WestJet Airlines has been experiencing “reliability and on-time performance challenges” with its new overseas flights to London, forcing it to cancel 10 flights and delay several others in the first 2 months of operations. The issue is the result of mechanical problems with the planes WestJet is using on the London routes. The 4 Boeing 767s were acquired from Qantas Airways and are 23 to 25 years old. These are the first 767s operated by WestJet and a company spokeswoman said introducing a new aircraft type into an airline’s fleet can create problems. WestJet also encountered problems with on-time performance when it first launched its Encore regional airline using Bombardier’s Q400s. CE Gregg Saretsky acknowledged the problem, calling it “teething pains,” and said performance was starting to improve. <br/>
unaligned
Two years ago, SpiceJet was fighting for survival as creditors retreated and oil companies refused to refuel its airliners. Today, the world’s biggest planemakers are wooing the recovering carrier for a potential blockbuster order worth about US$12b. Boeing and Airbus are locked in a battle to supply SpiceJet with as many as 100 planes, and both are offering aggressive discounts in negotiations that have intensified in the past few months, according to people with direct knowledge of the talks. A win would be key for Boeing, with the US manufacturer lagging behind its European rival in India’s burgeoning budget-airline market, one of the key sources of industry growth globally. The airline needs to ramp up its 43-plane fleet quickly to pose a meaningful threat to IndiGo. <br/>
Donghai Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing, covering 25 737 MAX 8s and 5 787-9s, valued at more than US$4b at list prices. Donghai Airlines launched as a cargo airline in 2006 and expanded into passenger services in 2014. It has a fleet of 11 Boeing 737-800s, serving more than 10 cities across China, and will use the 787s to expand into long-haul passenger flights. Donghai Airlines chairman Wong Cho Bau said the order formed part of the airline’s rapid growth strategy. He said that by 2020 Donghai Airlines will have a fleet 50 aircraft—comprising 45 737s and 5 787-9s—growing to over 100 aircraft by 2025. The airline plans to develop both its domestic and international market, establishing Shenzhen as a southern China hub. <br/>
Virgin Atlantic will buy 12 Airbus A350-1000s, Airbus announced at the Farnborough Airshow. The order is worth more than US$4.4b at list prices. The airline will buy 8 of the aircraft from Airbus and lease 4 from Air Lease Corp. The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered aircraft will be delivered from 2019-21, Virgin Atlantic CE Craig Kreeger said. They will replace the carrier’s remaining Boeing 747-400s. He added that further orders for the A350-1000 were possible. Asked whether they would also be a replacement for the oft-deferred Virgin commitment for A380s, Kreeger said the top of the range Airbus model currently still figured in its planning. “This doesn’t replace the A380. We have 6 on option and continue to have. It is subject to future evaluation, to see if it makes sense.” <br/>