Air NZ is looking to options to replace its eight Boeing 777-200ERs from 2022. The carrier disclosed that it has started the evaluation in an investor presentation following the release of its results for the six months to the end of December 2017. While it did not indicate how advanced the evaluation of a replacement for the 777 Classics is, CFO Jeff McDowall said during the carrier’s earnings call indicated that the airline typically has a two-year lead time between placing an order and taking delivery of aircraft. Airbus recently showed off its A350-1000 test aircraft in Auckland as part of a global sales campaign for the jet, which is expected to compete against the 777X series to meet the replacement requirement. Capacity-wise, the A350-900 and 777-8 are the more likely replacements for the 777-200ERs rather than the -1000 or -9. Boeing may also look to offer additional 787-9s or larger -10s as part of a package deal. The carrier also disclosed that it is in the “final stages” of confirming a new lease agreement on an additional 787-9 that would be delivered in the 2020 fiscal year. That will take its fleet of the type to 14.<br/>
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Singapore Airlines will deploy the Boeing 787-10 on one of its four daily flights from Singapore to Perth in May. The carrier has already announced Osaka as its maiden scheduled 787-10 route. The type will also be deployed on selected services to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur ahead of that. The new aircraft will accommodate 337 customers in a dual-class layout, which features a new regional business class hard product. SIA is due to take delivery of the first of 49 Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-TEN-powered 787-10s it has on order in March.<br/>
A solid Q4 performance in passenger revenue and cost containment pushed Panama City-based Copa Holdings toward a $370m net profit for 2017, up 10.6% over the company’s $335m net income in 2016. Following a Q3 with natural disaster-related operational challenges, Copa’s Q4 results continued to reflect ongoing improvement in passenger demand, Copa management said. Q4 operating revenue grew 12.4% year-over-year (YOY) to $676m as passenger and cargo revenue grew 12.6% and 5.5%, respectively. Copa’s Q4 operating expenses were up 4.6% to $555.2m as fuel and labour costs rose 12.3% and 13.9%, respectively. Maintenance expenses fell 7.3% and aircraft depreciation and amortization dropped 22.7% “primarily [as] the result of an adjustment of the fleet’s useful life assumption from 30 to 27 years” during the fourth quarter, Copa said. The company’s Q4 operating income jumped 70.4% to $120.4m and net income for the quarter came to $101m, up 11.4% YOY. Passenger traffic was up 11.9% to 5.1b RPMs during the quarter, as capacity grew 9.2% to 6.1b ASMs, resulting in an 83.2% load factor. Q4 yield was up 1.2% YOY to 12.9 cents and the company’s operating margin increased 6.1 points to 17.8%. Copa’s full-year revenue totalled $2.5b, up 13.8% from $2.2b in 2016, reflecting a 14.3% rise in passenger revenue. Operating expenses for the year were up 7.3% to $2.1b and included marked rises in flight operations and passenger servicing expenses, up 15.3% and 15.2% respectively. The company reported $440.1m in operating profit for the year, up 59.4% over $276.1m in operating income in 2016.<br/>