Page 73 - World Airnews Magazine April 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

EUROATLANTIC SET TO BECOME

PORTUGAL’S FIRST BOEING 787

OPERATOR

By Chris Loh

together with the Boeing team, the September 2019 flight airline can say it is the first 787
as these aircraft deliver,” said had to be diverted to Gander, operator in Portugal, it will
Recently aircraft lessor Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap Newfoundland as technical likely fly many services outside
AerCap announced the signing AerCap claims the title of problems arose during the of Portugal, between other
of an agreement with ACMI being the largest owner of flight. countries. It is possible that
the carrier will replace the 767
and charter airline euroAtlantic commercial aircraft in the world A euroAtlantic 737 has been flying its Guinea-Bissau route,
Airways. and the most active aircraft in use by Nigeria’s Air Peace but this is uncertain.
The agreement covers the trader. since November 2019. “We are very pleased as
lease of two used Boeing 787-8 While euroAtlantic can Most recently, a euroAtlantic euroAtlantic Airways will be the
aircraft, to be delivered in the claim the title of Portugal’s aircraft was used to fly from first Portuguese operator of the
spring of 2021. first 787 operator, this is Rayong (Thailand) to London ultra-modern 787 Dreamliner.
Once received euroAtlantic mostly a technicality due to Gatwick for TUI Airways. The 787’s incredible fuel
will be Portugal’s first 787 the airline being registered as a A euroAtlantic 777-200 efficiency and range provide
operator. ACMI stands for Portuguese company. However, (CS-TFM) operated flight BY163 tremendous flexibility for our
aircraft, crew, maintenance, as a wet lease operator, an on behalf of TUI Airways from customers as they profitably
and insurance - otherwise overwhelming majority of the Rayong (Thailand) to London. operate the airplane on a
known as wet leasing. airline’s operations take place While most of euroAtlantic’s wide range of route networks
“We are delighted to support outside of Portugal. operations are non-Portuguese, and business models such
euroAtlantic with two 787-8s, For example, using its it does have one dedicated as ACMI’s, Wet Lease or
making them the first 787 portfolio of Boeing 737s, 767s self-marketed service between Charter flights,” said Eugénio
operator in Portugal. With and a single 777, the airline has Lisbon and Bissau. This is a Fernandes, CEO of the airline.
these new aircraft, euroAtlantic flown the following services in once-weekly service (YU352) Thankfully the planes will not
will provide next generation the past: connecting the capital of go to euroAtlantic for another
widebody ACMI services to Flying routes like Budapest- the West African nation of year. In this current climate,
the global market while at the Chicago for LOT in order to Guinea-Bissau with Portugal’s there is very little demand for
same time enhancing their fleet cover for the Polish carrier’s capital city. Guinea-Bissau air travel but hopefully, by the
operations. We wish euroAtlan- 787 Trent 1000 engine issues has historical colonial ties to time these jets are delivered,
tic every success and we look and Newark to Rome Fiumicino Portugal. they will become a key asset for
forward to working with them, for Norwegian. Unfortunately, Therefore, while the the airline. Q

World Airnews | April Extra 2020
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