13 Indonesian carriers risk losing licences

Indonesia’s Ministry of Transport has given thirteen of the country’s carriers until the end of July to improve their financial positions, or risk losing of their Air Operator Certificates, according to a report in the Jakarta Post. The 13 carriers affected include: Indonesia AirAsia, Batik Air (part of the Lion Group), Cardigair, Transwisata Air, EastIndo, Survai Udara Penas, Air Pacific (Indonesia), Jhonlin Air Transport, Asialink Cargo Express, Ersa Eastern Aviation, Tri-M.G. Intra Asia Airlines, Nusantara Buena Air, and Manunggal Air.

Tri MG Airlines is one of the only three independent cargo carriers operating in Indonesia. The airline operates daily flights Singapore – Jakarta – Balikpapan five times a week carrying 15.5 tonnes of cargo per-flight. Tri M-G has a fleet of 11 freighters.

DIRGANTARA INDONESIA concludes ‘teaming agreement’ with Air Bus Military

Aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) has concluded a "teaming agreement" with Airbus Military on the joint production and marketing of NC295 planes, the Indonesian company`s chief said.

The agreement would be implemented with financial support from PT Perusahaan Pengelola Asset (PT PPA), a state-owned company managing public assets, PT Dirgantara Indonesia president director Budi Santoso said.

The three companies signed a strategic cooperation accord in July 2011 and the teaming agreement was a follow up to that agreement, he said.

Under the teaming agreement, PT Dirgantara Indonesia would have an opportunity to make and market NC295 planes with Airbus Military, he said, adding the plane was already being used by a few Asian countries, namely South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.

"With the NC295`s performance having been tested for some time (in the three Asian countries), the aircraft is projected to meet a need of the `the Indonesian Air Force, namely replacing its Fokker-27 fleet whose service period is to expire soon," Budi said.

With the signing of the teaming accord with Airbus Military, PT DI"s continued existence after 2014 was more or less assured, he said.

Labeling the NC295 a "commercially competitive aircraft", Budi said, for PT Dirgantara Indonesia, making the plane would pose no particular difficulties as the company already had a long record of producing C212 and CN235 planes which were in fact earlier generations of the NC296.

The NC295 would be the latest addition to the list of aircraft types PT Dirgantara Indonesia had produced over the years. The company`s products were already being used by the Indonesian military and also marketed in the Asian region.

picture: wikipedia / source: ptppa.com

DELTA Airlines buy 100 units of Boeing 737

In the middle of news about the purchase of Airbus aircraft, on Thursday August 2011, Delta Airlines confirmed the purchased of 100 units of Boeing 737.

The American-built aircraft would be received by Delta Airlines in the year 2013-2018. The value of the purchase reached 8.5 billion U.S. dollars, although it is believe Delta Airlines received number of discounted rates.

The new Boeing aircraft to be ordered Delta Airlines has a more comfortable cabin, the roar of the engine smoother, and larger capacity of storage on the passenger's head.

It is estimated that Delta Airlines will receive a Boeing 737-900 Extended Range (ER) with a single aisle and can be loaded with up to 180 seats. Later, the planes will fly domestic routes.

Interestingly, the launch-customer that is believed to fly Boeing737-900 ER is Indonesian airlines, namely Lion Air. Even the Lion Air already order to 178 units, which until August has received up to 51 units of the aircraft.

In January 2011, Delta Airlines, based in Atlanta has announced it will order up to 200 aircraft, with an option to order another 200 aircraft. Delta Airlines aircraft intended to replace the old aircraft, such as the DC-9-50s and Boeing 757-200s.

The average age of Delta aircraft reaches 16 years, far below the Garuda Indonesia is on average only 7-8 years. When the new plane arrived, Delta Airlines expects to cut fuel costs between 15-20 percent. Delta Airlines, the world's second largest airline, with a total fleet of 700 units of the aircraft.

picture: google.com

NEW engine for Boeing 737

To face with competition from the French aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the directors of the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing, has approved a new engine for the Boeing 737. Hopefully, this new engine is more efficient in fuel consumption, making Boeing 737 preferred airlines.

The commitment is released by Boeing on Tuesday (08/30/2011) and Boeing shares immediately rose two percent, in the lunch closing at the New York stock trading.

The decision to install a new machine, it's been awaited since last month, when American Airlines said he would buy a new engine Boeing 737 airplane when it intends to make. American Airlines also has agreed to buy 100 Boeing 737-900 ER.

Expansion purchase these aircraft from American Airlines, Boeing actually terminate the exclusive rights to supply aircraft to American Airlines. Because American Airlines within the next few years, not only ordered 200 unit of Boeing, Airbus but also 260 units.

The new engine Boeing 737, scheduled to be accepted airlines began in 2017. Boeing said the engine was a type of Leap-18 engines made by CFM International. Boeing confirmed, the new 737 engine will be more fuel efficient than the Airbus A320 neo. Specifically, four percent more fuel efficient than the neo A320, Boeing said.

Competition will be more stringent. Boeing 737 assembled in Renton, Washington, on the contrary Airbus A320 in Toulouse, France. Two types of aircraft, getting lots of orders, and both manufacturers encourage the production units that can assemble 42 aircraft per month. Where Boeing will achieve it in 2014, while Airbus in early 2012.

picture: google.com

LAO Airlines buy two Airbus A320

Lao Airlines, the national airline from Laos, signed a contract with Airbus Industry to purchase two A320 aircraft types.

Lao Airlines will fly the A320 to connect Vientiane with a number of major destination countries in Southeast Asia, including Jakarta.

Somphone Douangdara, President of Lao Airlines, said the A320 will have a layout for the two classes of passengers with a capacity of 126 passengers in main cabin.

In addition, said Somphone, Business class will be able to accommodate16 passengers. "With the A320, Lao Airlines will introduce a higher level of premium service as we expand our international route network," he said. According Somphone, Lao Airlines will be acquiring passenger comfort guarantee to fly. Moreover, he added, Lao Airlines will also get the benefits of low operating costs of modern A320 aircraft and saving fuel.

John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer responded positively to the presence of Lao Airlines as a new Airbus customer. "With these reservations, Lao Airlines joined other global customers, the owners of the best-selling line of single-aisle aircraft in the airline industry," he said.

A320 aircraft, according to John, preferred by passengers because of the general operational costs are relatively low. John added a series of A320 Family aircraft have been recognized as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft quality.

"Almost 7,80 of Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold and more than 4.700 aircraft had been delivered to more than 330 airlines and airline operators around the world. This is a series of best-selling single-aisle aircraft in the world, "he concluded.

picture: google.com

Citilink Revision Number of Aircraft

Strategic business unit of PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk, Citilink, revised the number of aircraft to be operated until the end of this year. When originally projected Citilink will operates 15 aircraft, the target is reduced to 10 units.

President Director of Garuda Indonesia, Emirsyah Satar said, it was done because of Garuda Indonesia planes nevertheless grant that during this operation. "Garuda Indonesia’s plane is not suitable for Citilink, due to Citilink’s concept is the low cost carriers (LCC)," Satar said in Jakarta.

The plane which needed by Citilink is the aircraft with a capacity of 180 passengers, while the aircraft owned by Garuda Indonesia is the plane for the premium class with a capacity of 144 passengers. It is considered inefficient.

Therefore, Garuda Indonesia aircraft will not grant to Citilink. "Citilink has decided to operate the Airbus A320, so that Garuda INodnesia’s Boeing Series will be grounded and sold when it's not used anymore," he said.

Emir added that currently it had prepared to make Citilink a stand-alone company. The target is in 2012 has done a spin off.

"We have prepared a business plan that the Ministry of Transportation provide aviation business license this year, the target may spin off next year," he said.

picture: google.com