oneworld

Royal Jordanian Airlines and Embraer have signed a memorandum of understanding for the carrier to introduce 10 E2-family jets into its fleet “within the coming several years”. The tentative agreement – announced at the Istanbul air show on 6 October – suggests Royal Jordanian will operate the E190-E2 and E195-E2 variants of the regional jet. Days earlier, on 2 October, Royal Jordanian had trailed an upcoming regional jet commitment as it announced a fleet-modernisation strategy that will also involve the airline taking Airbus A320neos and, potentially, more Boeing 787s. The Embraer MoU follows “feasibility studies” undertaken by the airline to decide on replacements for its E175 and E195 jets, with the airline currently operating two of each type. Its fleet also features five A319s. While the E2s are intended to replace older types, Royal Jordanian chief executive Samer Majali suggests the incoming aircraft will also be used to grow the carrier’s network from Amman. The E195-E2 will feature 12 business-class seats and 108 in economy, while the smaller E190-E2 will have the same number of business-class seats and 80 in economy. Royal Jordanian says it intends to increase its fleet from 24 aircraft currently to more than 40 over the next five years.<br/>

Cathay Pacific Airways faces unprecedented staffing and training shortages that will keep airfares high and impede Hong Kong's return to its role of global aviation hub, a pilots' union said on Thursday. A record number of resignations among the company's most experienced pilots leaves the airline unprepared to fully resume operations and failing to meet resurgent demand, the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA) said. "Cathay Pacific ... is currently facing unprecedented staffing and training shortages," it said in a statement that forecast a rise in airfares amid a situation of low supply and strong demand. Cathay, which plans to hire 4,000 more staff over the next 18 to 24 months as travel rebounds, said adding more flights was a priority but it would take time to train crew and reactivate aircraft. "We remain focused on building connectivity between Hong Kong and the world as swiftly as we possibly can," the airline said in a statement responding to the union comments. Last month, Cathay said it expected to reach a third of pre-pandemic passenger capacity by year-end, exceeding its previous estimate of a quarter, after crew quarantine rules were eased. In contrast, rival Singapore Airlines Ltd expects to reach 81% of its 2019 capacity levels by then. Along with its subsidiaries, Cathay had 20,800 employees globally by June 30, down from 34,200 at the end of 2019, after cutting thousands of roles during the pandemic. At a webinar on Wednesday, John Grant, chief analyst at travel data firm OAG, said Hong Kong was likely to eventually restore its status as a global aviation hub, given its proximity to mainland China, but the process would not be quick. Capacity at Hong Kong airport this week is 81% below 2019 levels, versus a decline of 38% in Singapore and a fall of 22% in Sydney, OAG data showed.<br/>

Cathay Pacific Airways is in talks with Boeing and Airbus about expanding its fleet, seeking to bounce back from the Covid pandemic as the opening of Hong Kong airport’s third runway swells capacity. The airline is exploring possibilities for adding both passenger aircraft and freighters, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Ronald Lam said in an interview in London on Thursday. Cathay would be seeking deliveries from 2025, when the new landing strip comes into full service. While the company is keeping its options open, Lam said it would like to have consistency and synergy with its existing fleet, comprising Airbus A321neo jets for short-haul flights and A330s, A350s and Boeing Co. 777s used on longer routes and some regional services. Low-cost unit Hong Kong Express Airways Ltd. has an all-A320 family lineup. After 2 1/2 bruising years during which the coronavirus crisis severely restricted operations, Cathay Pacific has grounds for optimism now that Hong Kong has finally dropped mandatory quarantine rules. While some virus restrictions remain, the carrier is positioning for a resurgence in travel. “We have had some short term setbacks because of the pandemic, but I think we will come back strong,” Lam said. “In particular, we play a very key role connecting between Hong Kong and Europe and that role will not change and will only get stronger.” Cathay is currently operating about 16% of pre-pandemic seating, set to rise to about one-third by the end of the year, Lam said. It plans to return to normal levels by the end of 2024 or early 2025, though HK Express will recover earlier. Freight capacity should reach two-thirds of 2019 tonnage this year.<br/>