March 30, 2020–Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised a South Korean financial institution, as arranger for several Korean debt and equity financiers (the “Arranger”), on the restructuring of an existing debt and equity financing of one A330 aircraft of approximately US$70m, advising on and coordinating the divergent interests of various multi-tranche investors. WFW also advised the Arranger in relation to the subsequent lease remarketing of the aircraft from Singapore Airlines to a reputable international airliner.

The deal teams worked intensively to complete this transaction, navigating the unprecedented challenges the industry is currently facing and the impact the COVID-19 crisis is having on all those involved. In such a context, the nature of the negotiations and the viable solutions that were formulated by the team meant that the transaction was pioneering in the South Korean aviation sector and is already being used as a guideline for future remarketing and restructuring transactions in the sector.

The cross-border WFW aviation team comprised lead Senior Associate Jeong Min (JM) Yun and Partner and Global Co-Head of Aviation Charles Viggers in Singapore, as well as Partner Susanne Burstein in New York. Advising on the English and New York law aspects of the transaction, the WFW team worked seamlessly to support the South Korean financiers and DVB’s Aviation Asset Management Sales and Commercial team in London, as well as their technical team which was working with the airline on the ground in Singapore.

Charles commented: “We are very pleased to be able to support our client and find unique and feasible solutions for the parties in such testing circumstances for the aviation industry. It is testament to WFW’s and JM’s proven track record in the Korean market that we are trusted to play our part alongside the commercial parties on complex and time-critical deals such as this”.

Toulouse, France | September 3, 2019– Hi Fly, the privately owned Portuguese wet lease specialist operating an exclusive all-Airbus fleet, has taken delivery of a new A330neo on lease from Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL). The aircraft is configured with 371 seats in a two class layout, with 18 high comfort lie flat business class seats and 353 economy seats. All seats are equipped with the latest generation in-flight entertainment system, and mood lighting is available throughout the aircraft

The A330 will be deployed to further expand Hi Fly’s long haul wet lease and charter operations worldwide. Hi Fly operates an all Airbus fleet of 20 aircraft including four A320 Family aircraft, 15 A330 / A340 Family aircraft and one A380.

As a wet lease specialist Hi Fly provides aircraft on lease for short notice airline operations, with crew, maintenance and third-party insurance provided in a service-ready package.

The A330neo Family is the new generation A330, comprising two versions: the A330-800 and A330-900. The A330neo Family aircraft shares 95 percent commonality with the previous A330. It builds on the proven economics, versatility and reliability of the A330 Family, while reducing fuel consumption by 25% per seat versus previous generation competitors and increasing range by up to 1,500nm compared to the majority of A330s in operation.

The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce’s latest-generation Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with increased span and new A350 XWB-inspired Sharklets. The cabin provides the comfort of the new Airspace amenities including state-of-the-art passenger inflight entertainment and Wifi connectivity systems.

October 16, 2018–Latécoère, through its Interconnection Systems division, the No. 2 global supplier of onboard wiring harnesses for the aeronautics industry and No. 1 global supplier of onboard external video systems, and Sabena technics (TAT Group), a leading French independent provider of aeronautics maintenance services, have set up a partnership for the supply and retrofit of HD external cameras.

Under its MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) contracts, Sabena technics offers airlines the opportunity to upgrade their Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 fleets by offering Latécoère’s camera system for inflight passenger entertainment.

As part of the modernisation of all its A330 cabins, Air Caraïbes has already chosen the Latécoère-Sabena technics partnership to offer all its customers this next-generation passenger entertainment system.

The Latécoère Interconnection Systems solution offers passengers a novel and unrivalled experience by providing a real-time immersive view of all flight sequences, including take-off and landing. Today, optional modules such as video inlay of points of interest and augmented reality provide innovative solutions developed to meet customer needs.

The HD external cameras will be installed by Sabena technics in all A330 and B777 configurations. All aircraft, regardless of whether they are already fitted with a camera, can benefit from the latest technological advances with minimum time and effort.

This partnership is positioned in a maintenance and aeronautics services market that is poised for strong growth, with the number of aircraft expected to double by 2035.

Singapore | October 25, 2016– Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the worldwide leader in inflight entertainment and communications (IFEC), today announced that it has been selected by Airbus as lead supplier for High Bandwidth Connectivity (HBC) technology on its A320, A330, and A380 platforms.

Panasonic’s Global Communications Service uses a Ku-band satellite network to deliver high-speed communications services on 99.6 percent of all air traffic routes. The service lets passengers connect to the people, digital entertainment, and web content of their choice. It also enables Panasonic’s eXTV solution, which is the industry’s only global inflight television service.

Over 70 customers have selected Panasonic’s Global Communications Service for more than 3,500 aircraft. The company estimates that an additional 12,000 aircraft will be committed to its high-speed network by 2025.

Chris Lundquist, Vice President of OEM Accounts, Corporate Strategy and Business Development for Panasonic Avionics Corporation comments: “Over the past six years, Panasonic has delivered more than 60 high-speed wireless connectivity systems to Airbus for linefit installation across its A380, A330 and A350 platforms. We are pleased to extend this capability to A320 and thus across all Airbus platforms”

“By signing the HBC contract, we have enhanced our tremendous relationship with Airbus and look forward to providing our industry-leading broadband communications solutions for their aircraft. Together, both companies will improve passenger’s inflight experience and extend, enhance and differentiate our airline customer’s brands.”

Panasonic currently has the largest number of connectivity-enabled aircraft types installed and the most Wi-Fi enabled aircraft flying international routes.

• Bluebox’s IFE platform in Hawaiian’s A330 Premium Cabin is a win-win for passengers and the airline

Dunfermline, UK | October 12, 2016– Bluebox Avionics has partnered with Hawaiian Airlines to mark a “first” for in-flight entertainment (IFE) and Bluebox’s innovative IFE systems. The airline, which last week launched sales for its unique Premium Cabin service on the Airbus A330 for select markets, designed its seats to include Bluebox’s award-winning IFE system delivered on 12.9” iPad ProTM devices. This is the first deployment of a Bluebox IFE solution based on the iPad Pro as standard in a premium-class service.

“When designing our Premium Cabin for the A330 aircraft, we wanted to redefine the leisure travel experience to Hawaii,” said Avi Mannis, senior vice president of marketing at Hawaiian Airlines. “Having our seats custom-built meant we could also include a totally new IFE solution as part of that experience – one that delivered the highest quality visuals on a large-format screen. That’s why we turned to our partners at Bluebox for a solution.”

“Bluebox’s system gives Hawaiian the ability to provide the latest high-quality technology in its cabins, tracking the rapid evolution of device technology and making Hawaiian Airlines a perfect example of a first mover – bypassing the status quo to deliver something unique to its passengers,” said David Brown, Bluebox’s Joint Managing Director. “Our IFE platform not only provides an excellent customised passenger experience but saves airlines money – a win-win for both passengers and airlines.”

Airlines are looking for new ways to deliver outstanding services to passengers whose expectations are much greater in terms of technology and content. Bluebox’s use of commercial off-the-shelf devices to deliver its IFE system helps airlines meet these expectations and provides airlines with a more cost- effective IFE option.

“Bluebox has the relationships secured to deliver early window content on our systems and a high- quality platform that is much easier to deploy and upgrade at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems,” added Brown.

This latest solution for Hawaiian’s A330 Premium Cabin reflects the carrier’s commitment to enhance its IFE options, and another “first” for their ongoing relationship with Bluebox. In 2013, Hawaiian Airlines was the only U.S. carrier to offer the iPad miniTM on all of its wide-body Boeing 767-300 aircraft. Deploying a Bluebox system on 1,500 devices across 14 aircraft, the iPad mini devices replaced all portable entertainment systems on Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 767 routes at that time.

Hawaiian’s new Premium Cabin featuring IFE powered by Bluebox Avionics is available for travel starting
December 5th between Honolulu and Narita, Brisbane and Auckland, and as of December 13th for flights
between Honolulu and Sydney. Hawaiian’s lie-flat seats debuted this summer as a surprise-and-delight
experience for guests traveling on the airline’s North America network. The Premium Cabin will arrive in
additional markets as the company retrofits its fleet of 23 wide-body A330 aircraft through 2017.

Lake Forest, CA and Finland | July 11, 2016– Last year Finnair announced it would launch a wireless network connection for the majority of its wide and narrow-body aircraft.

The first wireless services were taken into use on Finnair aircraft at the end of last year onboard the new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. Finnair will begin the installation of Wi-Fi on its long-haul Airbus A330 aircraft in October this year, and the installation is estimated to be ready in May 2017.

“In May 2017, our customers will be able to enjoy wireless network connection onboard all of our long-haul fleet. In addition to Internet access, we will have a broad offering of inflight entertainment, shopping opportunities, real-time news content and other additional services in Finnair’s free of charge Nordic Sky portal,” says Piia Karhu, SVP, Customer Experience Development.

Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), which already supplies the connection for the A350 fleet, has been chosen as the supplier of the wireless connection on Airbus A330 aircraft. The connection will be achieved by Ku band satellite technology, which guarantees a working global network connection during a flight.

Wireless Internet access is free to Business class passengers, Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum customers, and oneworld Sapphire and Emerald level customers. Economy class passengers can purchase Internet access at an hourly rate (5 euro/hour) or for the duration of the flight (15 euro).

• Immfly, the first profitable in-flight digital platform in Europe performing in Iberia Express full fleet, and currently installing in Volotea’s A-319, enters the long-haul market on board XL’s A330 fleet

Barcelona, Spain | June 15, 2016– From October on, XL Airways, the French airline operating flights mainly to long-haul destinations, will install Immfly’s on board solution in their Airbus A330 fleet, serving the carriers daily flights to North America, the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean. Being fully operational by December 2016, this is the first time that the digital platform will be accessible in long – haul aircraft, branded as XL Cloud.

“We are impatient to propose this new service to our passengers”, says Laurent Magnin, CEO of XL Airways. “Entertainment is an essential part of the inflight experience. XL Cloud is a response to this expectation and is completely in line with our concept of travel personalization”. Jimmy M. von Korff, co-founder of Immfly, also welcomed the news “we are delighted to be partnering with XL Airways, which represents our first long-haul project and the opportunity to perform in a new environment, where passengers have an average of 8 hours to enjoy entertainment content and discover more insights about their destination.”

Passengers that meet Immfly can use their personal mobile devices to access an onboard Wi-Fi network. Once connected, they are able to enjoy a wide variety of content from newsfeeds and magazines to documentaries, kids channels, music and sports videos. The frequently renewed catalog (on each flight for the press) will include free content and a premium offering, available for a fee. In-between programs, passengers will be able to follow the progress of the flight and learn more, not only about their destination but also the areas they fly over. French and English destination guides will be available for download.

“The XL Airways’ A-330 need to include up to 6 wireless access points in order to cover the higher density of connected users and to allow all travellers to connect simultaneously”, says Alfredo Ibáñez, CTO at Immfly. “Making our product ready for long- distance aircraft is a new challenge that will encourage a significant growth opportunity for our product.”

Moreover, this new step brings the Barcelona based company, Immfly, closer to their objective of becoming the travel industry’s favorite on-board monetization partner, reaching 100 million connected passengers by 2018.

Immfly is leading the development of on-board digital platforms within Europe, helping airlines to strengthen their customer loyalty by increasing their “Net Promoter Scores” amongst passengers and encouraging the creation of new ancillary revenues through the sponsorship and e-commerce available on the platform.

Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Airbus has selected Rockwell Collins as a lead supplier of High-Bandwidth Connectivity (HBC) for the Airbus A320 single-aisle family of aircraft, and long-range A330 and A380 aircraft.

Under the terms of the agreement, airlines purchasing Airbus aircraft can select HBC from Rockwell Collins to meet the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.

“In our day-to-day conversations with our airline customers, the need for high-speed connectivity is top of mind. The solution we’re providing meets the significant pressure airlines are getting from their passengers to provide a superior connectivity service while flying,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Flight Controls and Information Systems, Rockwell Collins. “We’re excited to be part of the movement to bring people together around the world, no matter where they may be.”

As a lead supplier, Rockwell Collins will collaborate with Airbus to develop and deploy both a linefit and retrofit HBC system to ensure an end-to-end managed SATCOM solution. Specific details about the technology solution will be released as they are finalized.

Airbus’s HBC selection builds upon Rockwell Collins’ extensive amount of next-generation systems it supplies the aircraft maker. Numerous Rockwell Collins systems are standard on the Airbus A350 XWB and options for the A320 and A330 aircraft families. Most recently, Rockwell Collins was selected by Airbus to supply its Electronic Flight Bag interface and communications unit, which is part of its Secure Server Router portfolio, as options on A320s and A330s.

Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Thales has been selected by Airbus as Lead Supplier for HBC solutions to be deployed on A320, A330 and A380 aircrafts in linefit and retrofit mode.

Thales’ High Bandwidth Connectivity solutions will provide passengers the bandwidth they need to enrich their travel experience and airlines with the connectivity solution that satisfies their operational requirements.

This selection is an important milestone in the long-standing relationship between Airbus and Thales. In addition to the already selectable GX Connectivity solution for A350s, this agreement enables Thales to become linefit offerable for connectivity products and related VAR services on all legacy Airbus platforms, today and in the future.

HBC solutions are designed to operate standalone or connected to an IFE system.

Thales’ inflight entertainment and connectivity portfolio combines innovative technologies, a global support network, with a complete ecosystem that provides airlines valuable services to improve operational efficiencies and increase passenger engagement.

In this safety-critical and technology-rich environment Thales has a pedigree and global presence no other provider can match, across aviation, avionics, satellite networks, connected skies, cyber security and passenger entertainment.

Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Thales will equip Hainan Airlines with its AVANT In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) system on its future fleet of wide-body A330 aircraft. The first aircraft is expected to enter service in late 2017.

AVANT is Thales InFlyt Experience’s state-of-the-art Android- based IFE solution. It includes a highly customisable passenger experience with a robust selection of features and applications. The fleet will be equipped with the latest AVANT full high definition monitors, the most lightweight ever deployed, featuring high power USB charging for personal electronic devices.

Hainan Airlines is a valued long-term Thales customer and a fast growing airline in the Asia-Pacific region. The airline already operates Thales IFE systems on both Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Thales is committed to providing a cherished experience for its passengers on their newest fleet additions. As part of this commitment, Thales is investing resources in China to further enhance software and media capabilities that will serve to enrich passenger experience and satisfy local market demands.

Today, AVANT has been selected by 19 airlines and globally more than 230 aircraft are flying with the AVANT system. The system is available to all new generation Boeing and Airbus platforms.

• World leading airline chooses RAVE for retrofit

AIX Hamburg, Germany | April 5, 2016– Zodiac Aerospace has announced at the Aircraft Interiors Expo that Air France has selected Zodiac Inflight Innovations to install its ground-breaking inflight entertainment solution as well as Zodiac Seat France seat for all classes. Air France has selected RAVE(TM) Centric IFE and Zodiac Seats for the upcoming retrofit of their Airbus A330 fleet – 15 aircraft in total.

“The world’s leading airlines are selecting Zodiac Inflight Innovations solutions, which shows how much momentum we now have,” said Larry Girard, Executive Vice President at Zodiac Inflight Innovations. “Airlines love RAVE™ Centric IFE because it is reliable, with a significant cost savings over traditional and is highly easy to maintain. RAVE Centric is very easy both to install and for the cabin crew and passengers alike to use.”

The RAVE™ Centric IFE interface mirrors the usability everyone is used to on their smartphones and tablets, from capacitive touch, high resolution screens to app-based functionality. Content includes on-demand movies, TV shows, music, radio and a moving map just to name a few. It includes an integrated USB charger, so there is no need to fear dead phones as well as traditional “PC Power” for passengers to be able to charge their laptops. On top of that, passengers’ personal electronic devices can be paired with the seat-back screen, so passengers can use their PEDs for interaction with the seatback display.

“RAVE™ Centric is an embedded modular inflight entertainment system”, continued Girard. “It provides airlines with a wide range of choices for different cabins including screen size, passenger control units and we are constantly staying on top if not ahead of the latest trends. Uniquely, each seat is independent, so a failure – and they are very rare – in one seat will not impact another. More importantly, our dockable seat display means the crew can quickly replace the seat display during the flight.”

Mr. Pierre-Olivier Kerbec from Air France stated, “Air France has watched RAVE and Zodiac Inflight Innovations grow over these past years and have noticed RAVE has caught up with its competition. RAVE Centric provides all of the expected features that a premium carrier expects from an IFE system and is backed by the creative and responsive team at Zodiac Inflight Innovations. We can hardly wait to experience RAVE on our A330s.”

Hamburg, Germany | April 4, 2016– Rockwell Collins’ PAVES™ Passenger Service System (PSS) has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for Airbus A330 aircraft. The company teamed with Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M) to design, install and achieve the supplemental type certificate (STC) as part of a cabin upgrade for an A330 from AERCAP.

Rockwell Collins’ PSS is a standalone, cost-effective reading light and cabin crew call system with USB charging ports that replaces discontinued or unsupported systems.

Depending on the system it replaces, PAVES PSS can bring weight savings that exceed 1,000 pounds, producing millions of dollars saved annually from a significant reduction in fuel cost. Other benefits of upgrading to PAVES PSS include:

• Flexibility to operate as an independent system or with a variety of passenger entertainment solutions, including wireless, connectivity or overhead IFE such as PAVES Broadcast
• Greater efficiency as it requires much less power to operate than legacy systems
• Improved reliability resulting in a noticeable reduction in recurring maintenance costs.

In a very limited timeframe, adaptiveness and expertise of the AFI KLM E&M part 21 team allowed them to design and certify an innovative solution to integrate this system on A330, but also on every other next aircraft type. This flexible system has been installed in AFI KLM E&M hangar in Amsterdam, with the support of Rockwell Collins team onsite.

“Obsolescence of legacy reading light and cabin call systems, which are required to sell a seat, will soon become a reality that many airlines have to face,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Flight Controls and Information Systems for Rockwell Collins. “The innovative installation approach that AFI KLM E&M and Rockwell Collins took during this upgrade and resulting certification makes avoiding obsolescence easy and will more than pay for itself in the long run.”

“In a market where we have to propose innovative and cost-effective solutions to our customers, on a tighter schedule, AFI KLM E&M and Rockwell Collins teams created and implemented together a perfect tailor-made answer,” said Sami Smaoui, vice president, Aircraft Modification for Air France Industries.

PAVES PSS is part of Rockwell Collins’ complete portfolio of PAVES IFE and connectivity solutions that meet the passenger engagement needs of any airline, including seat-centric IFE, broadcast and wireless IFE, high-speed broadband connectivity, moving map and passenger services systems.

France | February 16, 2016– Airbus got off to a good start in 2016, in particular for its best-selling wide body family with 16 aircraft orders booked in January, comprising 14 all new A330-900neo’s from an undisclosed customer and two A320ceo’s from fast growing Hong Kong based lessor, CALC (China Aircraft Leasing Company).

The main highlight of Airbus’ deliveries in January 2016 was the very first A320neo that went to Lufthansa, the launch customer of the world’s best-selling and most fuel efficient single-aisle aircraft. Including the first A320neo, Airbus handed over a total of 22 aircraft in January to 18 customers, comprising 17 A320 Family, 4 A330s and one A380.

As a result of the fulfilment of conditions precedent occurring in January 2016, Airbus can now include an additional net 44 aircraft within the Year End 2015 Order Book, leading to an adjustment of the 2015 Full Year commercial results announced in early January. This increases Airbus’ 2015 total gross orders to 1,190 (valued at 159.9 billion US$) and total net orders to 1,080 (valued at 141.6 billion US$). Airbus 2015 end of year backlog stands at 6,831 valued at 1,000.9 billion US dollars at 2015 list prices.

Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is the leading commercial aircraft manufacturer with the most modern, comprehensive and efficient family of airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Employing some 55,000 people, Airbus champions innovative technologies and has sold over 16,300 aircraft to around 400 customers worldwide. Airbus has design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, as well as subsidiaries in the US, China, Japan, India and in the Middle East. In addition, it provides the highest standard of customer support and training through an expanding international network.

For further information and updated 2015 full year commercial results: www.airbus.com/presscentre

• Price adjustment for Airbus’ modern, fuel-efficient aircraft Family

France | January 12, 2016– Airbus has increased the average list prices of its aircraft by 1.1 per cent across the product line. The new pricing is effective from January 1st 2016. The 1.1 per cent price increase has been calculated according to Airbus’ standard escalation formula over the January 2015 to January 2016 period and takes into account the drop in materials and commodities prices.

“Our new 2016 price increase reflects the strong appetite from customers around the globe for Airbus’ comprehensive, modern and innovative product range,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “We see demand for our aircraft continuing to grow across all size categories as our reliable, efficient product line enables customers to grow their businesses profitably as well as being favoured by passengers who want to travel in the most comfortable cabins.”

Airbus is the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer of passenger airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus champions innovative technologies and offers some of the world’s most fuel efficient and quiet aircraft. Airbus has sold more than 16,300 aircraft to more than 380 customers worldwide. Of these, more than 9,500 aircraft have been delivered.

AIRBUS AIRCRAFT

2016 AVERAGE LIST PRICES (millions of US$)

Price depends on design weights, engines choice and level of selected customisation. 

Dubai, UAE | November 11, 2015– Rockwell Collins has been selected by Turkish Airlines to provide its EP-8100 visual system for the airline’s Boeing Next Generation 737, Airbus A320 and Airbus A330 full flight simulators. The agreement includes the option for additional visual system upgrades for legacy platforms.

“This agreement marks a first for Turkish Airlines, as it brings the highly realistic capabilities of our newest EP-8100 visual system and laser illuminated projection system to its training operations,” said LeAnn Ridgeway, vice president and general manager, Simulation and Training Solutions for Rockwell Collins.

“We’re pleased to receive the Rockwell Collins’ EP-8100 visual system for our Boeing Next Generation 737, A320 and Airbus A330 full-flight simulators. We believe that this system will improve the efficiency of our existing flight training capabilities,” said Levent Konukcçu, senior vice president, Investment Management for Turkish Airlines.

The EP-8100’s open, scalable architecture makes it possible to add new features and enhancements throughout the life of the system. By maintaining control over the hardware portion of the image generator, it keeps hardware replacement costs manageable over the life of the system.

The Rockwell Collins visual system raises the bar for realistic and affordable pilot training. The seamlessly integrated combination of the new laser-phosphor projectors with the EP-8100 image generator offers unmatched performance, which meets or exceeds all current worldwide regulatory commercial flight training requirements. I tried this brilliant flight simulator experience for training pilots recently and it was extremely realistic, so have a look into that if you’d like the most realistic flight simulation possible.

• A great endorsement for the world’s leading versatile wide-body A330 and the best-selling single aisle A320 Family aircraft

France | October 29, 2015– China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) has signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with Airbus for the acquisition of 30 A330 Family aircraft and 100 A320 Family aircraft. The 30 A330s are the firm up of the commitment signed in June 2015. The GTA was signed in Beijing by Li Hai, President and CEO of CAS, and Fabrice Brégier, President and CEO of Airbus, in the presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“We are grateful to CAS, one of our longest standing customers, for its continued confidence in Airbus and in the versatile A330 Family as well as the best-selling A320 Family,” said Fabrice Bregier, President and CEO of Airbus. “With these 30 A330 options now firmed up, CAS’ total number of orders for the popular Airbus widebody is this year 75 aircraft. This strong demand in China for the A330 has been the key driver behind our decision to set up an A330 Completion and Delivery Centre in Tianjin, China next to the A320 Family final assembly line and delivery centre in Tianjin, which has assembled and delivered more than 240 Airbus single aisle aircraft. This will enable us to be even closer to our customers and to take our long-standing mutual beneficial partnership with China to a new height.”

The first agreements on setting up an A330 C&DC in Tianjin, China were signed by Airbus and Chinese partners in March 2014 and witnessed by French President Francois Hollande and visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. This was followed in October 2014, when Airbus, the Tianjin Free Trade Zone (TJFTZ) and the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Berlin, Germany, in the presence of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, A framework agreement was signed in July 2015 in Toulouse.

According to the Airbus global market forecast, China is leading the world in passenger growth. China’s domestic air traffic will become the world’s largest within the next 10 years, and traffic volumes will quadruple in the next 20 years. In the next 20 years, Airbus forecasts a demand in China for some 5,400 new passenger and freighter aircraft including 1,700 widebody aircraft like the A330, A350 and A380.

At present, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese operators comprises over 1,200 aircraft (over 1,000 A320 Family aircraft, over 160 A330 Family aircraft and five A380s as well as Airbus freighters and corporate jets).

The A330 is one of the most popular widebody aircraft ever and has to date won over 1,500 orders, with over 1,200 flying with more than 100 operators worldwide. Airbus is investing hundreds of millions of Euros per year in the A330 Family to maintain the aircraft at the leading edge of innovations. The A330 Family is part of the world’s most modern and comprehensive widebody product line, which also includes the larger A350 XWB and double deck A380.
.. / ..
The A330 family seats between 250 and 440 passengers and is one of the most efficient aircraft in the world, with the lowest operating costs in its category. Thanks to the continuous introduction of a large number of innovations, the A330 remains the most profitable and best performing aircraft in its class, boasting an average operational reliability of 99.4 percent. Worldwide an A330 Family aircraft takes off or lands every 20 seconds.

The A320 Family, seat from 100 to 240 passengers, seamlessly covering the entire single-aisle segment from low to high-density configurations on domestic to longer-range routes. To date, Airbus has sold more than 12,200 A320 Family aircraft and delivered over 6,700 CEO to more than 300 operators worldwide.

Airbus is the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer of passenger airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has design and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, the UK, and Spain, and subsidiaries in the US, China, India, Japan and in the Middle East. In addition, it provides the highest standard of customer support and training through an expanding international network.

APEX EXPO, Portland, Oregon | September 29, 2015– Zodiac Inflight Innovations’ RAVE™ Centric IFE, linefit option was delivered for the first time on an Airbus A330 aircraft in September 2015. Several airlines have already specified the system. In addition, it is currently being assessed as a linefit option on the A320 family.

RAVE™ Centric IFE is flying on over 200 aircraft on airlines in every major region around the world. “Clearly its great news that Airbus is supporting our innovative approach to IFE by making RAVE linefit offerable,” said Larry Girard, Executive Vice President at Zodiac Inflight Innovations. “But what’s more important is that airlines now have a lighter and less costly alternative to traditional IFE. We have taken a fresh approach to the design of embedded IFE that takes advantage of the latest mobile and display technologies; and besides passengers – love it.

“The fact that so many airlines have already ordered RAVE™ Centric IFE for their brand new aircraft shows just how much they like the product, and our approach.” RAVE™ Centric IFE is an embedded modular inflight entertainment system. It provides airlines with a wide range of choices for different cabins including wireless 2nd screen, display size, customizable peripherals, integrated USB charging and all of the latest features including harmonization with airline mobile applications. What makes RAVE unique is the seat centric architecture where each seat is independent, so a failure in one seat will not impact another. More importantly, the patented dockable seat display means the crew can quickly replace a failed seat display during the flight.

“RAVE provides a premium IFE experience without the premium price,” continued Girard. “RAVE™ Centric IFE provides passengers with app-based browsing for on-demand movies, TV shows, music, radio, moving map and many more features too numerous to list. Our stated goal is in our name, RAVE: Reliable, Affordable and Very Easy. At Zodiac Inflight Innovations we strive to produce products that make our customers and their passengers smile, and now that RAVE™ is a catalogue option on Airbus aircraft, we fully anticipate more and more airlines will be joining our RAVE family.” concluded Girard.

RAVE™ Centric IFE’s lightweight design and low power requirements greatly reduce airlines’ fuel costs, allowing Zodiac Inflight Innovations to maintain a price tag that all airlines can celebrate.

• Eight A350 XWBs, three A330s, 20 A320neos for the group

France | August 6, 2015– International Airlines Group (IAG) has signed a firm order for 31 Airbus aircraft, which includes 11 wide-body aircraft (eight A350-900s, three A330-200s) and 20 A320neos. The A350s and A330s are slated for Iberia’s fleet modernisation and to open new long-haul routes, and the A320neos will be allocated to the group’s airlines for fleet replacement.

With this latest order for 31 aircraft IAG and its airlines have ordered a total of nearly 450 aircraft from Airbus. IAG’s airlines British Airways, Iberia and Vueling, between them operate nearly every aircraft in Airbus’ product range from the smallest single aisle A318 to the world’s largest wide-body A380.

“IAG’s additional order for A350s and A330s is very significant for us and highlights the appeal of our leading wide-body Family. It always fills us with great pride when one of our biggest and most influential customers recognises the superior operating economics and passenger experience of our aircraft”, said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer – Customers. “The repeat selection of the A320neo is also a great endorsement of the world’s preferred single aisle Family among the world’s most prestigious carriers.”

The A350 XWB is the world’s most modern and efficient aircraft family. Over 780 aircraft have been ordered and five delivered. Since entering into service in January 2015, the fleet of five A350 XWBs have demonstrated high operational reliability and passenger appeal. The A330 is one of the most popular and versatile widebody aircraft ever and has to date won over 1,500 orders, with over 1,200 delivered to some 110 operators worldwide.

The A330, the A350 XWB and A380 make up the Airbus widebody aircraft Family, which uniquely spans the 250 to over-500 seats segment.

The A320neo Family aircraft offers the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft delivering 15% fuel burn reduction at entry into service, and 20% by 2020, achieved through cabin innovations, latest engine technologies, and overall efficiency improvements. To date, the A320 Family has won more than 11,800 orders and over 6,600 aircraft delivered to more than 300 operators worldwide.

• New system will be an option on Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft families

Cedar Rapids, Iowa | May 4, 2015–Rockwell Collins has been selected by Airbus to provide the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) interface and communication unit (EICU) for Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft families. The optional system for airlines, exclusively provided by Rockwell Collins, will be available and certified next year.

The EICU, a lightweight, compact unit that is part of Rockwell Collins’ Secure Server Router product portfolio, leverages proven technology from the onboard information management system that the company already supplies for other Airbus aircraft types. It securely connects to portable and factory-installed EFBs in the cockpit via wireless or wired connections.

The system’s embedded router enables the EFB to interconnect with select onboard and external networks, including the avionics, maintenance information, airline operating centers, connecting gates and the cabin. This technology finds the most cost-effective communication channel available, whether it is cellular, WiFi, SATCOM or ACARS, for connecting the EFB to external networks. The unit also features a virtual digital aircraft condition monitoring system (ACMS) recorder (VDAR) that leverages the ground cellular/WiFi connectivity to automatically download quick access recorder (QAR) files to airline ground servers.

“The EICU is a another step in the progression of our information management solutions strategy and an extension of the success we’ve had with Airbus on other aircraft types,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Flight Controls and Information Systems for Rockwell Collins. “This new EFB solution for A320s and A330s is central to onboard and off-aircraft networks. It enables pilots to quickly and efficiently connect with essential decision-making tools to make flight operations safer and more efficient.”

The EICU will also be flexible enough to accommodate future networking technologies that may become available.

• New higher weight A330 variant paves the way for the A330neo

Toulouse, France | March 9, 2015– Just four months after entering the Final Assembly Line, and less than two months after its maiden flight, the first 242 tonne Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) variant of the A330 rolled out of the paintshop in Toulouse, France in Delta Air Lines livery.

This first, new higher weight variant of the A330-300 is powered by two GE CF6-80E1 engines and will be delivered this year to the new variant’s launch customer Delta Air Lines.

Delta Air Lines is a major Airbus widebody customer, with 32 A330 Family aircraft (11 A330-200s and 21 A330-300s) in service today and 35 more on order (25 A330-900neo and 10 A330-300). In addition, Delta has equally 25 A350-900s on order. Delta also operates 126 A320 Family aircraft (57 A319ceo, 69 A320ceo) and has 45 A321ceo on order.

The A330 242 tonne MTOW is the platform for the future A330neo and offers more capability at lower operating cost with a range extended by up to 500 nautical miles and up to two percent reduced fuel consumption while also benefiting from today’s A330 operational reliability of 99,4 percent. The 242 tonne MTOW is capable of flying missions up to 15 hours.

• A330 confirms its position as Asia’s favourite wide-body

Toulouse, France | February 28, 2014– Skymark Airlines, Japan’s third largest airline has taken delivery of the first two A330-300s out of a total of ten on lease. Skymark Airlines becomes the first Japanese carrier to operate Airbus’ market leading, A330 wide-body aircraft.

Skymark Airlines’ A330s, configured in a very high comfort, all ”Green Seat” cabin with 271 seats, will start scheduled flights in April 2014 from Tokyo Haneda to Fukuoka. Skymark Airlines has also announced plans for A330-300 services from Tokyo Haneda to Sapporo and Naha at a later date.

Shinichi Nishikubo, President of Skymark Airlines, said:  “We are confident that with these cost-efficient, reliable A330-300s in our fleet, we will grow our business and win market share by attracting passengers who demand only the highest levels of comfort. Together with our A380s to come, we confirm Skymark’s intention to remain at the forefront of our market, having one of Japan’s youngest, most modern fuel-efficient fleets.”

John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers, said, “The A330 is the most popular wide-body aircraft in Asia and we welcome Skymark Airlines to our expanding family of A330 operators in this fast growing, dynamic market. We also look forward to seeing Skymark Airlines succeed with their A330’s thanks to the aircraft’s unbeatable economics, versatility and best-in-class passenger comfort.”

The A330-300 received Validation Type Certificate (VTC) from the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in January 2014. Skymark Airlines signed a Flight Hour Services (FHS) components contract with Airbus covering support for all of 10 leased A330 aircraft.  Airbus Customer Services will provide spare parts availability guaranteed through an extensive scope of more than 700 line replaceable units. Skymark Airlines’ A330s will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines.

Airbus’ comprehensive, modern wide-body Family is the market leader in Asia, having outsold the competition by two to one over the last five years. Over half of the wide-body aircraft to be delivered in the future to Asian carriers are Airbus aircraft.

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,300 orders, with over 1,000 aircraft flying with more than 100 operators worldwide. The A330 is one of the world’s most efficient aircraft with best in class operating economics. With numerous ongoing product improvements, it still remains the most cost-efficient and capable aircraft, averaging dispatch reliability well above 99 percent.

• OnAir only provider with authorization from Thai authorities

Geneva | February 17, 2014– Thai Airways International (THAI) is launching THAI Sky Connect, which adds inflight connectivity to passenger inflight experience on the airline’s Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A380-800 aircraft. The connectivity is provided by OnAir.

From mid-February, passengers flying on THAI’s A380s and dedicated A330 flights will be able to log on to the on-board Wi-Fi product, Internet OnAir. It works exactly as a Wi-Fi hotspot on the ground. It is simply a case of entering credit card details, then surfing the Internet, checking emails and updating social media. It is expected that OnAir’s inflight GSM product, Mobile OnAir, will also be available on THAI flights, once the regulatory framework has been determined.

The launch of THAI Sky Connect is possible thanks to THAI being the first airline approved by the National Broadcasting Telecommunications Commission to provide inflight connectivity in Thailand’s airspace. OnAir is the only provider authorized to deliver inflight Wi-Fi services to airlines in Thailand.

“THAI is pleased to be launching THAI Sky Connect, an inflight WiFi product and service that adds to passenger inflight comfort and convenience on flights operated with Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A380-800 aircraft in all classes of service,” said Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, THAI Senior Executive Vice President, Commercial Department, and Acting President.  “THAI Sky Connect is offered to THAI passengers on A330-300 and A380-800 aircraft at package rates for laptop/iPad and smartphone usage, with OnAir as the Wi-Fi service provider. This is a positive step forward to bring internet connectivity and modern technology directly to passengers’ fingertips. THAI is pleased to introduce Wi-Fi service on board its flights, which will further improve passengers’ inflight entertainment experience and make travel with THAI even more enjoyable.”

THAI is one of three airlines currently operating OnAir connectivity on the A380; all three also use Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband satellite network. Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir are the only connectivity products currently flying on more than 50 A380s every day.

OnAir has regulatory authorizations from over 100 countries, more than any other inflight connectivity service provider. Combined with its roaming agreements with over 350 mobile network operators, OnAir provides consistent coverage on all the major routes across the world.

“OnAir has a very strong track record in obtaining regulatory approvals – it is one of the key areas in which we stand apart from other providers,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir. “We are firmly committed to delivering consistent coverage so passengers can be connected with their family, friends and colleagues throughout the flight, wherever they are in the world.”

THAI is the 20^th airline to operate OnAir connectivity and the seventh in Asia. Internet OnAir and Mobile OnAir are widely available across the world and are used by over four and a half million passengers each year.

Brea, CA | September 9, 2013– Zodiac Inflight Innovations, previously The IMS Company, will soon be line-fit offerable with the support of its first line-fit customer Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

SAS has chosen Zodiac Inflight Innovations for both line-fit and retrofit aircraft. The innovative RAVE™ IFE system will be installed on 7 retrofit aircraft (A330’s/A340’s) and 4 similarly configured long-range line-fit aircraft. SAS will be flying with RAVE™ in early 2015.

“RAVE was the best choice in terms of TCO, total cost of ownership, for SAS. RAVE meets all our requirements concerning innovation, enhanced passenger experience, cost, weight and maintenance. It is user friendly both for passengers and our crew members,” says Johan Mägi, Head of Onboard Product & Services.

While Zodiac Inflight Innovations has had much success in the airline retrofit market, and currently serves more than 20 loyal airline customers, entry into the line-fit market is a new and exciting opportunity. “This will not only expand the RAVE™ product line and customer base, but will bring a fresh outlook on affordability and choice to the line-fit market,” says Larry Girard, Executive Vice President of Business Development. Zodiac Inflight Innovations is eagerly pursuing other line-fit platforms to expand its product’s reach and better serve the airline market.

– Air Pacific Provides “Sneak Peek” of First New Airbus A330, ‘Island of Taveuni’

Auckland, NZ | April 2, 2013– Air Pacific (soon to be Fiji Airways in June) operated an inaugural (pre-Fiji Airways) “sneak peek” commercial flight with its first new Airbus A330-220 and new branding to Auckland this morning (Tuesday 2 April), reflecting the commitment of Fiji’s national carrier to one of its most important markets–New Zealand.

As Fiji’s flying ambassador, Air Pacific flies tens of thousands of Kiwi holiday-makers and locally based Fijian nationals to the friendly Fiji islands every year. “New Zealand is an essential part of our global network, and we are excited to be replacing our venerable B747s with new state-of-the art A330 aircraft that come equipped with the latest in passenger comfort and in-flight entertainment features,” said Dave Pflieger, Air Pacific’s Managing Director and CEO. “With a history spanning more than 60 years, in June, Air Pacific will be returning to its 1951 roots with new ‘Fiji Airways’ branding as well as new service, new product, and new crew uniforms that are authentic, distinctive and true to our friendly Fijian culture and heritage,” he said.

The airline is offering New Zealanders an early preview of just the plane at this point, since the remainder of the new branding and new service model will not be rolled out until June 2013. The first aircraft, which has been designed exclusively for Fiji’s national carrier, is named after one of Fiji’s 333 beautiful islands, the Island of Taveuni, also known as ‘The Garden Island’ – a nod to the airline’s heritage. “Our new planes and stunning new branding is already a great source of pride among the Fijian community, in Fiji and here in Auckland.

“Air Pacific punches well above its weight for a relatively small airline. It is one of only seven airlines to operate multiple international routes from New Zealand, and is the only airline that offers a daily business class service from New Zealand to Fiji and on to Los Angeles and Hong Kong.”

“We already pride ourselves on our ability to deliver award-winning world-class service to our guests from New Zealand, Australia, the U.S. and beyond, and we think we will have a truly winning combination when we combine our superb people with fantastic new wide-body aircraft–the first wide-body planes our airline has ever purchased. As the only airline to offer a truly Fijian experience as soon as guests step on board, we believe our new aircraft will allow everyone to relax and start their vacation before they step foot in beautiful Fiji itself” added Pflieger.

As a full service airline that provides clients with complimentary beverages, snack meal, onboard entertainment and one piece of checked in luggage of up to 23kgs, Air Pacific’s exceptional service is also evident in their daily Business Class product when guests fly from New Zealand to Fiji.

Fiji Airways will be operating daily connections from across 17 domestic New Zealand cities to feed into international flights for Auckland to Nadi. Further, a total of 13 flights a week from New Zealand to Fiji will take place in 2013 (including CHC-NAN, AKL-SUV & AKL-NAN).

– Efficient reliable A330 family remains the popular choice

October 9, 2012– Turkish Airlines has placed an order for 15 A330-300s, their seventh order for the A330 family of aircraft and their twentieth Airbus order overall. The aircraft will be operated on medium and long haul routes from the Turkish Airlines hub in Istanbul.

Turkish Airlines placed their first order with Airbus in 1984, and now operate 101 Airbus aircraft including 17 A330 Family aircraft.

“The efficiency, reliability and passenger appeal of our in-service A330’s make them a cornerstone of the Turkish Airlines medium and long haul operations” said Dr Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines. “The new order will allow us to continue our strategy of growth and fleet renewal with an aircraft we know to be both reliable and profitable.”

“Airbus and Turkish Airlines have a long history of partnership, and we are proud to be celebrating our twentieth order together,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers “The efficiency, reliability and comfort provided by the A330 continues to delight customers and passengers worldwide and will do so for many years to come.”

Airbus aircraft share a unique cockpit and operational commonality, allowing airlines to use the same pool of pilots, cabin crews and maintenance engineers, bringing operational flexibility and resulting in significant cost savings. Airbus is the leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and comprehensive family of airliners on the market, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats.

The A330 Family, which spans 250 to 300 seats, and includes Freighter, VIP, and Military Transport/Tanker variants, has now attracted more than 1,200 orders, with around 900 aircraft flying with some 90 operators worldwide. Ever since the original version of the A330-300 entered service, the hallmark has been its very efficient operating economics. Thanks to the introduction of numerous product improvements, it still remains the most cost-efficient and capable aircraft in its class, and the family is achieving average dispatch reliability above 99 percent.