Air China : CA : CCA

Air China commande 20 Boeing 737-800

La compagnie aérienne chinoise Air China a annoncé vendredi avoir passé une commande pour l'achat de 20 Boeing 737-800 afin d'agrandir sa flotte face à la demande croissante, pour un prix catalogue d'environ 1,4 milliard de dollars, a rapporté Dow Jones Newswires.

Air China n'a pas précisé le prix d'acquisition des avions mais a indiqué que le constructeur aéronautique Boeing avait accordé des "réductions de prix significatives".
La livraison des appareils est prévue entre 2013 et 2015.

"La transaction va renforcer la capacité aérienne de la compagnie d'environ 5%", selon Air China, qui précise qu'elle "va en particulier accroître la part de la compagnie sur le marché intérieur et augmenter la fréquence des vols sur les lignes nationales et internationales".

BEIJING, July 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Building a strong fleet is seen as one of the most important strategies in a carrier's growth. To seek its competitive edge in the global airline market, Air China is pressing ahead with its plan to introduce wide-bodied airliners to its fleet and make its fleet more efficient, so as to improve overall operational efficiency, cut costs and reduce carbon emissions. According to an unnamed source of the carrier, talks are underway between Air China and Boeing/Airbus on buying new airliners and exchanging used airliners for new ones, including A350 and B787s.

July 14 (Reuters) - Air China ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) is in talks to buy wide-bodied jets from Boeing Co ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) and Airbus ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien])([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]), including A350 and B787 jets, to revamp its fleet, a source close to the carrier said on Wednesday.
The ongoing negotiations with Airbus and its U.S. rival also cover exchange of Air China's used jets for new ones, said the source.
Air China could not be immediately reached for comment.
Air China, which has a fleet of 256 jets, operates 245 routes servicing 30 countries and regions. (Reporting by Fang Yan and Jacqueline Wong)

Air China signals intention to place widebody order

Air China plans to renew its fleet by introducing more widebody aircraft, a move it said will improve its overall operational efficiency.
The Beijing-based carrier said in a statement that it is holding talks with Boeing and Airbus for new aircraft orders. It is interested in both the 787 and the A350. MD-International Affairs and Cooperation Lou Yongfeng told ATW last month that the carrier's international ambitions currently are curtailed by a shortage of long-haul aircraft.
CA already has 15 787s on order with deliveries starting in September or October 2011. It has cautioned that it is uncertain whether its first 787 can be delivered on time. Lou said the company will operate 787s on China-US routes. It has no A350s on order. The Chinese government signed a letter of intent with Airbus for an order of 20 A350s at the end of 2006 but has yet to announce which airline or airlines will operate the aircraft.
CA operates a fleet of 256 aircraft serving 1,172 destinations in 181 countries.

Air China agrees to buy 15 787-9 jets from Boeing

HONG KONG (MarketWatch) -- Air China said Wednesday it has agreed to buy 15 787-9 Aircraft from Boeing Co. worth $3.19 billion at list prices, according to statement filed with Hong Kong securities regulators on Wednesday. The purchases will expand its fleet capacity by 11%, the airline said in the statement. The purchasing agreement replaces a previous deal to purchase 15 787-8 aircraft in 2005, the delivery of which was delayed by Boeing. Air China didn't disclose the actual price it will pay for the aircraft, in line with standard industry practice of not revealing price concessions it was able to negotiate. Air China's shares were up 2.8% at midday in Hong Kong following the morning announcement.

Air China says to buy four Boeing planes for $1.2 bln

Air China Ltd said it had agreed to buy four 777-300ER aircraft from Boeing for a total basic price of $1.15 billion to expand fleet capacity.
In a filing to the Shanghai Stock exchange late on Friday, Air China said the transaction would not have any significant impact on its cash flow or operations.
The planes will be delivered in 2013 and 2014, the company said.

Air China has emerged as the Chinese customer behind an agreement to acquire 10 [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] aircraft, as well as 10 A330's.
The airline is to take delivery of the A350s in stages from 2018 to 2020.

Air China adds that it expects to introduce the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] twin-jets between 2013 and 2015. It has detailed its plans following the Chinese Government's signing of an agreement, earlier this month, covering acquisition of 102 Airbuses.
That agreement included 10 A350s but did not identify the carrier for which they were bound.

Air China has not stated the variant of A350 it plans to take, nor has it identified whether the A330s will be -200s or -300s.

It has given a value of just under $4.5 billion for the aircraft purchase, based on earlier list prices, but states that it has been granted "significant price concessions".
A350s are only available with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB powerplants. Air China has not given an engine selection for the A330s but its current A330 fleet is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700s.

Air China has announced a firm order for five passenger versions of the 747-8, giving the programme a major shot in the arm from an important market segment.

China's flag carrier is the first mainland airline to sign up for the General Electric GEnx-2B-powered 747-8 Intercontinental, although the deal has to be approved by the government.

"Air China has been operating 747s since the 1980s," says He Li, vice-president of Air China. "The new high capacity Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental will deliver exceptional economics and a great flying experience to our customers."

He adds that the carrier hopes to take delivery of the aircraft within the next three years. "We need this aircraft to expand our international routes," he says.
China, with its fast growing air transport market, has been identified as a major battle ground between Boeing and Airbus, especially in the large aircraft segment where the 747-8I is up against the A380. The only order for the A380 from the mainland has been from Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines, which will receive the first of five this year.

"This order is a real help in spreading the word about the 747-8 Intercontinental," says Marlin Dailey, vice-president of sales and marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We feel the aircraft will do really well in China, both the passenger and freighter variants."

Beijing-based Air China, however, has not closed the door to the A380. "We are still thinking about it, in fact we are thinking about it every day. We have not ruled it out just because we have ordered the 747-8I," says He.

Air China posted a 2010 net profit of CNY12 billion ($1.83 billion) based on international accounting standards, more than double net incomeof CNY4.9 billion in 2009.

The Beijing-based carrier attributed the improved results to robust market demand generated by the global economic recovery, accelerated domestic economic growth, the Shanghai World Expo and the Guangzhou Asian Games.

Operating revenue soared 60.5% compared to 2009 to CNY82.49 billion while operating expenses climbed 55.9% to CNY71.56 billion including a 66% increase in fuel costs to CNY24.1 billion.

Passenger boardings rose 45.4% to 60 million.

Traffic increased 40% to 105.7 billion RPKs on a 33.9% lift in capacity to 132.1 billion ASKs, pushing load factor to 80%, up 3.5 points compared to 2009.

Cargo traffic volume heightened 38.3% to 1.35 million tonnes.

As of Dec. 31, 2010, CA operated a fleet of 282 aircraft, having added 30 and phased out 10 last year.

Looking forward, CA said it expects growth in both the world economy and China's domestic economy to continue to boost its financial performance.

But Chairman Kong Dong said, “The volatility of jet fuel prices [and] the uncertainties about interest rates and the foreign exchange rate will bring operational pressures and management challenges.”

Kong added that the expansion of high speed rail “may affect some of our domestic markets.”

“In light of these opportunities and challenges ahead, we will continue to execute a prudent strategy, while actively seeking new areas for growth, improving the service quality and continuously increasing operational efficiency.

Our ever-deepening strategic relationship with Cathay Pacific will also produce even greater synergies,” Kong stated.

Air Lease Corp. signed long-term lease agreements for 29 aircraft with Asian airlines.
China Eastern Airlines will lease 10 new Airbus A320-200s and five new Boeing 737-800s, for delivery in 2012 and 2013, in a transaction valued at approximately $700 million.

It will also acquire from CEA three 767-300ERs, two under lease with MIAT Mongolian, for delivery in May and November 2011, and one to Orient Thai Airlines for delivery in August 2011.

The lessor also signed a long-term lease agreement with China Southern Airlines for two new A320-200s for delivery in November and December, and a 12-year agreement with Air China for two new A330-200s for delivery in July and October.

It entered into an eight-year lease agreement with Asiana Airlines for two new A321-200s for delivery in May and November 2012, and a 10-year agreement for one new A330-300 for delivery in July 2012, as well as a 12-year agreement with Garuda Indonesia for three new 737-800s for delivery in November 2013, December 2013 and September 2014. It will also lease two used 767-300ERs to be delivered in May and November this year, and one new 737-800 for delivery in May 2014, to MIAT Mongolian Airlines.
“Airlines in the Asia-Pacific region have been working closely with ALC management to develop long-term jet aircraft leasing programs to cover both growth and replacement requirements,” said ALC Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy.

Air China (CA) has signed lease agreements with Air Lease Corp. (ALC) for nine new Boeing 737-800s and four new Airbus A321-200s.

The aircraft are each under 12-year lease terms and will be delivered in 2013 and 2014, ALC said.

ALC delivered two new A330-200s to CA on long-term leases during the second half of 2011.

CA has been expanding via the launch of new airlines, most recently announcing plans to launch an airline in cooperation with the Inner Mongolian government ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]).