Two Airbus A319 Aircraft Dry Leased By AirBlue

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Airblue adds two new aircraft to its network
KARACHI: Private airline Airblue, on Thursday, announced that it had added two new aircraft to consolidate its international and domestic network.

Speaking to newsmen here at a luncheon meeting, Managing Director Syed Nasir Ali said the two Airbus 319 aircraft have been dry leased from an American airline which went bankrupt following an unprecedented hike in fuel prices. This new addition has increased the fleet strength of Airblue to eight aircraft. “Year 2007 was the year of consolidation for us. We were trying to face challenges of the rising fuel cost,” he said, recalling many airlines have succumbed to the challenge. “We definitely want to survive.”

He said domestic air traffic has dropped by 12 per cent as compared to last year because of higher fares. “Airblue has taken a number of initiatives to control cost. All our aircraft are configured economy class. We have replaced meals with sandwiches.”

Ali said the new aircraft will primarily be used on upcoming routes between Sharjah and cities in northern Pakistan. Service between Lahore and Islamabad will also start from next month, he added.

Asked how his airline will compete with low-cost Air Arabia that operates on the same routes between Sharjah and Pakistan, he said Pakistani passengers mostly preferred their own airlines.

He said initially, the airline intended to establish its service from Dubai but authorities of the emirates did not grant them permission. Airblue has also been seeking permission of Saudi authorities to start flights to Riyadh, he said, adding, “Saudi rulers are strict when it comes to private airlines.”

The News

[Abbas Ali]

According to aerotransport.org, the two Airbus A319s acquired by AirBlue were previously operated by Skybus Airlines (www.skybus.com). One aircraft already has been painted in AirBlue livery but is in hangar.

The US-based Skybus Airlines ceased operations in April 2008 and had a very young fleet of 13 Airbus A319 aircraft including two leased from Virgin America (www.virginamerica.com). The average age of Skybus Airlines fleet was 4.3 years in April 2008.

Abbas

[Moin]

Just as I suspected. Now ED have the A319, A320 and A321. Will be nice to see them in the ED livery.

[masmoon]

From Airblue Website
Press Release

The National, 15 July 2008

SHARJAH // Airblue, Pakistan’s largest private carrier, will start flying twice a day from Sharjah to Pakistan in the first phase of the airline’s plan to expand services in the Gulf and South Asia.

The airline will operate its two newly acquired Airbus A319s to two destinations in northern Pakistan, beginning on Aug 14.

“The plans are to fly to two of the four northern destinations in Pakistan, including Lahore, Islamabad, Faisalabad or Peshawar,” said Syed Nasir Ali, the managing director of Airblue. “Two destinations will be finalised once all the approvals have been secured from Sharjah aviation authorities.”

The 14 flights a week from Sharjah will take the total number of Airblue flights from the UAE to 35 a week. The airline currently operates 21 flights a week from Dubai to four destinations in Pakistan, and is also looking to expand its service from Dubai.

Mr Ali said last month that the airline had held negotiations with Abu Dhabi authorities and planned to launch flights from the emirate to Peshawar and Islamabad “soon”.

He added that Airblue would introduce flights to Muscat, in Oman, and to Kuwait in October as the second phase of the airline’s expansion got under way. Airblue has already secured landing rights in Muscat and is in the final stages of negotiating for rights in Kuwait.

“We are also looking at the possibility of starting Jeddah operations to get a share of Hajj and Ummrah traffic,” Mr Ali said.

Airblue has also set its sights on the Indian market and has secured approval from the Indian and Pakistani authorities to start flights between Lahore and Delhi this winter.

Airblue plans to announce an initial public offering of shares next year to fund 14 new A320 Airbus aircraft worth about US$800 million (Dh2.94bn). Mr Ali, however, would not say how much the airline intended to raise, or what stake of the company it would offer. “We are at the planning stage right now and a decision will soon be made,” he said, adding that the airline would complete three years of operations in August, the prerequisite for a public offering in Pakistan.

Counting the two A319 aircraft that Airblue recently added, the carrier currently has a fleet of eight Airbus aeroplanes . From the middle of next year, Airblue is scheduled to receive a new Airbus aircraft every three months.

“We will have about 18 aircraft once we get the full delivery. We will phase out the older aircraft as well,” Mr Ali said.

He added that Airblue was also looking at the option of acquiring a wide-bodied aircraft, possibly an A330, to service its long-haul route to Europe.

“With the addition of these new aircraft to the fleet, Airblue will expand operations to more European destinations, including London, Scandinavia and also more destinations in the Middle East, Far East and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

[Abbas Ali]

Here's a photo.


JULY 19, 2008 - EI-DZY Airbus A319 (ex-Skybus) was rolled out at Paris-Orly Airport, France, on July 19, 2008 in AirBlue livery - Info & Photo Source: pepscl/ATDB.aero

Abbas

[Moin]

Hey great, we got a pic! Will it get a Pak registration now?

[Abbas Ali]

^ Yes, I guess it will receive Pakistani registration (AP-***) after arriving in Pakistan. Before Pakistani registration is issued, I believe it will be test flown with inspectors from Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) air worthiness department aboard the aircraft. After clearing test flight Pakistani registration will be issued to the aircraft.

Abbas

[Amaad Lone]

How many passengers is Air Blue planning for its A319s??

[Abbas Ali]

^ In single class layout an Airbus A319 can accomodate upto 142 passengers and in two class layout it can carry upto 124 passengers.

I guess, AirBlue A319 will be in single class layout.

Abbas

[busdriver]

well it depends on the requirements
Here in QR were using 2 class with total of 110 pax. different seat pitch than airblue i guess

[Abbas Ali]

Here's larger photo:


Source: www.skyliner-aviation.de

Abbas

[Amaad Lone]

Any idea on the serial numbers of the aircraft?

The ten A319-112s that skybus operated came from many different sources.

MSN 1853 was orginally delivered to Air Canada in 2002.

MSN 1884 was delivered to SkyService in 2003, on lease from CIT.

MSN 1901 was delivered to SkyService in 2003, on lease from ILFC.

MSN 1963 was delivered to Air Canada in 2003, leased from GECAS.

MSN 2773 was deliverd to Virgin America in 2006. Virgin America leased the aircraft to Skybus in 2007.

MSN 2811 was delivered to Virgin America in 2006. Virgin America leased the aircraft to Skybus in 2007.

MSN 3171 was delivered brand new to Skybus in 2007 by Airbus.

MSN 3309 was delivered brand new to Skybus in 2007 by Airbus.

MSN 3331 was delivered brand new to Skybus in 2007 by Airbus.

Two of these nine A319-112s will wear the Air Blue colors.

[Abbas Ali]

EI-DZY is Airbus A319-112, construction number 3385, built in year 2008.

It flew for the first time under Airbus test flight registration D-AVWF on February 21, 2008. The aircraft was built for GECAS AeroCapital aircraft leasing company and was delivered to Skybus Airlines as brand new leased aircraft on March 3, 2008 with US registration N502SX. After demise of Skybus Airline, this A319 returned to owner GECAS AeroCapital and was re-registered as EI-DZY in May 2008.

AirBlue has acquired this aircraft on lease from GECAS AeroCapital (www.gecas.com).

I guess second A319 for AirBlue will be EI-DZZ an Airbus A319-112, construction number 3388, built in year 2008 and owned by GECAS AeroCapital.

Construction number 3388 flew for the first time under Airbus test flight registration D-AVWG on January 29, 2008. The aircraft was built for GECAS AeroCapital aircraft leasing company and was delivered to Skybus Airlines as brand new leased aircraft on February 6, 2008 with US registration N504SX. After demise of Skybus Airline, this A319 returned to owner GECAS AeroCapital and was re-registered as EI-DZZ in May 2008.

Abbas

[Moin]

Well as they say in Pakistan, this a/c is just about 'zero meter'.

[hasan saleem]

Brand new aircraft.