Page 89 - AAA JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017 Online Magazine

NEWS

Embraer E-Jets Receives First
South African Airline Order
Southern Africa’s largest independent
regional airline, Airlink, has placed
orders for five Embraer E-Jets - three
E170s and two E190s. Airlink will become
the first South African operator of
the type. The aircraft will be acquired
from ECC Leasing, a wholly-owned
Embraer subsidiary. Deliveries of the
aircraft to Airlink will start in the first
half of 2017. “This is the beginning of the
implementation of a well-planned growth Safran to Acquire Zodiac Aerospace
and modernization strategy for Airlink French aerospace leade, Safran has aid Zodiac Aerospace’s recovery in Seats
that includes replacing our current fleet announced that it will acquire Zodiac and Cabins accelerated by integration
of Avro RJ85s over the next three years. Aerospace. Safran will launch a public with Safran and a strict operational focus
The strategy calls for a total of 13 E-Jets, tender offer on Zodiac Aerospace, which is on Safran’s key programmes. Zodiac
and we are in the process of sourcing the expected to be concluded in the 4th quarter Aerospace has an annual R&D budget of
balance of the fleet requirement – an of this year. The merger is expected to more than Euro 300 million and has more
additional 8 E190s – from the market,” be concluded by early 2018. Safran which than 4000 engineers employed. Over 90
said Rodger Foster, CEO of Airlink. “The has revenues worth approximately Euro percent of its revenues are generated as a
unique performance characteristics of the 21 billion, said that the deal will deliver Tier 1 supplier and it enjoys #1 or #2 positions
E-Jet family will enable Airlink to operate major synergies. An Annual €200m pre- in its segments (e.g. Aerosafety, Aircraft
within the challenging environment of the tax run rate cost synergies has already Systems, Seats, Cabins...). The acquisition
region, including short field and “hot and been identified with progressive ramp- will also strengthen the Safran Groups
high” operations, while managing capacity up; 50 percent in the first year and 90 footprint in the US approximately 50 percent
and providing for growth.” Airlink already percent in the second year, with full of Zodiac Aerospace’s revenues are realized
operates a large fleet of ERJ aircraft and the savings generated by year three. The through US subsidiaries Over 21,800 aircraft
airline started to add 11 further ERJ 140 jets expected implementation costs of Euro equipped with Zodiac Aerospace products,
to its fleet in last December. The airline will 150 million will be spread over two years. over 1 million seats in service around the
be operating 30 ERJs, comprising all three Safran already enjoys close commercial world, more than 1 in 2 commercial aircraft
types - ERJ 135, ERJ 140 and the ERJ 145, by relationships with aircraft manufacturers constructed each year includes one of
the end of the fourth quarter of 2017. and airlines, which is expected to further Zodiac Aerospace’s galleys.

60 Airbus A320neo Family Orders by Saudi Arabia’s Flynas
Saudi Arabia’s leading low-cost carrier, Flynas has contracted Airbus for 60 A320neo Family
aircraft. The airline has converted 20 A320ceos from an early order to A320neo, in addition
to the new orders for 60 jetliners, bringing the airline’s total firm order to 80 A320neos.
Deliveries will take place during 2018-2026. “We have operated exceptionally well with our
existing Airbus A320 fleet, which has allowed us to maintain high performance standards
in operations and passenger experience,” said Bander Al Mohanna, Chief Executive Officer,
NAS Holding Group. Flynas carried 6.3 million passengers and operates an all Airbus fleet
of A320s. Launched in 2007, the airline has successfully operated over 260,000 flights and
carried more than 30 million passengers in the last ten years.

WWW.GBP.COM.SG/AAA JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 ASIAN AIRLINES & AEROSPACE 89