Page 50 - AAA SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2018 Online Magazine
P. 50

NEWS BRIEFS

           QATAR AIRWAYS GROWS A350-                                            AIR WORKS
           1000 FLEET                                                           DIVESTS UK
                                                                                SUBSIDIARY


                                                                                   ir Works has signed an agreement
                                                                               Awith Satys Group (‘Satys’) to divest
                                                                                Air Livery, a subsidiary of Air Works
                                                                                providing After Sale Aircraft Finishing
                                                                                operations  out  of  UK.  The  comple-
                                                                                tion  requirements  concluded  on  1st
                                                                                October, 2018.
            atar  Airways  has  upsized  five  brethren, providing greater capacity
        QA350-900s currently on order to  (44 more seats in Qatar Airways cabin   Under  the  transaction,  Air  Livery’s
        the  bigger  A350-1000  version.  This  configuration) that perfectly matches   entire UK operations and its assets
        latest endorsement for the largest  airlines’ needs on their growing long-  will be transferred to Satys. Air Works
        member of Airbus’ A350 XWB family  haul routes.                         will continue to provide Aircraft
        reflects the five-star-airline’s need for   “Since its entry into service, the A350   Finishing services to OEMs’ and other
        growth and capacity at best comfort  Family has proven outstanding reliabil-  Customers out of its French subsidiary
        and efficiency levels available.    ity and efficiency. We are delighted to   ‘Aero Technique Espace’(ATE). Satys is
          “Qatar Airways is delighted to have  see launch customer Qatar Airways   a French industrial group with strong
        upgraded five of its previously ordered  extend  its  confidence  in  the  A350-  presence in aircraft sealing and paint-
        A350-900  to  the  more  recently  1000,“ said Guillaume Faury, President   ing in Europe & ROW.
        launched  A350-1000.  Since  taking  Airbus  Commercial  Aircraft.  “Qatar
        delivery  of  the  world’s  first  A350-  Airways is renowned for its standards   D Anand Bhaskar, CEO, Air Works, said,
        1000 in February 2018, we have been  of excellence, and we are pleased the   “We will continue to focus, to grow our
        extremely pleased with the aircraft’s  A350-1000  delivers  to  their  expec-  relationship and support to OEMs
        performance, which has prompted us  tations,  being  the  aircraft  of  choice   and Lessors across the globe. With
        to update our original order. The A350-  to  seamlessly  increase  capacity  in   India emerging as one of the fastest
        1000 has been a welcome addition to  unprecedented comfort on its growing   growing Aviation Market globally, the
        our fleet and very well received by our  long-haul routes.”             divestment is in sync with our deci-
        passengers who enjoy the new gener-   Qatar Airways’ A350-1000s features   sion to focus more on India operations
        ation aircraft’s unprecedented levels  the Qsuite – the airline’s signature busi-  and strengthen our market leadership
        of comfort and technology,” said Qatar  ness class seating that offers a new   here.” He further added that, “Air Works
        Airways Group Chief Executive, Akbar  level of innovation for in-flight comfort.  believes that Satys has synergies and
        Al Baker.                           With 76 aircraft on order, Qatar Airways   scale in Aircraft Painting that can fur-
          The amended order reinforces Qatar  is the largest A350 XWB customer and   ther develop and nurture UK-based
        Airways’ position as the A350-1000  currently  operates  30  A350  XWBs   business.”
        largest  customer  with  a  fleet  of  42  comprising of 27 A350-900s and 3
        aircraft. The A350-1000’s fuselage is  A350-1000s.
        seven meters longer than its smaller

                                                                                Family operators worldwide. We are
          LUFTHANSA GROWS A320NEO                                               gratified to see this additional order by
                                                                                such a stellar customer,” says Christian
          FLEET                                                                 Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial
                                                                                Officer.  “By  operating  the  A320neo
                                                                                Family, Lufthansa consolidates its
                                                                                commitment to the highest standards
                                                                                of efficiency and noise reduction.”
                                                                                Ten of the aircraft will be deployed with
                                                                                Lufthansa Group’s Swiss International
                                                                                Air Lines. Part of the order will be pow-
                                                                                ered by PW engines and the other by
                                                                                CFM LEAP-1A, so both engine types
                                                                                are represented nearly equally within
                                                                                the Lufthansa Group.
                                                                                The latest agreement brings Lufthansa
                                                                                Group’s total order for the A320neo
           ufthansa Group has converted 27   Group  signed  for  an  additional  24   Family to 149 (101 A320neo and 48
        LA320neo Family options into firm   Airbus A320neo and three A321neo    A321neo) with 13 already in operation.
        orders.  Following  a  decision  by  the   aircraft.“Lufthansa Group is one of the  Lufthansa was the launch operator of
        company’s  supervisory  board,  the   largest and most experienced A320  the A320neo.

        50 | September/October 2018                                                           www.GBP.com.sg/AAA
   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52