28 Jan 2019

USA Aviation Industry Newsletter 28 January

American Airlines Joins Mayor Rahm Emanuel for Unveiling of New Maintenance Hangar at O’Hare International Airport American Airlines celebrated the opening of a new hangar at its hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a U.S. congressional delegation from Illinois joined David Seymour, Senior Vice President of Integrated Operations; Franco Tedeschi, Vice President of ORD Hub Operations; Jamie Rhee, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation; and ORD team members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the new hangar to be used by American’s aviation maintenance technicians. The new facility, dubbed Hangar 2, is the largest hangar on the airfield at ORD, and its completion marks the carrier’s latest milestone reached in a series of major investments in Chicago. Contour Airlines Continues Rapid Growth with Fleet Expansion Contour Airlines announced 24 January that it has completed the acquisition of five additional Embraer ERJ-135 regional jets, bringing its ERJ fleet size to 11, and the total number of aircraft operated by Contour to 25. The new aircraft will be deployed into Contour's growing route network across the country. The additional aircraft will enable Contour to retire its fleet of Jetstream 31/32. ExpressJet Airlines Names John Varley Senior Vice President - Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel ExpressJet Airlines announced 24 January John Varley has been named Senior Vice President - Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel. In this new role, Varley will be responsible for Human Resources, Information Technology and Legal. ManaAir, LLC, Completes Acquisition of ExpressJet Airlines ManaAir, LLC announced 22 January the successful completion of its acquisition of ExpressJet Airlines. ExpressJet flies for United Airlines as a United Express carrier. In 2019, ExpressJet will grow its fleet with 25 new Embraer E175 aircraft. The first delivery is scheduled for April. SAS expands its fleet – leases three A321LR from ALC SAS has signed a leasing agreement with ALC (Air Lease Corporation) which means SAS will expand its aircraft fleet with three Airbus A321LR. The first aircraft will enter into service in the first half of 2020. TAP Air Portugal Triples Service Between Newark and Porto on New Airbus A321 LR Aircraft TAP Air Portugal will triple its flights between Newark and Porto effective 1^st June operating six weekly times weekly using new Airbus A321LR aircraft. Vx Capital Partners Closes All-freighter Aircraft Securitization Vx Capital Partners (Vx) closed its inaugural asset-backed deal, becoming the first issuer since 1999 to securitize an all-freighter portfolio. The loan-format issuance generated $189 million across three classes of term loans, secured by thirty-five 737 Classic freighters. Most of the aircraft were originally acquired in passenger configuration by Vx and subsequently converted and leased. Acumen Aviation © 28 January 2019 All Rights Reserved.