China's Tianjin Airlines Tuesday announced launching a new flight route from London to Xi'an, capital of China's Shaanxi province in May 2017. The new flight service will be operated on an Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 18 business class and 242 economy class seats. The total flight time to Xi'an is around 10 hours and the aircraft will then continue onto Tianjin. The airline, which launched its first British route from London Gatwick airport this June, will also increase its twice-weekly service to three flights per week in next summer. The service currently departs every Wednesday and Saturday from Gatwick, arriving in China the following day. Tianjin Airlines, a subsidiary of HNA Group, currently operates a fleet of nearly 90 aircraft to more than 100 destinations throughout China from its eight hubs. China and Britain have been strengthening the aviation cooperation. Officials from both sides agreed on a deal to more than double the number of flights allowed to be operated between the two countries last month.<br/>
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Air Astana has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo, becoming the first airline in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to operate the type. The aircraft, which is Airbus’s 35th of the type, is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan engines. It features a two-class cabin layout, seating 16 passengers in business and 132 in economy. The Kazakhstan flag carrier is the 14th customer of the A320neo, which will join its Airbus fleet of 13 A320 family aircraft. Air Astana’s first A320neo is on a long-term lease from US-based Air Lease Corp., part of a previously announced Farnborough Airshow order. The deal includes 11 A320neo family aircraft, comprising three A320neos, four A321neos and four long-range A321neos—for which it is the launch customer. Seven of these 11 aircraft are on lease from ALC, and four are being leased from AerCap. Air Astana president and CEO Peter Foster told ATW the carrier expects to receive its first A321neo in 2017 and the first A321LR from 2019 onward. “The technology of these aircraft, and especially the range of the A321LR, will bring Air Astana to the next level,” he said.<br/>
Papua New Guinea carrier PNG Air has converted five options for ATR 72-600 regional turboprops into firm orders. The carrier ordered six ATR 72-600s and took 14 options in 2014. It is scheduled to receive the fifth of its original firm order by the end of 2016. The option conversion is valued at $134m. The last of the new batch will be delivered by 2022. Formerly known as Airlines PNG, PNG Air is undergoing a major transformation, including rebranding, a fleet renewal plan and a new business strategy focused on the domestic market. The company is also expanding into corporate transportation to support businesses aiming to develop natural resource activities within the South Pacific island.<br/>