The Blue Swan Start-up Report

10 October, 2017

The Blue Swan Daily brings you a monthly wrap of the key start-up activity for Sep-2017, including two key launches:

  • flyadeal launched on 23-Sep-2017, with Jeddah-Riyadh service using A320 aircraft. The airline, based in Jeddah King Abdul Aziz International Airport, is a state-owned LCC and part of the Saudi Airlines Corporation. It is expected to launch international services in 2018.
  • Lanmei Airlines is a Chinese backed low-cost carrier registered in Cambodia. The carrier launched on 29-Sep-2017, after it received in-principle approval from the Cambodian government. Lanmei Airlines operates domestic services as well as international flights to North Asia. Lanmei is short hand for Lancang-Mekong River.

The following outlines key interesting and newsworthy start-up briefs during the month:

  • Canada Jetlines entered a Letter of Intent for two Boeing 737-800NG aircraft with a major US-based aircraft leasing company, scheduled for delivery in Apr-2018. Canada Jetlines CEO Stan Gadek stated the carrier plans to launch operations on 01-Jun-2018, based in the Toronto
  • Antigua and Barbuda and Caribbean Helicopters signed an agreement for the establishment of Barbuda Airways.
  • Air Pohang conducted an investor briefing session, involving the Pohang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, outlining the carrier's background, as well as its strategy and management plan. The carrier reported it is targeting the start of Oct-2017 to launch operations.
  • Air Deccan founder Captain G R Gopinath stated the carrier plans to relaunch a LCC to connect small airports and small cities, including Mysuru, in the coming months
  • Buta Airways and Georgia's Civil Aviation Agency announced the carrier's first service from Baku to Tbilisi on 01-Sep-2017.
  • Mauritius' Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Ghana's Minister for Aviation Cecilia Abena Dapaah held a meeting on 30-Aug-2017 focused mainly on the possibility of a JV between Air Mauritius and Ghana.
  • FlyValan announced plans to launch service from Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport with 68 seat ATR 72-500 aircraft from 02-Nov-2017.
  • Avianca Argentina announced plans to launch Buenos Aires services from Rosario, Sunchales, Reconquista and Santa Fe by the end of 2017. Avianca Argentina plans to launch commercial operations on 21-Nov-2017, launching daily Buenos Aires Aeroparque-Rosario service with 70 seat ATR 72 aircraft.
  • Aero K chairman Kang Byung-ho said the airline hopes to secure an operating permit in Sep-2017 and may commence operations in Apr-2018.
  • Zambia's Minister of Transport Brian Mushimba said the country's new national carrier is expected to commence operations in 2018 under the name Zambia Airways.
  • Wisdom Airways plans to commence scheduled and charter operations on 01-Dec-2017, subject to commercial approval by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand.
  • Air Mediterranean confirmed to CAPA plans to commence scheduled operations from Athens International Airport on 01-Nov-2017.
  • Multan International Airport, via its official Facebook account, stated SialkotChamber of Commerce and Industry has "taken another major step in the Pakistani aviation sector", with the granting of a commercial airline licence to Air Sial.
  • Tourism Uganda stated Uganda's Cabinet approved a task force to spearhead the revival of a national airline.
  • Hainan Airlines and Hubei Jiaotong Investment Group agreed to jointly establish Hubei Airlines and expects to submit an application before the end of 2017 for the start up to commence operations in 2019. Hubei Airlines will have registered capital of CNY2 billion (USD290 million). To be based at Wuhan Airport, the start up will operate international and intra provincial regional services.
  • Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications is scheduled to review an amendment to the Regulations of Civil Air Transport Enterprise at the end of Sep-2017, which if approved, would relax the requirements to become a civil aviation. The amendment would also pave the way for former EVA Air chairman Chang Kuo-wei to establish StarLux Airlines.
  • Samoa's Minister responsible for Polynesian Airlines Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell announced Samoa Airways' Boeing 737-800 will arrive in Samoa on 12-Nov-2017 and the carrier will launch operations with Faleolo-Auckland service on 14-Nov-2017.
  • Malaysia Airlines announced Project Amal, the proposed Haj charter subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines Berhad, is scheduled for launch in 2019;
  • Small Planet Airlines received an Air Operator's Certificate in Cambodia to operate services under LKH callsign. Small Planet Airlines Cambodia completed its first demonstration flight on 23-Sep-2017.
  • South Korea's MOLIT announced plans to extend the period of review for the approval of two airlines' application for an international air carrier's licence. The two airlines in question are KAIR Airlines and
  • AirAsia, Plato Capital, Everbright Financial Investment Holdings and Oxley Capital signed an agreement to establish a JV LCC in China, know as AirAsia (China).
  • Air France sets 01-Dec-2017 as the launch date for Joon. Joon CEO Jean-Michel Mathieu said Air France and Joon passengers can connect in Paris CDG Airport with a single ticket on Air France's 'AF' code.
  • WestJet announced Swoop is the new name and logo for its ULCC in Canada, with services to begin selling in early 2018.