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The A321LR also swaps doors 2
for two additional overwing exits
via the Airbus Cabin-Flex option,
enabling Peach either to offer a less
dense premium cabin by deactivating
those doors or to pack passengers in
even more densely than previously by
retaining them.
“The introduction of the A321LR
in fiscal 2020 will be the next major
step in the evolution of our business
and will further accelerate Peach’s
transformation into the leading LCC
in Asia, said chief executive Shinichi
Inoue, noting that Peach would
“expand its role as a bridge between
Japan and Asia and greatly stimulate
inbound demand to Japan”.
The Japanese government has set
an annual goal of 40 million overseas
visitors in 2020 and sixty million ten
years later.
Sichuan Airlines, the Chengdu-
based carrier affiliated with long-haul
carriers China Southern and China
Eastern, confirmed its earlier plans for
Airbus A350 aircraft. Initial routes are
expected to be to Europe and North
America, with the airline operating
existing flights to both Sydney and
Melbourne.
Across the sea in Taiwan, a new
startup airline launched by the
former chair of EVA Air will take five
A350-900 and 12 A350-1000 aircraft
Airbus A320neos, its first for the Vietnamese low-cost That’s certainly the intention at to start long-haul operations across
re-engined narrowbody, with its carrier VietJet spent big at Peach, where ANA’s low-cost carrier the Pacific, adding to its existing order
existing fleet comprising 110 A320ceo Farnborough, signing for 100 (which recently absorbed Vanilla Air, for ten A321neo narrowbodies.
and nine A330 jets. Boeing 737 MAXs and 50 Airbus the former AirAsia Japan that is now In the Pacific, Hawaiian Airlines
Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet A321neos. boeing & airbus confusingly replaced by a new AirAsia confirmed that it will buy 10 Boeing
spent big at the airshow, signalling Japan) converted two of its A320neo 787-9 Dreamliners, with rights to
a major expansion, signing for 100 aircraft to the longer-range A321LR, purchase 10 more, confirming the
Boeing 737 MAXs and 50 Airbus which is based on the A321neo frame. Seattle planemaker’s coup given that
A321neos. The LR version contains additional Hawaiian had previously selected the
VietJet already had a 2016 order fuel tanks to give it a 4,000nm range, A330-800neo.
for 100 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the allowing Peach to reach a band of And further west, Indian airline
equivalent to today’s 737-800s so Australian destinations from northern Vistara will start long-haul operations
familiar to Australian skies. It will WA to Queensland from its Osaka with its first widebody aircraft, having
add a further 20 of these to its fleet, Memoranda of understanding Kansai hub, or to offer flights to ordered six 787-9 aircraft, with four
as well as 80 of the double-stretched themselves are vague enough, most of Australia with the exception further options.
737 MAX 10, launched last year at the but undisclosed customers of Tasmania from its hub at Naha
Paris Airshow and even longer than raise the “why bother” question. Airport on the Okinawa island chain Regional jets and small airliners
the 737-900 and -900ER fuselage john walton that lies to Japan’s southwest. dominated the show, with key market
lengths where today’s airframes opportunities emerging
max out. The past decade has brought major
VietJet’s A321neo order was a changes in the section of the market
fascinating one, though, with 50 of the between regional jets and small
longest A320neo family narrowbody airliners. At the lower end, airframers
an eyebrow-raising choice in the have been focusing on upgauging their
context of the 80 737 MAX 10s. While existing aircraft to take advantage
capacity may be similar on the two of newer, larger and more efficient
aircraft, the more powerful engines engines, and to carry more passengers.
of the A321neo mean that it has a This has left something of a
substantially better range profile than gap in the market as, for example,
the MAX, which may mean VietJet Embraer’s popular 70-seater E170
has plans to start flying further afield jet (of the current generation, which
than its current regional focus. the manufacturer is retroactively now
34 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION
