Carry on: Airbus' Iranian deal, China Airlines' A350, Vanuatu and more

Iran signs 118-plane Airbus deal
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and French President François Hollande witnessed two major deals at the Elysée Palace in Paris this week whereby Airbus will supply 118 new aircraft and a comprehensive civil aviation co-operation package. The latter involves development of air navigation services, airport and aircraft operations, regulatory harmonisation, technical and academic training, maintenance, repair and industrial cooperation. The order comprises 21 A320ceo family, 24 A320neo family, 27 A330ceo family, 18 A330neo (-900), 16 A350-1000 and 12 A380 aircraft (pictured).

CAL’s A350 takes shape
China Airlines' (CAL) first A350 XWB is now on the final assembly line at Airbus in Toulouse, France (see picture). This involves the assembly of the wing-fuselage junction, the installation of the tailplane and also the tail cone. The aircraft will then be moved to the next assembly station for structural completion, ground testing of mechanical, electrical and avionics systems, and then the start of cabin installation. The first delivery of Airbus’ latest generation widebody airliner to China Airlines is scheduled in the third quarter of 2016. China Airlines, the Taiwan flag carrier, has 14 A350-900 twin-engine widebodies on order. The aircraft will be deployed on the carrier's long-haul routes to Europe, Australia/New Zealand and the US as well as on selected regional routes. CAL operates 24 A330s and six A340s on regional and long-haul services. 

Vanuatu loses more flights
Pacific Islands airlines are continuing to provide services to Port Vila, Vanuatu, over concerns about the state of the runway at Bauerfield International Airport. Solomon Airlines, which operates a weekly service with an A320, and Fiji Airways have confirmed they will not suspend flights. Air Vanuatu, which has now suspended codeshares with Qantas and Air New Zealand, is continuing its once-weekly service to Auckland.

Air New Zealand suspended its once-a-week service on January 22 while Virgin Australia will do so this weekend for its three-times weekly service from Brisbane. Repairs to the runway resulting from last year’s cyclone have been delayed by political factors and a decision to reject a World Bank loan in favour of a Chinese one. Recent elections have not yet resulted in the formation of a new government.

Fiji seeks Singapore codeshare
Fiji Airways is seeking a codeshare with Singapore Airlines as a means of further integration with the world aviation system. Civil Aviation Minister Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum will be pursuing this as the Singapore Airshow Aviation Leadership Summit, a Fiji Village report says. Fiji Airways will start flying to Singapore in April and Mr Sayed‑Khaiyum this expansion “makes it vital that Fiji integrates into the aviation industry in Singapore and beyond.” The summit from February 16-21 will be attended by civil aviation ministers and other senior government officials, regulators, the private sector and airline operators.

Changi airport has record year
Singapore’s Changi Airport Group handled a record 55.4 million passengers last year – a 2.5% increase over the previous year. In December alone, there were 5.29 million passenger movements, representing the highest ever traffic the airport has achieved in a month since it opened in 1981. There were 346,330 landings and takeoffs last year, a 1.4% year-on-year increase.

Route news of the week
Jetstar launches its first regional domestic services on Monday (February 1) from Auckland to New Plymouth and Palmerston North. The first flights between Nelson and Wellington also start on February 1. Jetstar began its first regional services on December 1, 2015, with flights from Auckland to Nelson and to Napier. Emirates will boost its Dubai-Colombo (Sri Lanka) service to five times daily from August 1. The nonstop flight will use a with three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. Overall, Emirates operates 27 weekly nonstop flights and seven weekly one-stop flights.