Aircraft News - Asia / Pacific.

Edited by Aram Gesar, [e-mail] For more global news, data, analysis and features, please go to: http://www.AirGuideOnline.com/professional.htm Sep 18, 2006

Airbus, Qantas

Qantas CFO Peter Gregg said that the airline has "been told by Airbus that we will get our first A380 in October 2007," but in a note of caution he added, "Airbus has also informed us that they are continuing to evaluate the delivery program and that this will be finalized at the end of September." EADS co-CEO Louis Gallois last week confirmed that the company will update the status of the A380 program publicly later this month, including the release of a revised delivery schedule. Sep 14, 2006

Boeing

Boeing said growth in Asian air cargo markets will exceed previous forecasts, with the domestic Chinese and intra-Asian markets expanding 10.8% and 8.6% per year respectively. Asia also will fuel growth on key trade lanes, it said, predicting that Asia-North America air cargo traffic will average 7.1% annual growth followed by Europe-Asia's 6.9% yearly rise. "More mature markets, such as North America and intra-Europe, will grow more slowly than the world average, as will routes involving Latin America and the Middle East." Overall, Boeing predicts the world freighter fleet will increase to 3,563 from the current 1,789 by 2026, with the greatest growth in widebody freighters such as the 747, 777 and 767. Of the 2,983 freighters predicted to join the fleet, 1,209 will be replacements for retired aircraft and 1,774 for growth. More than 75% will come from passenger/combi-to-freighter modifications, while 766 will be new production freighters. Sep 15, 2006

Boeing, Shanghai Airlines, SpiceJet

Boeing sold eight 737NGs to Shanghai Airlines and 10 to SpiceJet, including five dash 900ERs. Unidentified customers placed orders for two 737-800s and two 787-8s and Boeing Business Jet took one 787-8 and one 737-900BBJ. Sep 11, 2006

Boeing, Skymark Airlines

Skymark Airlines is set to join the 787 club, according to sources at the Japanese carrier. Skymark, which operates five 767-300ERs, has advised Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport that it will add four 787s between 2010 and 2012. It operates a 10-times-daily shuttle service from Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo and Fukuoka in addition to four-times-daily flights to Kobe and twice-daily service to Naha. It is expected to be granted additional slots at HND when the fourth runway is opened in 2009. Sep 11, 2006

Embraer, Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce will supply engines for the 50 ERJ-145s ordered by Hainan Airlines Group. The order, which includes 100 engines and long-term TotalCare services, is valued at $500 million. Sep 15, 2006

Honeywell, Singapore Airlines, Boeing

Honeywell was selected by Singapore Airlines to provide next-generation weather radar for the carrier's 19 new 777-300ERs, with deliveries of its RDR-4000 windshear/weather radar system beginning this month. Sep 11, 2006

Rolls-Royce, Hainan Airlines

Rolls-Royce has agreed to supply aircraft engines to Chinese carrier Hainan Airlines in a deal which could be worth more than [pounds sterling]265m. The manufacturer will supply 100 engines for use in aircraft built by Embraer from next year, while it already has a contract to supply engines to Hainan for use in seven Airbus A330 ordered in July. Its engines are currently used by ten Chinese airlines and further demand is expected as air travel increases across that huge country. The $800 million deal for Trent 1000s to power its fleet of 15 787s scheduled to begin delivery in June 2008. The agreement includes a long-term TotalCare maintenance package. The Asian aviation market is set to underpin Rolls-Royce's overall growth over the next 20 years, with global demand for 6,500 engines forecast by 2026. http://www.rolls-royce.com Sep 14, 2006