Air Astana takes delivery of first A321 NEO

Air Astana (Kazakhstan) has taken delivery of it's first Airbus A321 NEO, joining a mixed Airbus, Boeing and Embraer fleet. The airline is the Republic of Kazakhstan's flag carrier, a joint venture between Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna (51%) and BAE Systems 49%. It commenced operations May 15th 2002. Air Astana has one A320 NEO (delivered November 8th 2016) and orders for eight more A320 NEOs and ten A321 NEOs.

Airbus A321-271N MSN 7567 F/F 5/5/17
Air Astana P4-KDC Delivered 12/30/17

Air Astana - Current Fleet
1 x A319
8 x A320
1 x A320 NEO
4 x A321
1 x A321 NEO
5 x 757-200
3 x 767-300ER
9 x E-190
Total: 32

Talking Points

China Aircraft Leasing (CALC) ordered 50 A320 NEOs, and is finalizing an order for 15 more in January. Total now ordered 202

Indigo Partners (US) firmed up it's order for 430 A320 NEO family aircraft announced in November at the Dubai Air Show. The aircraft will be operated by Wizz Air (Hungary, UK), Frontier Airlines (US), JetSMART (Chile) and Volaris (Mexico). Indigo owns Frontier and JetSMART, and has investments in Wizz Air and Volaris

Qatar Airways first A350-1000 delivery will be delayed 'until the New Year'

Egyptair confirmed an order for 12 CS300s, plus 12 purchase rights. This is the first CSeries order in 18 months

Blue Air (Romania) took delivery of it's twelfth (used) 737-800, this being the fifth ex-Pegasus Airlines aircraft leased from Air Lease Corporation Inc (US)

IAG (UK) acquired Niki (Austria) for $24M. The acquisition will be by a newly created subsidiary of IAG's low cost carrier Vueling Airlines (Spain), with it's future branding and route network to be announced

Turkish Airlines ordered a further three 777Fs. It now has two in service, one delivered last month and the most recent last week

VietJetAir takes delivery of first A321 NEO

VietJetAir (Vietnam) has taken delivery of it's first (of 31) Airbus A321 NEO, powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. Hanoi based VJC commenced service, domestically initially, on December 25th 2011, and now operates an all A320 family fleet of 53 throughout South East Asia. The first of 100 737 MAX 200s will start delivering in 2019. Airbus has now delivered 17 A321 NEOs to SriLankan (3), ANA (2), Avianca (2), Hawaiian (2), Novair (2), Azores Airlines (1), Virgin America (4) and WOW Air (1)

Airbus A321-271N MSN 7991 F/F 12/18/17
VietJetAir VN-A646 Delivered 12/29/17

VietJetAir - Current Fleet
27 x A320
26 x A321
1 x A321 NEO
Total: 54

New Year Weekend Reading

Five standout themes from 2017...
Air Transport World

Boeing, Embraer mull combination that could reset OEM industry
Aviation Week

The great jetliner ramp-up in perspective
Aviation Week (Contributor Opinion)

10 Best aviation apps for pilots
Travelingaap.com

Boeing 747 'party plane' ready for weddings
The Sun

The top 13 airline moments of 2017 (best and worst)
aviationfigure.net

Forget the high-speed rail fiasco: whisper-quiet electric airplanes will transform travel in America
The Daily Beast

The mystery of flight...the secret price of a jetliner
Aviation Republic

Buyers driving hard bargains with Boeing, Airbus
24/7 Wall St.

First Class on American...Mint Class on JetBlue
Inc.com (flight comparison)

Embraer tops Boeing's list of options for CSeries response
FlightGlobal (Analysis)

How Boeing, Embraer benefit from a combination
Leeham News and Comment

Five things analysts are saying about a potential Boeing-Embraer deal
bizjournals.com

Boeing and Airbus orders are spiking again in December
The Motley Fool

Top 10 stories of 2017
Airways Magazine

Airline start-ups and failures in 2017
FlightGlobal (Analysis)

10 aviation stories of the year...
Leeham News and Comment

In memoriam: the airlines we lost in 2017
Airways Magazine

Five memorable moments from 2017
Aviation Week

Happy New Year!
Rob @ JetTrak

Talking Points

Lucky Air (China) took delivery of a new RR powered A330-300, adding to it's single example operated on lease from parent Hainan Airlines

Lucky Air A330-343 B-1059 (MSN 1838) wearing Lucky Air colors, whereas it's existing leased aircraft wears a hybrid scheme based on Hainan's colors

Royal Air Maroc ordered four 787-9s, all were previously listed as undisclosed orders. The airline currently operates five 787-8s and four 767-300ERs in it's long haul fleet

Air Zimbabwe will not be resurrected or revived for now, after failing to secure airline equity partners and other investors

EasyJet's first A321 NEO will be delivered July 2018. Meanwhile, two A321s delivered new to Air Berlin (but never operated) are expected to be leased (to EasyJet Europe [Austria]) soon. EasyJet last operated A321s between 2008 and 2011, having inherited a fleet of eight from it's acquisition of GB Airways (UK) [Update/Correction: the two A321s referenced above are now (as of 1/7) believed to be assigned for lease to LATAM (Chile) as of 2/18]

IAG is in exclusive talks to acquire Niki (Austria)

Titan Airways (UK) will shortly acquire a second 737-400 (ex-British Airways) for passenger charter flights in 2018. In October, the aircraft will be converted to a freighter and join Titan's dedicated cargo fleet

AerCap exercised 50 A320 NEO options into firm orders. Total now 270

FlyBondi (Argentina) delayed it's start of operations to late January

Eurowings (Germany) to wet-lease an A330-200 from AirTanker (UK) between January 22nd and March 8th to operate it's Cologne to Punta Cana route

Talking Points

Modern Logistics (Brazil) took delivery of a second 737-400F

Modern Logistics 737-400F PP-YBA (it's first - delivered 2/16)

Platinum Services took delivery of a 727-100 ex-Basel to Doha, currently registered in Guernsey as 2-MMTT

727-176 Platinum Services 2-MMTT looking in great shape at Basel 11/24/17 (this aircraft is 4 months older than me - delivered to TAA - Trans Australian Airlines as VH-TJD "Gregory Blaxland" delivered 8/9/66)

Japan Transocean Airlines took delivery of a sixth new 737-800, in special 'Sakura Junbei' colors

JTA 737-8Q3 JA06RK

British Airways' London City based subsidiary BA CityFlyer took delivery of it's 15th Embraer E-190, it's fourth used acquisition. 11 were delivered new between 2010 and 2014, with the used aircraft added from 2015

Alliance Airlines (Australia) has taken delivery of it's latest Fokker 100 in special '90th anniversary first ever Transpacific flight' colors. The regional airline now operates 31 F70 / F100s

Alliance Airlines F100 VH-FGB (MSN 11446)

Arkia (Israel) took delivery of it's third E-195AR. The airline also operates three E-190s and two 757-300s

Embraer E-195AR Arkia 4X-EMF (staging through Gran Canaria Las Palmas on delivery 12/24/17)

Korean Air is reportedly considering parking / storing one or more A380s in 2018. The airline currently operates 10 of the type

VIVA Air confirmed a commitment made at the Paris Air Show to order 50 A320s. 15 will be current standard models, plus 35 NEOs. The aircraft will be distributed between VIVA Colombia and VIVA Air Peru

Belair (Switzerland) employees were reportedly not paid in December, with the airline possibly facing bankruptcy

Talking Points

Spirit Airlines (US) took delivery of it's 25th Airbus A321

Air Peace (Nigeria) will shortly take delivery of the first (of two) ex-Emirates 777-200ERs. The aircraft are being acquired for new international routes to Dubai, London, Guangzhou, Mumbai and Johannesburg

Malaysia Airlines took delivery of it's second A350 in special "Negaraku" colors

A350-941 Malaysia Airlines 9M-MAC (MSN 165)

Corendon Dutch Airlines (Netherlands) to add three 737-800s and one 737 MAX 9 to it's fleet from April

Hainan Airlines (China) took delivery of three 787-9s December 20th (1) and 22nd (2). It now has 17, plus ten 787-8s

LTyou (Germany) plans to become the successor to LTU, targeting new long haul Germany - US service (details and dates TBA)

Med-View Airlines (Nigeria) seeks to acquire two 777s in first quarter 2018. The airline currently sub-leases one from EuroAtlantic (Portugal)

SAS Scandinavian Airlines launched new operations under it's Irish AOC, with nine A320 NEOs, five based at London Heathrow, and four at Malaga

IAG (UK) made a bid for Niki in it's entirety (and has been mooted as the frontrunner), other finalist bids include Thomas Cook (UK) and Niki Lauda. A decision is due Friday December 29th

Garuda takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

Garuda Indonesia has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first of 50 on order. Traditionally a Boeing operator for it's narrowbody requirements, the company's low cost subsidiary Citilink operates A320s and A320 NEOs.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 62093 L/N 6713 F/F 12/5/17
Garuda Indonesia PK-GDA Delivered 12/21/17

Garuda - Current Fleet
16 x ATR-42/72
18 x CRJ-1000
73 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
7 x A330-200
17 x A330-300
10 x 777-300ER
Total: 142

Korean Air takes delivery of first CSeries

Korean Air has taken delivery of it's first Bombardier CSeries at a delivery ceremony hosted at Montreal Mirabel, where both the aircraft and the Pratt & Whitney GTF final assembly takes place. KAL becomes the third operator of the CS300 (after AirBaltic and Swiss), with Bombardier having now delivered a total of eight CS100s and 15 CS300s.

Bombardier CS300 MSN 55018 F/F 10/2/17
Korean Air HL8092 Delivered 12/22/17 (Additional pictures below)

Korean Air CSeries CS300 HL8092

Korean Air - Current Fleet
1 x CS300
15 x 737-800
16 x 737-900
6 x 737-900ER
8 x A330-200
21 x A330-300
5 x 787-9
16 x 777-200ER
11 x 777F
4 x 777-300
20 x 777-300ER
4 x 747-400
9 x 747-400F
7 x 747-8F
10 x 747-8I
10 x A380
Total: 163

West Air takes delivery of first A320 NEO

West Air (China) has taken delivery of it's first Airbus A320 NEO, powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. Five Chinese airlines have now taken delivery of a combined total of 20 A320 NEOs, all of which have been powered by P&W thus far.

Airbus A320-271N MSN 7795 F/F 12/7/17
West Air B-8867 Delivered 12/21/17

West Air - Current Fleet
4 x A319
25 x A320
1 x A320 NEO
Total: 30

Christmas Weekend Reading

The Year in Review: 2017's top stories in aerospace
FlightGlobal (Analysis)

The statistics that show why Norwegian has rattled BA - and why the A380 is falling from favour
The Telegraph

New Airbus commercial boss Faury is a strong choice for role
FlightGlobal

Delta's history with the Queen of the Skies
Delta.com

Assessing the Delta-Airbus order
Leeham News

Airbus facing leadership changes amid turmoil, corruption probes
Aviation Week

Time is fast running out to avoid a Brexit aviation crisis
Air Transport World

Delta Air Lines sends off its 747s with grand farewell tour
USA Today

US 747s bow out with final Delta flight
FlightGlobal

LAX's long-standing history with inter-terminal underground tunnels
Airline Geeks

Qatar A350-100 flies formation photo-shoot with -900
FlightGlobal

Three months that shook Ryanair...
Reuters

The amazing story of the 747 in 12 photos
The Points Guy

Talking Points

Pegasus Airlines (Turkey) ordered 25 CFM powered A321 NEOs, and took 25 options. The low cost airline previously ordered 57 A320 NEOs (of which 13 have now been delivered) and 18 A321 NEOs

FlyDubai ordered 175 737 MAX aircraft, plus 50 options. The airline previously ordered 75 737 MAX 8s, of which five have now been delivered

FlyDubai 737 MAX 8 A6-MAX...the first of many to come

Boeing and Embraer confirmed they are in talks regarding a possible merger, while noting there's no guarantee such an outcome will occur

Air Belgium (a start up) plans to operate from Brussels Charleroi from March with an ex-Finnair A340-300

Air Corail (Comores) plans to start operations March 5th with a CRJ-100ER. Plans call for a 767-200ER to be in service by June for long haul service

FlyEgypt to lease two 737-800s from ALC, delivering this month and January. The airline currently operates three 737-800s and one A320

Danish Air Transport acquired four MD-80s from an undisclosed Italian airline (most likely Meridiana)

Lufthansa received EC approval for it's partial take over of Air Berlin, and full acquisition of LGW. The latter will add 20 Q400s and 13 A320s to Lufthansa's Eurowings low cost subsidiary

Mauritania Airlines takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

Mauritania Airlines International has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 737 MAX 8, joining a mostly all Boeing fleet. Commencing operations in 2010, following the demise of former national carrier Mauritania Airways, the airline has become the de-facto flag carrier operating short to medium haul service within West Africa. This is presently MAI's sole order for a 737 MAX 8, and is planned to be operated to Paris and Jeddah.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 64299 L/N 6704 F/F 12/7/17
Mauritania Airlines International 5T-CLJ Delivered 12/20/17

Mauritania Airlines - Current Fleet
1 x ERJ-145
2 x 737-500
1 x 737-700
1 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
Total: 6

Talking Points

Delta Air Lines' final regularly scheduled 747-400 flight operated from Seoul to Detroit. The aircraft is now engaged on employee farewell flights and sports charters until year end

N674US at Atlanta 12/19/17 engaged in Delta's 747 Farewell Tour

AerCap sold a portfolio of 21 aircraft (a mix of narrowbodies and widebodies) to Peregrine Aviation Company (Saudi Arabia)

Karun Airlines (Iran) took delivery of a first 737-500

Zambia Airways may be resurrected under a joint venture with Ethiopian Airlines. The airline last operated in 1995

Azur Air Ukraine leased an ex-Lion Air 737-900ER from DVB Bank

Boeing 737-9GPER Azur Air Ukraine UR-AZB MSN 35712/2349

Eurowings (Germany / Austria) to add 30 A320s to it's fleet by summer 2018

Talking Points

Atlanta International Airport (the world's busiest airport) suffered a power outage Sunday afternoon causing wide spread travel disruption, and closing the airport. Limited operations resumed Monday

Onur Air (Turkey) leased two ex-Emirates A330-200s from DAE Capital (UAE)

Delta Air Lines took delivery of the 50th Mobile, AL built A320 family aircraft (A321 msn 7943 N331DN)

Delta Air Lines has asked Bombardier to guarantee that all 75 CSeries CS100s it has on order are built in Mobile, AL

Niki Lauda is preparing a bid to acquire insolvent and grounded airline Niki (Austria), the airline he founded in 2003. Other airline bidders include Thomas Cook / Condor, Ryanair and PrivatAir

COMAC completed the maiden flight of it's second C919 prototype

SkyUp (Ukraine) to launch service from Ukrainian cities to Barcelona, Larnaca and Dubai in 2018 with three 737-800s

Weekend Reading

Why Boeing's CSeries concerns are justified
Aviation Week (Contributor Opinion)

Delta orders 100 Airbus A321 NEOs, says no to Boeing's 737 MAX
Airways (Analysis)

Introducing the most popular plane ever built...
The Telegraph

Airbus A380 draws Christmas Tree in the sky during test flight over Germany
The Independent

Designs that changed aircraft manufacturing
Aviation Week (Photo Gallery)

Jim Albaugh's lessons of aerospace success
Aviation Week (Opinion)

Baby Boomers
BCA / Aviation Week (Viewpoint)

The 'A-Team' that hunts missing planes
BBC

Enough with the hypocrisy, Boeing
Aviation Week (Opinion)

JetBlue's fleet review should wrap up soon - and it's a big deal
Motley Fool

Talking Points

Delta Air Lines ordered 100 A321 NEOs, plus 100 options. The aircraft will replace older ex-Northwest A320s, 757-200s and MD-90s. The P&W powered aircraft will deliver from 2020

FlyBosnia applied for an AOC in order to begin operations in 2018

Delta Air Lines last regularly scheduled 747-400 service will now be Seoul ICN - Detroit DTW arriving 12/19. Various charter and farewell flights will operate through 12/31

OpenSkies (France) last scheduled service will be 9/2/18

Berlin's new Brandenburg International Airport is now slated to open October 2020, almost a decade behind schedule

Aer Lingus to expand it's international long haul fleet with two additional A330s in 2018

Flights between Russia and Egypt will resume in February. Flights were suspended November 2015 on security grounds following the bombing and crash of a Metrojet A321 10/31/15

Meridiana (Italy) to commence Milan to New York & Miami service in June, likely under the Air Italy brand using A330s transferred / leased from equity partner Qatar Airways

Azores Airlines takes delivery of first A321 NEO

Azores Airlines has taken delivery of it's first Airbus A321-200 NEO, leased from Air Lease Corporation (US), one of six being leased from ALC. The flag carrier of the island territory of Portugal, the airline operates an all-Airbus fleet (detailed below). The airline will launch A321 service from Ponta Delgada to Boston January 12th.

Airbus A321-253N MSN 7972 F/F 12/7/17
Azores Airlines CS-TSF "Breathe" Delivered 12/15/17 [Leased from ALC]

Azores Airlines - Current Fleet
3 x A320-200
1 x A321-200 NEO
3 x A310-300
1 x A330-200
Total: 8

Talking Points

Singapore Airlines took delivery of a new A380 incorporating an all new interior (it's first new A380 delivery since September 2012)

Lufthansa has withdrawn it's bid for Niki (Austria) following the EU's indication that the deal would not be approved on competitive grounds. As expected, Niki therefore filed insolvency and will cease operations effective today, December 14th

Aurora (Russia) is in talks to take over Khabarovsk Airlines (Russia)

Swift Air (US) acquired an ex-Alaska Airlines 737-400. The airline also indicated it would not be taking delivery of 40 Mitsubishi MRJs ordered by Eastern Air Lines, an airline it acquired (and closed) recently

EasyJet Europe (Austria) leased a first ex-Air Berlin A320 (4316). All previously acquired aircraft it operates were transferred from EasyJet (UK). The airline now has 25 A319/A320s in service

AtlasGlobal (Turkey) is considering the CSeries to replace it's older A320s

Delta Air Lines is reported (by numerous sources) to be about to order a substantial number of A321 NEOs (in preference to 737 MAX 10s)

West Wind Aviation (Canada) ATR-42 (MSN 240) crashed shortly after take off from Fond-du-Lac, Saskatoon. 25 passengers were onboard. Injuries, but no fatalities were initially reported, and later confirmed (Transport Canada suspended the airline's AOC 12/22/17 for various operational deficiencies)

Southwest's 737-700 fleet reaches 500 in service

Southwest Airlines (US) now has 500 Boeing 737-700s in service, over 40% of the world's fleet of 1,183 of the type in service. The airline took delivery of it's first aircraft (as launch customer and the first delivery) December 17th 1997. 363 new aircraft were delivered from Boeing until the last delivery December 21st 2011. In the meantime, Southwest has added to it's fleet with used acquisitions (purchased and leased) since 2000. Only 9 used aircraft were added between 2000 and 2011, but this accelerated considerably thereafter. 11 in 2012, 8 in 2013, 56 in 2014, 28 in 2015, 17 in 2016 and 15 this year, of which six have yet to enter service. Southwest similarly added used 737-300s to it's fleet of new aircraft, where favorable purchase or lease opportunities presented themselves. The same is not true of 737-800s so far, the oldest of which was delivered to Southwest in March 2012. New 737-800 deliveries continue, along with 737 MAX 8s.

Boeing 737-7H4 MSN 27835 L/N 4 F/F 4/1/97
Southwest Airlines N700GS 12/17/97 - present
Original delivery colors, no winglets, 'eyebrow' cockpit windows

New colors, winglets, eyebrow windows removed, but yet to make it into latest colors

Southwest Airlines - Current Fleet
500 x 737-700
173 x 737-800
12 x 737 MAX 8
Total: 685

Neos takes delivery of first 787-9

Neos (Italy) has taken delivery of it's first Boeing 787-9, leased from AerCap, joining it's existing long haul fleet of three 767-300ERs. The 787 will initially operate from Milan Malpensa to Phuket, Mombasa and Cancun.

Boeing 787-9 MSN 38785 L/N 639 F/F 11/22/17
Neos EI-NEO Delivered 12/12/17

Neos - Current Fleet
5 x 737-800
3 x 767-300ER
1 x 787-9
Total: 9

Talking Points

Virgin Atlantic (UK) will lease two ex-Air Berlin A330-200s (msn 432/476) from DVB Bank March / April 2018

Eurowings (Germany) to introduce business class in it's A330-200s in 2018 for service to the US and other select long haul destinations

Aigle Azur (France) ordered two P&W powered A330-200s for delivery in the first half of 2018. New long haul destinations are to be announced. Established in 1946, the airline currently operates nine A320s from it's Paris Orly base

Niki (Austria) may be declared bankrupt in the event that the EU declines to approve it's acquisition by Lufthansa

Somali Airlines may be resurrected by the Government. It ceased operations in 1991

EasyJet's acquisition of certain Air Berlin assets has been approved by the EU. The airline will base 25 A320s at Berlin Tegel next year

Estelar (Venezuela) wet leased an A340-300 from HiFly (Portugal) to operate Caracas - Miami

Air New Zealand to wet lease an A330 and A340 from HiFly to cover for two engine damaged 787-9s during the busy Christmas season

Vietnam Airlines is considering the 777X or A350-1000 for it's planned non-stop routes to the US. An A350-900, with a technical stop, will be used from 2019, as neither types will be available by then

Talking Points

Blue Air (Romania) ferried two 737-400s to the United States for freight conversion. The airline's all 737 fleet includes 30 -300, -400 and -500 classics, as well as 11 737-800s

Georgian Airways leased a third ex-Air Canada E-190 from Nordic Aviation Capital

I-Fly (Russia) leased a P&W powered A330-200 from DAE Capital, joining three RR powered examples. The airline also operates two P&W powered A330-300s, and retains a sole 757-200 (of an original fleet of six of the type)

Azul (Brazil) to reduce it's fleet of Embraer regional aircraft in favor of expanding it's A320 NEO fleet

Belavia (Belarus) ordered one E-195 to replace an existing 737-500 in 2018

Cityjet (Ireland) to retire it's 13 Avro RJs by the end of 2019

T'Way Air (South Korea) plans to add eight 737 MAX 8s by 2020, plus ten wide bodies by 2025. The airline currently operates 17 737-800s

Qatar Airways A321 (A7-AIB) was damaged beyond repair after a fire broke out during routine maintenance at Doha

Air Canada commenced 737 MAX 8 service between Toronto and Calgary

Air Zimbabwe plans to lease up to 15 aircraft from Malaysia Airlines (details TBD, but includes 777s, of which at least one is fully painted)

Lufthansa to acquire the airline operation of Alitalia, with the $353M deal to close by December 19th. Approximately half of the airline's fleet will be retained. Alitalia currently operates about 100 mainline aircraft

Dynamic International Airways (US) changed it's name to Servant Air. The airline is currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring

Egyptair took delivery of it's ninth and final new 737-800 leased from DAE Capital (UAE)

IrAero (Russia) seeks to lease three 777s for service to China in Spring 2018

Avianca takes delivery of first two A320 NEOs

Avianca (Colombia) has taken delivery of it's first two CFM powered Airbus A320 NEOs, joining an existing A320 family fleet of 67 aircraft, including two A321 NEOs. Sister carrier Avianca Brazil currently operates eight Pratt & Whitney powered A320 NEOs. Avianca is one of just a few airlines that operates all members of the A320 family, including the A318. (The others include Air France and British Airways, with LAN and Frontier in the past - the latter two having now disposed of their A318s).

Airbus A320-251N MSN 7887 F/F 11/27/17
Avianca N764AV 12/11/17 - present

Airbus A320-251N MSN 7928 F/F 11/30/17
Avianca N765AV 12/11/17 - present

Avianca - Current Fleet
10 x A318
15 x A319
40 x A320
2 x A320 NEO
9 x A321
2 x A321 NEO
12 x 767-8
7 x A330-200
Total: 97

Lanmei Airlines leases first A321

Lanmei Airlines (Cambodia) leased a first Airbus A321 from AerCap. A second aircraft from the same source is expected soon. The airline is a Chinese owned low cost (LCC) airline that commenced operations September 15th from Phnom Penh and Siem to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, initially with a wet leased Myanma Airways International A320.

Airbus A321-231 MSN 3522 F/F 5/20/08
Royal Jordanian JY-AYK 5/20/08 - 3/15/14
Monarch Airlines G-ZBAL 5/31/14 - 10/2/17
Lanmei Airlines XU-919 12/8/17 - current

Weekend Reading

Air France retrieves stranded A380 from Canada
FlightGlobal

Urgent action needed to avoid Brexit airline disaster
Air Transport World

How the unwanted Boeing 717 became popular
Business Insider

6 fun historic facts about KLM
Aviation Republic

Amazing airline suites: comparing Emirates and Singapore's cabin
USA Today

Travolta to deliver B707 personally
Australian Flying

CSeries deal presents wider opportunity
FlightGlobal (Opinion)

United explores investing in regional airline ExpressJet
Bloomberg

Talking Points

Qatar Airways ordered 50 A321 NEOs, plus 36 options (this replaces a previous order for A320 NEOs)

Fastjet (Tanzania) retired its last A319, and now operates two E-190s

EasyJet (UK) has now transferred 20 A319/A320s to its new Austrian based subsidiary EasyJet Europe

IndiGo's latest A320-200 NEO delivery brings its NEO fleet total to 30 (plus 118 standard A320s)

Delta has taken delivery of its 30th A321

EasyJet (UK) to commence flying German domestic routes in January

GE Capital (GECAS) took delivery of its final 737NG. The first of 170 MAX 8s will start delivering in January

Primera Air (Denmark) will sell and lease back all of its 737 MAX 9s on order to Aviation Capital Group (US)

Air Astana (Kazakhstan) to lease three new A320 NEOs from SMBC delivering 2019-2020

Travel Service (Czech Republic) ordered nine additional 737 MAX aircraft, total now 39, with first delivery in 2018

China Eastern takes delivery of first 737 MAX 8

China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8, becoming the fifth Chinese operator of the new model. The airline has a further 59 on order, and 70 A320 NEOs (none delivered yet).

Boeing 737 MAX 8 MSN 61623 L/N 6542 F/F 11/16/17
China Eastern Airlines B-1383 Delivered 12/6/17

China Eastern - Current Fleet
39 x 737-700
35 x A319
83 x 737-800
1 x 737 MAX 8
74 x A321
180 x A320
28 x A330-200
20 x A330-300
20 x 777-300ER
Total: 480

Talking Points

Primera Air (Denmark) ordered two additional 737 MAX 9s, taking it's order total to ten

Aerolineas Argentinas to issue a tender in 2018 for the replacement of it's entire fleet of 26 E-190s

Colt Aviation's (Brazil) AOC was revoked in November. The airline's last aircraft, a 757-200F, was parked at Miami, FL in February, and subsequently sold

Boeing 757-200F PR-XCA seen stored at Miami, FL

French Blue is to be re-named French prior to commencing service from Papeete, Tahiti to San Francisco (to avoid any confusion with JetBlue)

CALC (China) took delivery of it's first A320 NEO, leased to Frontier Airlines (US)

Frontier Airbus A320-251N N323FR

Jet Time retires last 737-300

Jet Time (Denmark) retired it's last 737-300, leaving it with a fleet of five 737-700s. The airline operated a total of ten -300s, including two convertible passenger / freight aircraft from September 2006. Two 737-400s were also operated briefly, one in 2010 and one in 2013. Five 737-400F freighters were operated between 2013 and this year, with all now disposed of, as the airline focuses exclusively on it's passenger charter services.

Boeing 737-3L9 MSN 27834 L/N 2692 F/F 1/23/95
Maersk Air OY-MAS 2/21/95 - 11/20/98
GB Airways G-OGBE 11/23/98 - 12/24/03
BMI Baby G-OGBE 5/17/04 - 3/5/09
Jet Time OY-JTE 5/4/09 - 12/5/17 [Last Jet Time 737-300]
Stored Lasham, UK