Page 34 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2015 Online Magazine

NEWS

INduSTRy NEWS ANd uPdATES

Japan’s Ryukyu Air Commuter
to Buy Q400s
Japanese regional airline Ryukyu
Air Commuter Co (RAC) has signed
Air China Receives 50th Airbus A330 Jetliner firm orders for five Q400 turboprop
China’s flag carrier has taken delivery operating costs, proven reliability and airliners with Bombardier Commercial
of its 50th A330 in Toulouse, France. great passenger appeal.” Aircraft. Bombardier had announced
The airline will also be the first Chinese The aircraft is configured to carry 301 the launch order from an undisclosed
carrier to operate the A330-300 in its first passengers in a three class layout, seating airline for the Q400 cargo-combi
242 tonnes maximum take-off-weight 30 passengers in Business Class, 16 in variant at the Farnborough Airshow in
(MTOW) version, with this delivery. “We Premium Economy and 255 in Economy July 2014. The order for is estimated
congratulate Air China on the milestone Class. The A330 with 242 tonnes MTOW to be worth $168 million at list prices.
of receiving its 50th A330 and we express offers customers a reduction in fuel burn The five Q400 combi aircraft will join
our gratitude for the confidence shown of up to two percent and an extended the airline’s existing fleet of four Dash
in the A330,” said Eric Chen, President range of up to 500 nautical miles. The 8 Series 100 (introduced in 1997) and
Airbus China. “With one of the world’s A330 family has received more than 1,500 one Q300 aircraft.
largest A330 fleets, Air China is already orders till date and in excess of 1,200 have “Equipped with our new fleet
benefiting from the aircraft’s lower been delivered to operators worldwide. of Q400 combi aircraft, Ryukyu Air
Commuter looks forward to carrying
many additional passengers as they
first PAVES Wireless customer, earlier enjoy travelling around Japan’s
this year for installation on 85 new Airbus Okinawa islands,” said Takashi Irei,
A320 single-aisle jetliners. President, Ryukyu Air Commuter..
“Airline passengers are increasingly Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier
expecting to have content available Commercial Aircraft said, “Along
throughout their journeys, which presents with the recently launched dual-
significant opportunities for airlines to class and extra capacity options,
uniquely connect with their customers,” the combi option illustrates
said Greg Irmen, vice president and Bombardier’s ongoing investment in
Rockwell Collins’ PAvES general manager, Information Systems the Q400 aircraft program and offers
Wireless Solution Certified for for Rockwell Collins. “Having a high- airlines unmatched operational
A320 and A321 performing media distribution solution flexibility in short-haul markets. The
Rockwell Collins has announced the for the entire aircraft is a must as this Q400 aircraft is now well positioned to
grant of a European Aviation Safety becomes reality.” once again reinvent the contemporary
Agency (EASA) supplemental type The PAVES Wireless system turboprop market through additional
certificate (STC) with Federal Aviation features advanced capabilities for profitable growth.”
Administration (FAA) validation for its airlines, such as ability to stream video The Q400 is available in a number of
PAVES Wireless media distribution content to more than 250 passengers variants such as a standard single-class
system for Airbus A320 and A321 simultaneously and flexible, open- configuration or an optional enhanced
aircraft. The company had announced its software architecture support. passenger comfort configuration.

34 ASIAN AIRLINES & AIRPORTS SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2015 WWW.ASIANAIRLINES-AIRPORTS.COM