year-ago period, and 0.9% compared to January. Capacity rose 1.1% versus February 2012 and load factor climbed 1.8 percentage points to 76.3%.

• Asia-Pacific carriers recorded an increase of 4.5% compared to February 2012. Continuing improvements in China’s economy and growth in intra-Asian trade provided strong support to the passenger business of the region’s airlines. With this robust performance, demand associated with Asia-Pacific’s emerging markets has been a major driver of the stronger growth in international traffic seen recently.
• European carriers recorded 0.8% growth compared to February 2012. Reflecting the contraction of the Euro-zone economy in the fourth quarter of 2012, European carriers have not seen any growth in international demand since October. They have responded by tightly managing capacity, which declined 2.0% year-on-year in February. This pushed the load factor up to 76.5%.
• North American airlines’ international traffic rose just 0.3% in February compared to February 2012; however this doesn’t reflect the significant underlying growth trend over recent months. International revenue passenger kilometres for North America are up 3% in February compared to October. The load factor rose to 76%, reflecting a 4.6% reduction in capacity year-on-year.
• Middle East carriers saw year-on-year demand expand by 10.6%--the strongest among all the regions. Capacity expansion was held to 9.7% with the result that load factor rose 0.7% points to 77.7%, the highest for any region.
• Latin American airlines posted year-on-year growth of 7.0%. A 9.9% rise in capacity, however, pushed load factor down 2.1 percentage points to 76.7%. Robust economic growth in countries such as Colombia, which is experiencing strong demand for commodities exports, is contributing to rising air travel.
• African airlines’ traffic climbed 7.7% compared to February 2012, second best among the regions, while capacity rose 3.9%, boosting the load factor 2.3 percentage points to 65.2%. The rise in load factor commenced in mid-2012, supported by an increase in demand and also from tighter capacity management.

Domestic Passenger Markets

Domestic markets climbed 3.9% in February compared to a year-ago, driven primarily by surging demand in China, as all other markets experienced declines with the exception of Australia, which rose 2.2%. Total domestic capacity was up 0.8% compared to February 2012 and load factor rose 2.3% points to 78.8%.

• US traffic dipped 0.6% in February while capacity dropped 2.5%, pushing load factor up to 80.4%, second highest among the domestic markets. As with international traffic, the year-on-year growth rate is masking a recent uptick in the growth trend. The US market has been growing at an annualized rate of 9% since the fourth quarter of 2012.
• China’s domestic traffic soared 20.2% compared to a year ago, reflecting the impact of Chinese New Year-related travel, but also the continuing acceleration of the economy. With capacity up 13.7%, load factor jumped 4.5 percentage points to 83.8%, which was the highest for any domestic market. Compared to January, traffic was up 5.3%.
• Japan’s domestic market contracted 3.1% compared to February 2012 owing to the flat-lining economy and related weak domestic demand for air travel. Japan’s domestic traffic is 12% below pre-Tsunami levels. Capacity fell 4.7% year-on-year and load factor was the lowest for any market at 62.4%.
• Brazil saw traffic fall 4.3% on a 10.6% plunge in capacity as the country’s airlines act to offset downward pressure on profitability, with economic growth continuing to fall below expectations. Load factor rose 4.6% points to 70.7%.
• Indian domestic traffic dropped 9.1% in February compared to a year ago. In addition to the slowing economy, Indian airlines have been reducing capacity from previously unsustainable levels. Capacity declined 7.5% in February and load factor slipped to 74.5%.

See some great aerial views of the ramp at New Delhi airport

On March 20, IATA raised its outlook for the industry’s earnings performance to a net profit margin of 1.6% from 1.3%. While the airline industry outlook is positive, margins are still thin, and any shock, like that of Cyprus can have extreme repercussions.

IATA is also concerned on the flight delays, longer lines at security and border check-points at US airports thanks to budget sequestration measures which began to take effect on Monday, April 1.

Tyler was critical of these measures saying

“It’s unfair that air travellers should suffer the impact of sequestration given that airlines and passengers already pay around $4.5 billion a year in fees and taxes for the essential services of border control and airport security. It is unlikely that the savings that will be achieved from sequestration will offset the damage to the economy if air travel is discouraged by these cutbacks. Aviation is an important catalyst for economic growth and prosperity. The cost of the shocks, uncertainty and unpleasant surprises can only hamper efforts to revive the economy. The government’s priority should be on extracting the greatest economic benefit possible from aviation—not making it more difficult to do business,”

You can download the detailed Passenger Traffic Analysis for February 2013, here or read it online below.

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AirAsia India commences recruiting flight attendants

AirAsia India will be hiring cabin crew for its flight operations in India which is planned to be based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

The airline is inviting aspiring flight attendants to attend its walk-in interviews to be held on Saturday 13 April 2013 at Chinmaya Heritage Centre, 2, 13th Avenue, Harrington Road, Chetpet in Chennai, from 9am to 3pm. Successful candidates will be required to attend a final interview the next day, on Sunday 14 April 2013.

The airline claims to be looking for those with utmost passion, outgoing personality, inexhaustible smile, boundless energy and good communication skills.

AirAsia Group Head of Flight Attendants, Suhaila Hassan said,

“We welcome aspiring flight attendants to come to our walk-in interview and make their way to be a member of the great AirAsia family. At AirAsia, we are keen to discover talents and encourage our AirAsia Allstars to develop themselves further. We are steadfast in our belief in equal opportunity and meritocracy which help nurture our Allstars, who in turn, made AirAsia the best low cost airline in the world. Come and discover a great career with us, and the opportunity to fly high with the best!”

Male and female flight attendant candidates must be between 20 to 35 years old, possess the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and fluent in oral and written English, plus local language. Experienced flight attendants or fresh graduates of any discipline are also welcomed. Height requirements are 160cm minimum / 170cm maximum barefooted for female candidates, while for male candidates it is min. 170cm / max. 180cm barefooted.

Applicants need to bring along a completed application form (downloadable here), recent resume, original and copies of ID and passport, original and copies of education certificate(s), one recent passport-sized colour photograph and one recent full-body colour photograph (postcard size).

All candidates must be dressed in business attire for the walk-in interview. For female candidates, they are required to wear knee-length skirts with full make up.

For any enquiries pertaining to the recruitment drive email gottalent@airasia.com on log on to the AirAsia job site.

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Emirates and Qantas begin their partnership

by Devesh Agarwal

Qantas A380 welcomed with a water cannon salute

Dubai based Emirates and Australian carrier Qantas have officially started their partnership.

The first Qantas flights departed from Sydney and Melbourne to London via Dubai on March 31.

In the partnership the two carriers will collaborate to deliver network, lounges, frequent flyer benefits and travel experiences over 98 flights a week between Australia and Dubai.

A white-paper providing an overview of the Emirates-Qantas partnership at a glance can be download here.

As part of the Qantas-Emirates partnership, there is a synchronisation in the services of the two airlines. The start also marks an enhancement in Qantas services to match those offered by Emirates.

• A return to a Middle East stopover for the Kangaroo route (Sydney-Dubai-London and Melbourne-Dubai-London) following a 30 year absence while it operated via Asia.
• Lounge access for eligible Qantas and Emirates passengers into either airline’s network in Australia, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and the UK and Europe.
• Chauffeur Drive for Qantas Business and First Class passengers on flights (matching Emirates’ existing service).
• The ability to redeem existing Qantas Frequent Flyer or Emirates Skywards points for flights to 175 destinations worldwide, on both airlines.
• Reciprocal status recognition for frequent flyers across both networks (e.g. priority check-in for Qantas Gold Frequent Flyers when flying Emirates).
• Harmonised baggage policies, including an increase in Qantas’ Economy checked baggage allowance from 23kg to 30kg.

More details about premium class customer service enhancements are at the end of the story.

Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline. said

“The strength of this partnership stems from the fact the Emirates and Qantas brands are an excellent match. Emirates customers using a Qantas lounge or taking a Qantas flight will experience a level of service that is on par with what they expect from Emirates,”

Chief Executive Officer of Qantas, Alan Joyce said

Emirates-Qantas partnership flights map

“From today, our customers from Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney have one-stop access to 65 destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, the UK and Europe via the joint Qantas and Emirates network.

“By travelling through Dubai, Qantas customers can connect to the extensive Emirates network into Europe and the UK and fly directly to their destination,”

“Before today, the Qantas network offered five one-stop code-share destinations into Europe and the UK with our partners. From today, we offer access to 32 destinations in Europe on the combined Qantas and Emirates network.

“The new network will cut average journey times by more than two hours from Melbourne and Sydney to the top 10 destinations in Europe,”

Emirates and Qantas A380s parked at Concourse A, Dubai International Airport

Qantas Premium Class Enhancements

You can also download this document here.

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Photos: New Delhi airport - aerial views of the ramp, Jet's A330 fleet, Blue Dart and Kenya Airways freighters

by Devesh Agarwal

Once again the kind friends at Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd. (DIAL), the company which operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), supported the Aviation Photographers India Foundation by giving access to the airside, after they had received permission from the DGCA.

Yours truly, got on to a Rosenbauer turn-table ladder (TTL) of the airport fire-fighting team, and took some aerial shots of the airport in the dawn's early light.

Readers compliment us on the quality of photographs. It is possible due to supporters like DIAL, their management, their air-side chief Ashutosh Kulshreshtha, their fire chief Mr. Kadam, and all their respective team members. Some dare-devilry on my part after being up for 36 hours straight shooting through the night, was the spice added to this mix.

Enjoy the three aerial views and then continue scrolling down to see a photo of me in the TTL bucket way up in the sky, thanks to Praveen Sundaram.

This photo is of the old Terminal 2, which is now used exclusively for Haj flights. The ramp is being used as a large parking lot for the Jet Airways Airbus A330 fleet, and some aircraft from the Kingfisher fleet. Five A330-200s and one new A330-300 are parked. The seventh A330 is parked on the remote ramp, visible in the second picture. Six A330-200s are almost half the Jet Airways fleet. One has to question why are they parked up in Delhi and not being used. There are rumours that Jet is going to lease them to Etihad. More Jetihad.



The remote ramp of the mega Terminal 3. This photo has two rare events in one. First is the Kenya Airways Cargo Boeing 737-300, not seen before this date. Second, is a rare daylight confluence of four Blue Dart freighters of their fleet of six aircraft. Two 757s parked, one 757 taxiing out, and the sole 737-200 near the top right of the photo, waiting to line-up and take-off.



Normally performed by an Airbus A340-300, this day Finnair flight AY021 non-stop from Helsinki, was performed by a Boeing 757-200 with winglets. Unfortunately this aircraft OH-LBT went technical and could not perform the return flight.



And here I am ....... way up there. Let me say, despite the supports on the trucks, the bucket wobbles and sways. It was scary and one has to be very gentle in their movements. Hats off to these fire-fighters.

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