Turkish budget carrier Pegasus Airlines may postpone delivery of three new Boeing aircraft next year, lease some of its current fleet and sell older planes to cut costs after a difficult year for tourism, its CE said. Pegasus , which competes with national carrier Turkish Airlines, has increased passenger numbers more slowly than planned this year as series of bombings, a failed coup in July and tension with Russia deterred tourists. A weak lira currency has driven up fuel costs and other expenses. "We were going to take delivery of five planes ordered from Boeing next year. Two of them will come but three of them we may take later," Mehmet Nane said Thursday. Pegasus initially expected passenger growth of 13-15% this year, then cut that target in August to 5-7%. Now, Nane said: "Current developments show we will do better than our revisions." He did not elaborate. The airline has been cutting costs by closing some less popular routes, he said. It is also leasing out two of its aircraft, complete with crew, maintenance and insurance - known in the airline industry as "wet lease". "If our planes are empty, why not?" Nane said when asked if more lease deals were possible. Pegasus has a fleet of 77 aircraft, which is set to rise to 82 by year-end, not including next year's Boeing deliveries. Pegasus plans to sell off older, less fuel-efficient planes as new ones arrive, Nane said. He does not expect the fleet to shrink overall.<br/>
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Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman will start operating flights from its hub in Muscat to Guangzhou, China, from December 9, the airline said yesterday. Oman Air will run flights to Guangzhou from Muscat on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using its wide-body A330. The planes take off from Muscat International Airport, Oman, at 1015 and reach Guangzhou at 2100. Oman Air flights depart Guangzhou to Muscat on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 0625 and land in Muscat at 1100. Guangzhou is Oman Air’s first destination in China.<br/>
Fastjet said it would seek more funds sooner than expected to restructure itself, prompting its Chairman Colin Child to resign after the African budget carrier's months-long tussle with its second-biggest investor to retain him. Fastjet said the cost and terms associated with returning leased aircraft was more onerous than expected and that it would need to raise further capital after having raised funds in July. The carrier said Friday it planned to complete its fund-raising exercise in Q1 2017. The carrier is looking to cut costs after struggling against tough conditions in its home market, Tanzania. In March, it warned that its full-year results would be well below market estimates and that it would no longer be cash flow-positive this year. <br/>