Southwest Airlines plans to expand service from New York City and Washington this year after completing a deal to lease slots from Alaska Air Group at maxed out airports. Southwest will be able to add six round-trip flights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport and four at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The 10-year lease begins in October and has been approved by the US Justice Department, Alaska said Monday. Alaska is “monetizing” valuable assets at the two airports as it ends nonstop flights to the East Coast from Dallas Love Field this fall, Alaska CE Brad Tilden said on a call with analysts to discuss first-quarter earnings. “Flying from Dallas to LaGuardia and Reagan National, at this point in the company’s history, was not strategic,” Tilden said. The Seattle-based carrier plans to focus on “more strategic and profitable opportunities” on the West Coast from its two gates at Love Field near downtown Dallas, said CCO Andrew Harrison. Southwest will have details “in the coming weeks” on its expanded presence in New York and Washington, said a spokesman. The lease allows Alaska to regain the slots after 2028.<br/>
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Asia-Pacific airlines operate 2,316 Boeing 737s powered by CFM56-7B engines, but most of these aircraft are below the cycle threshold required by a new inspection protocol. CFM International has recommended ultrasonic inspections on fan blades within the next 20 days for CFM56-7Bs with more than 30,000 cycles since delivery; for engines with 20,000 cycles or more, CFM recommends inspections by August. When engines hit 20,000 cycles, they should receive the inspection, which should be repeated every 3,000 cycles, representing roughly two years of service. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that Indonesia’s Sriwijaya Air is most exposed, with 26 aircraft powered by CFM56-7B engines in its fleet. While aircraft ages range from 3.1 to 19.8 years, the average aircraft age is 14 years, equating to an average cycle count of 21,000. Following Sriwijaya are three South Korean low-cost carriers. Eastar Jet has 18 CFM56-7B powered 737s with an age range of 5.6 to 20 years, and an average aircraft age of 13.2 years, equating to an average of 19,800 cycles. Jin Air has 20 examples with an average age of 12 years, equating to 18,000 cycles, and Jeju Air has 33 examples with an average age of 11.7 years, equating to 17,550 cycles. Other Asia-Pacific carriers with large numbers of 737s powered by CFM56-7B engines with an average aircraft age of ten years or older are Air Do (nine aircraft), Korean Air (36), and Qantas (70).<br/>
Hainan Airlines plans to open at least 40 international services from Hainan by the end of 2022 as China implements a new national policy for building Hainan as a free trade port. Earlier in April, Beijing announced a new policy granting a 30-day visa-free visit to Hainan for citizens from 59 countries, effective May 1. Hainan province governor Shen Xiaoming has also vowed to expand the number of international services from Hainan to at least 100 in the next two or three years. Over the past two years, the Haikou-based carrier has launched 10 international and regional (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) services from Hainan. Story has details of plans.<br/>
NokScoot will start its daily flights to Tokyo in June in an announcement hailed by Japan to boost the already booming destination for Thai travellers.<br/>The budget airline said on Monday it will use a Boeing 777-200 for the Don Mueang-Narita route to be operational on June 1. "It's been a long time coming, but our flights to the Land of the Rising Sun are finally set for take-off soon," NokScoot CEO Yodchai Sudhidhnkul said. NokScoot is a joint venture between Nok Air and Scoot of Singapore. Japan will be the third East Asian destination for the no-frills carrier after China and Taiwan. It has direct flights from Bangkok to Tianjin, Nanjing and Qingdao in China, and the Taiwanese capital of Taipei.<br/>
Privately owned Egyptian carrier Nile Air is preparing for an IPO later in 2018. Nile Air launched in 2011 and is now Egypt’s second-largest independent airline. The full-service carrier operates five Airbus A320ceos and two A321ceos from Cairo and Alexandria to destinations in Africa, Europe, the Gulf and Middle East. Speaking during a panel session at Aviation Africa in Cairo, Nile Air CEO Ahmed Aly said the airline is working toward an IPO. He declined to give further details. Earlier media reports mention that Nile Air had previously considered listing around 30% of its shares, but turbulence in the Egyptian market postponed the move.<br/>