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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Airbus Military Services logistic hub starts operations

By BA Staff

The Airbus Military Services Logistic Hub has started operations in Seville, Spain, in line with the Full In-Service Support (FISS) model developed by the company. This hub delivers spare parts for all Airbus Military products worldwide as well as ground equipment for the operation of the fleet.

The new facility substantially strengthens the spare parts delivery procedure by improving reliability and cutting dispatch times. With the new Services Logistic Hub, 95% of customer’s requests for spare parts will be fulfilled within five days. For Aircraft-On-Ground (AOG) Service the dispatch time is reduced to a maximum of four hours. Delivery reliability has increased since the start of operations. The new set up will also mean a reduction in recurring operational costs of around €500,000 a year compared with traditional processes.

Philippe Galland, Head of Services, said

Putting in place this Services Logistic Hub will reduce our delivery lead-times and guarantee fleet availability. We will be more competitive thanks to the cost reduction and customer satisfaction will also improve

The Services Logistic Hub has been certified Part 145 by the Spanish agency for aviation safety AESA on behalf of its European counterpart EASA.

The FISS (Full In-Service Support) model is the integrated service model offered to all Airbus Military customers worldwide. It is based on years of experience providing support to customers around the world where and when they need it. The entry into service of the French Air Force’s first A400M at Orléans-Bricy air base is the latest example of FISS but it equally applies to the A330 MRTT, for example in the case of the Voyager at the Brize Norton base in the UK, and a growing number of C295 and CN235 operators. Today it covers around 90 aircraft of 11 customers, flying some 35,000 hours per year.

The new Services Logistic Hub employs 100 persons who manage about 22,500 different part numbers in its 8,300 square meters. Dispatch operations of the Airbus Military Services Logistic Hub are performed by Airbus lead logistic provider Kuehne&Nagel.

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Emirates opens VIP lounge at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

By BA Staff

The entrance of the lounge is modelled like a Boeing 777

Coinciding with the match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, Emirates yesterday inaugurated its exclusive branded VIP Lounge at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

Unveiled less than four months after signing the prestigious five-year shirt sponsorship with Real Madrid, the new lounge was officially opened today by Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid Institutional Relations Manager and former Club player, and Fernando Suárez De Góngora, Emirates’ Manager Spain and Portugal.

Covering an area of 375sqm, the innovatively designed space can comfortably host more than 200 guests during match days. The bespoke design is modelled after the cabin of a Boeing 777 - the same aircraft currently serving the route between Madrid and Dubai. Interior features such as windows and space illumination have been thoughtfully reproduced to mimic the experience of walking through an Emirates aircraft.

The Emirates VIP Lounge will be open to its invited guests an hour before and after matches and is situated just below the VIP boxes from where guests can enjoy matches with an unparalleled view of the pitch and stadium.

Mr Gongora said:

“The Emirates VIP lounge is yet another milestone in the partnership between Emirates and Real Madrid, and highlights the immense value we see in our relationship with the Club and with Spain. The unique space will be instrumental in delivering unique experiences to our guests during matches, and will be a powerful platform for on-going engagement with our customers.”

Emilio Butragueño highlighted:

"It’s an honour for Real Madrid to reach millions of fans worldwide through a leading partner like Emirates. Our association with an airline of this calibre makes us stronger.”

Expected to host over 6,000 guests every season, the lounge welcomes invitees to comfortable seating, large plasma screens as well as gourmet food and beverages. The lounge is replete with imagery that capture Emirates’ on-board experience, global network, and action shots with the new Fly Emirates branding. All of this is set amidst a colour palette customers have come to associate with the Emirates brand.

The interior of the lounge is modelled like a Boeing 777 aircraft including the windows

Real Madrid has been part of Emirates’ sponsorship portfolio since 2011. Emirates also sponsors the Barcelona Open tennis tournament in Spain, a deal which runs until 2018. Emirates currently offers 21 weekly flights to Spain -  a double daily flight to Madrid and a daily flight to Barcelona, which will be upgraded to an A380 operation on 1st February 2014. 

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Harbin Composite Manufacturing Centre delivers 1st major A350 part

By BA Staff

Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre (HMC), a joint venture between Airbus and its Chinese partners, has started to deliver elevators for the Airbus A350 XWB programme. A ceremony was held today in Harbin for the delivery of the first ship set of elevators. The elevators manufactured at HMC are delivered to Spain-based Aernnova Aerospace (ANN), who will deliver them to the Airbus plant in Getafe, Spain, where they will be integrated into the A350 XWB horizontal tail plane. ANN is a major supplier of aerostructures to Airbus.

Based on a contract signed by HMC and ANN in 2010, HMC is responsible for manufacturing and assembling the complete set of carbon fibre elevators (an elevator is a movable control surface in the horizontal tail plane that makes the aircraft pitch up or down to increase or reduce its flight altitude).

According to an agreement signed in 2007 between Airbus and the Chinese government, Airbus agreed to allocate five percent of the A350 XWB airframe to be manufactured in China. The work packages to be carried out by HMC are a significant part of the five per cent. 

Rafael Gonzalez-Ripoli, Airbus' China Chief Operating Officer had this to say about the A350: 

“The delivery of the first ship set of A350 XWB elevators by HMC is an important milestone in our long-term partnership with the Chinese aviation industry. The A350 XWB has taken to the sky and the programme is progressing on track. The Chinese have every reason to be proud of the contribution they are making to the A350 XWB."

Geng Ruguang, Executive Vice President of AVIC, the parent company of the majority shareholding Chinese partners of the HMC, said: 

“It’s inspiring for the Chinese aviation industry to be involved in the development and production of the A350 XWB, which is the world’s most advanced and most efficient aircraft, and to become an integrated part of Airbus’ global supply chain. The delivery of the first A350 XWB elevator demonstrates one more step forward of HMC towards its set target. The development of HMC will also constitute a pulling force for the relevant local industries.”

Pedro Fuente, Chief Operating Officer of ANN, said: 

“We at Aernnova are really satisfied with the very effective teamwork model developed together with the Harbin Manufacturing Centre to industrialize and progressively transfer the A350 XWB Elevators. We are impressed by the fast growing capabilities we are seeing every day. Clearly these are great pillars for a long term collaboration and mutual success.”

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Turkish Airlines increases frequency in Valencia

Middle Eastern carrier Turkish Airlines has announced that it is increasing frequency to Valencia, Spain from five flights per week to seven per week on 27th October 2013. Flight schedules are as shown below.

TK 1301 Istanbul-Valencia 1010-1305 Daily
TK 1302 Valencia-Istanbul 1405-1850 Daily

The aircraft will have a one hour turnaround in Valencia, and Turkish Airlines will offer the quickest connection between India and Valencia, as it does for most of Spain. 

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Trip report: Iberia domestic business class Barcelona Madrid Lisbon

by Vishal Mehra

Last week, I reviewed Iberia’s domestic Business Lounge in Barcelona.

Today, I focus on my first flight with Iberia from Barcelona to Lisbon, via Madrid. This was also my first flight in business class.

Barcelona El Prat - Madrid Barajas
Flight IB2713. Airbus A320. Seat 5F. Business Class
Departure - 18:50, on-time

For intra-Europe and many north African flight, most European airlines don't have a separate cabin for business class passengers. Instead, they use a mobile curtain that is moved after each flight in order to separate both according to the number of passengers flying business class in each flight. This allows airlines to be more flexible, since an Economy class seat can be converted into a business class seat just by moving the curtain.

My Iberia business class seat was essentially an upgraded economy seat with increased seat pitch (34 inches, instead of 31 in economy) and an empty middle seat for increased comfort.

As I settled into my seat I was offered water and something to munch on, while the cabin was getting ready for departure to Madrid. Our departure was smooth, and looking down at Barcelona I saw the beauty of the city once more albeit with an aerial view, bathed in sunshine.

Soon after reaching cruising height, a purser came over and asked for my choice of drink. As this was a short one hour flight, and it was early evening, there was no specific meal service. I must have waited for fifteen minutes for my apple juice to arrive before drifting off for a short nap.

I woke up while we were on our landing approach to Madrid Barajas and I never got my drink, and considering we were on approach, I did not bother reminding the crew of their slip-up. Humans tend to forget things and considering it was my first ever outing in semi business class, I was in good enough humour to forgive as well, but Iberia should take note of such slip-ups, which while minor, have large impact on passenger impression when they occur in the premium cabin.

Looking through the magazine I chanced upon Iberia giving out Pizza at 36000 feet to its passengers, which I thought was pretty unique.

We landed in Madrid on time, disembarkation was quick and I went to explore the airport's famous wavy-roof terminal and the flagship Iberia lounge.

Madrid Barajas – Lisbon Portela International
Flight IB3118. Airbus A320. Seat 1A. Business Class
Departure 2245, on-time
Seat 1A

I was excited about sitting in seat 1A, that magical number in airline seating wanted by enthusiasts, which was automatically allotted to me by Iberia. Business class was the same upgraded economy class with increased leg room, but this time there was just two rows of business class seats, and two out of the eight available seats remained unoccupied, including the aisle seat in my row i.e. 1C, giving me a full three-seater to myself.

Flipping through Iberia’s magazine, I came across this print ad featuring the Taj Mahal and promoting Incredible India. Bought a big smile to my face.

The pre-departure service consisted of a drink and nuts. I chose to go for a tried and tested cerveza, or beer (in English). Service on this flight was better, may be because it was a Schengen flight and I was surprised to find a full-blown dinner served during this short one hour hop to Lisbon. The fish and salad did not appeal to my taste buds, and I moved quickly to dessert.

As soon as I finished dinner we were descending to Lisbon and the beautiful city came in the view with bright lights and hills around it. The landing again was a smooth affair and within five minutes we were at the disembarkation point.

The only negative aspect of this flight was the exit through stairs and buses ferrying passengers to the main terminal. May be it was a short-coming of the airport, considering it was past 11pm at night, but then a full service airline like Iberia should work closely with airport authorities to ensure no dilution in their service offerings.

- Vishal Mehra is a digital marketer at a global agency, smitten by travelling and commercial aviation. He tweets a lot and off late has taken to blogging as well. Follow him on Twitter and visit his blog.

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Photos: Four new airlines take delivery of A320s with Sharklets

The fleet of Airbus A320s equipped with the new wingtips called "Sharklets" is growing by the day.

During the last fortnight, four new airlines have taken delivery of Sharklet fitted A320s.

Spain's largest low cost carrier Vueling, the largest low cost airline in Spain, took delivery of its first A320 Sharklet aircraft, becoming the first Spanish carrier to do so. Vueling’s in-service fleet rises to 61 A320 Family aircraft

Monarch Airlines, became the first UK carrier to take delivery of a Sharklet A320.

Germany's airberlin group took delivery of its first Sharklet Airbus A320. This aircraft will join the fleet of group member, the Austrian based airline NIKI. Till 2015 the airberlin group, will receive 13 more Sharklet fitted A320-family aircraft.

Wizz Air Ukraine, took delivery of a Sharklet A320, becoming the first Ukrainian carrier to do so.

Photos courtesy Airbus S.A.S.

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