Boeing, flydubai announce historic single-aisle agreement

By BA Staff

Boeing and flydubai announced a commitment for up to 100 737 MAX 8 airplanes and 11 Next-Generation 737-800s at the Dubai Airshow.

The commitment from the airline of the emirate of Dubai, valued at $11.4 billion at list prices (including orders and purchase rights), is the largest ever Boeing single-aisle airplane purchase in the Middle East. flydubai operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai said:

"flydubai is pleased to continue its partnership with Boeing. We believe that the commitment for up to 111 Boeing 737 aircraft will give flydubai one of the best performing aircraft available in the single-aisle market. This will ensure that flydubai is well positioned to continue to set new standards in aviation and support the further economic development of the United Arab Emirates."

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner said:

"We are extremely proud of the confidence that flydubai continues to place in our products operating an all-Boeing fleet. We look forward to continue strengthening our partnership and seeing the Next-Generation 737-800 and subsequently the 737 MAX play a central role in flydubai's rapid expansion plans."

flydubai placed its first order for 50 Next-Generation 737-800s in 2008. The airline took delivery of its first airplane in 2009 and was the first airline in the world to debut the Boeing Sky Interior. To date, flydubai has taken delivery of 33 Next-Generation 737-800s. In the past two years, flydubai has more than doubled the number of destinations it flies to and has around 1,200 weekly flights. flydubai carried 5.1 million passengers in 2012 and has become the second largest carrier, by passenger numbers, operating out of Dubai International, after big brother and fellow group company Emirates airline.

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Boeing, Xiamen Airlines celebrate airline's 100th airplane

By BA Staff

Boeing and Xiamen Airlines celebrated the 100^th airplane to join China's only all-Boeing carrier.

Formed in 1984 as China's first joint venture between CAAC and a municipal government, Xiamen Airlines started services in 1985 with two Boeing 737-200s serving three cities. The carrier has grown into China's sixth largest carrier serving 218 domestic routes and 26 international and regional routes. With today's delivery of a Boeing 737-800, Xiamen Airlines' fleet now consists of 100 airplanes – 17 737-700s, 77 737-800s and six 757-200s.

Che Shanglun, President and Chairman of Xiamen Airlines said:

"Having an all-Boeing fleet is a key component in our growth strategy and our ability to achieve 26 consecutive years of profitability. With excellent reliability, operational efficiency and range, the Boeing airplanes enable us to expand our network internationally." 

As part of Xiamen Airlines' 12^th five-year plan ending 2015, the carrier plans to grow its operational fleet to 136 airplanes, including six 787s.

Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

"Xiamen Airlines is a valued customer of The Boeing Company and we are delighted to see the remarkable growth of Xiamen Airlines over the past 29 years. We look forward to continuing such a longstanding partnership by providing more value with our industry-leading products and services."

Boeing projects investments of nearly $800 billion in China for 5,580 new commercial airplanes to be delivered during the next 20 years. That would account for 16 percent of global demand, and reflects a requirement of nearly 200 single-aisle and over 60 twin-aisle airplanes each year on average.

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Delta adds new services to Seattle-Tacoma

By BA Staff

Delta 737NG. Boeing photo.

Delta Air Lines will add new daily non-stop flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from San Diego International Airport and Portland International Airport as well as an additional flight from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, beginning next year. The new service will provide customers with convenient connections to the airline's growing international network from Seattle.

Delta's new and expanded Seattle service includes:

• Four new daily nonstop flights from San Diego beginning June 2, 2014.
• Four new daily nonstop flights from Portland, Ore. beginning Sept. 2, 2014.
• One summer seasonal flight from Anchorage, Alaska beginning June 5, 2014 in addition to returning seasonal service which begins on May 23, 2014.

In addition, Delta is adding double Medallion Qualification Miles to its recently announced Seattle double miles campaign. SkyMiles members now have the opportunity to earn double miles and double Medallion Qualification Miles for Seattle service between Anchorage, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego and San Francisco on all Delta-marketed and Delta or Delta Connection-operated flights through Oct. 31, 2014

Mike Medeiros, Delta's vice president – Seattle said:

"We have continued to strategically add service from key markets in an effort to support passenger demand for our expanding international destinations. Delta's most recent additions will provide our customers with one-stop access to and from several of the top international and domestic destinations via our growing global gateway in Seattle."

Delta's new service from San Diego and Portland will be operated by Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines using 76-seat, two-class CRJ-900s. The additional Anchorage-Seattle seasonal service will be operated with a Boeing 737-800. Each aircraft is equipped with First Class and Economy Comfort seating as well as onboard Wi-Fi.

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Boeing delivers Air Europa’s 25th next-generation 737-800

By BA Staff

Boeing Air Europa celebrated the Spanish carrier's 25^th direct delivery of a Next-Generation 737-800.

Air Europa showcased the latest addition to its fleet at a special event at its base on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

Juan Jose Hidalgo, president of Globalia, the parent company of Air Europa said:

"Today is a very important day for Air Europa, since the arrival of a new aircraft is always a cause of joy. Our wager on Boeing has been unmistakable since the beginning and today I can assure that without a doubt, at Air Europa we placed a good bet depositing our trust in the American manufacturer. Thanks to the effectiveness of Boeing aircraft we have been able to reduce expenses, always keeping the environment in mind, resulting in an increase for 2013 not only in the number of flights, but also of customers, making us the leading Spanish airline.

The 737-800 forms the backbone of Air Europa's short and medium-haul fleet with the Spanish carrier set to take delivery of another nine aircraft.

In 2012, the Mallorca-based operator was the first in Spain to introduce the Boeing Sky Interior to its Next-Generation 737 fleet, Air Europa is also the Spanish launch customer for the revolutionary 787 Dreamliner, with eight currently on order.

Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

"Air Europa has long been at the forefront of Spanish aviation, offering its passengers an ever increasing range of destinations, while maintaining the highest levels of reliability, safety and customer service. The Next-Generation 737 has been an outstanding airplane for Air Europa and we are confident that it, along with the 787 Dreamliner, will play a significant role in the airline's continued success."

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Aerolineas Argentinas signs agreement with Boeing to purchase 20 737-800s

By BA Staff

Boeing and Aerolineas Argentinas, the flag carrier of Argentina, and a member of the SkyTeam alliance, have completed an agreement for 20 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. The agreement is valued at $1.8 billion at list prices. When the order is finalized, it will be posted as a firm order to the Boeing orders and deliveries website.

At a signing ceremony in Buenos Aires today, Dr. Mariano Recalde, president of Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral Lineas Aereas, and Van Rex Gallard, vice president of Sales, Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, formalized the agreement, which will help Aerolineas build on a fleet of 26 Next-Generation 737s currently operated by the Argentine carrier.

Dr. Recalde said:

"This is a landmark order for our company, both in the number of aircraft and in what they signify for our fleet. This agreement is a key part of a greater plan to renew our fleet and prepare our operations to accommodate growing demand. The Boeing Next-Generation 737-800, which has more seats than our current single-aisle fleet, will give us more flexibility to operate both domestic and regional routes.

Gallard noted that the agreement extends a long legacy of partnership between Boeing and Aerolineas Argentinas:

"Our partnership with Aerolineas extends back to the days of the Douglas DC-3. We have worked side by side with Aerolineas to help provide world-class aviation to the people of Argentina. Aviation is a key element in economic growth and development, and the success of Aerolineas Argentinas' transformation strategy, helped by the addition of the most efficient single-aisle airplanes flying, will help drive Argentina further ahead in the 21st century,"

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SpiceJet announces Madurai-Dubai service

By BA Staff

SpiceJet will begin a daily direct flight between Madurai and Dubai from November 22nd, 2013 utilising an all economy class 189 seat Boeing 737-800. Booking of tickets on this route is now open.

Flight SG023 will depart Madurai 23:35 and arrive Dubai 02:20 the next morning. The return flight SG024 will depart Dubai at 03:50 and arrive Madurai 09:45.


The airline is offering an introductory fare of  Rs 6999/- one way (inclusive of all taxes) and a return fare of 13999/- (inclusive of all taxes) on the route.

Madurai is fifth Indian destination to get connected with Dubai on SpiceJet network. The airline already operates daily direct services to Dubai from Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi and Ahmedabad.

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Boeing delivers first 737-800 to Russia's UTair

By BA Staff

Boeing delivered to UTair, one of Russia's leading national carriers, its first directly purchased Next-Generation 737-800. The airline currently has 40 Next-Generation 737s on order to be delivered in the next several years.

Andrey Martirosov, CEO of UTair said:

"Next-Generation Boeing 737 airplanes meet today's development needs of the airline by their optimized operating performance and value-for-money proposition. We successfully operate aircraft of this type and new airplanes will allow us to continue enhancing efficiency of our route network and drive customer appeal for both domestic and international flights."

Marty Bentrott, vice president of Sales for the Middle East, Russia & Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

 "The new airplanes will help UTair deliver an unmatched level of service for passengers and dramatically reduce operating costs, fuel costs and environmental impact. We are very proud of our relationship with UTair, a valued business partner in the region."

UTair's new 737-800 seats 162 passengers and features the new Boeing Sky Interior. This interior is the latest in a series of enhancements for both airlines and passengers. It introduces LED lighting and curved architecture that welcomes passengers onboard and creates a greater sense of spaciousness and comfort in the cabin. The interior also features modern, sculpted sidewalls and overhead bins that disappear into the ceiling, yet carry more bags.


Based in Russia, UTair is an integrated air carrier and aircraft services company with over 40 years of experience. Today, UTair operates one of the largest aircraft fleets in Russia and ranks among the top three largest Russian carriers by passenger volume.      

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Malaysia Airlines grows capacity across its network;

by BA Staff

Malaysia Airlines A330 in oneworld livery.

Kuala Lampur based flag carrier Malaysia Airlines, a member of the oneworld alliance, has announced a major capacity expansion plan as the carrier tries to fight its way back to profitability. The following is a summary of the expansion

• Re-launch of services to Dubai in August
• New route to Kochi in September
• Launch of new service to Darwin, Australia in November
• An 11% increase in capacity into and out of Bandar Seri Begawan by up-gauging from the 144 seat 737-400 (16J / 128Y) to the 160 seat 737-800 (16J / 144Y).
• Added a third daily frequency between Kuala Lumpur and Medan, Indonesia effective 15 September 2013 using the 737-800
• New daily flights MH623 Kuala Lumpur - Singapore and MH624 Singapore - Kuala Lumpur 
• Current 2x daily operations into Sydney will increase to 18x weekly from 21st November, 2013 and further to 3x daily on 5th February, 2014
• Current 2x daily operations into Melbourne will increase to 3x daily from 21st November, 2013

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