SimAirline.net - Viewpoint

Speaking at the delivery ceremony for KLM cityhopper's first Embraer 190, KLM Senior Vice President for Fleet Development and Aircraft Trading Jan Witsenboer discussed KLM's latest fleet replacement plans. Here's a summary:

-747-400: the 747-8 is likely too large, with "the 777-300ER...a very likely choice. It would be a one-for-one replacement."

-747-400M/MD-11: KLM is one of few airlines to operate combi-service aircraft (747-400M): "Eventually we are going to have to split main-deck cargo from our passenger operation. All of the second-hand combis are the same age or older. Apparently there is not really a market any more for new combis." KLM and Air France are actively considering both the A350 and 787, planning to announce a joint order in 2010, with the possibility of both aircraft being selected.

-737-300/400: 737-700s are currently being delivered, but "we wouldn't use an interim solution. We want a definite solution, preferably much earlier." A decision is expected next year.

-Fokker 50/70/100: "Six or seven years from now we will have our whole Fokker fleet renewed. It could be a two-type fleet," says Managing Director Michel Coumans. Currently, the Fokker 100 is being replaced by E-190 deliveries, but KLM continues to take Fokker 70 deliveries from Air France partner Regional. "The Fokker 50 is the next challenge," says Witsenboer, with both turboprops and jets under consideration. "The Fokker 70 is a later challenge. We hope that we will have access to new technology by then." A decision will be made by 2011 with deliveries complete by 2016.

As you've probably noticed, we've been busily adding to our Discontinued Flights over the last few months. Here are some highlights of what's hopefully coming soon/recently came in this area:
-Air Canada: Toronto Pearson-Honolulu-Melbourne, additional domestic destinations
-Alitalia: numerous domestic routes, some possibly with retired aircraft
-ANA: numerous international routes from Osaka Kansai
-British Airways: GB Airways, Loganair, and regionals
-Continental: more Continental Micronesia operations
-Delta: Los Angeles routes to dozens of cities
-KLM: numerous longhaul routes, many likely with retired aircraft
-Korean Air: Middle East routes with retired aircraft
-Pan American: some surprises
-Sabena: Brussels-Sao Paulo Guarulhos
-Swissair: various European and longhaul routes
-Varig: additional Latin American and longhaul destinations
-Virgin Express: London Gatwick and London Stansted

Every day, three additional routes are added: one for Delta, one for an airline with many routes to add (Continental for the last five weeks), and one for airlines with a few routes to add.

In a sign of its improving fortunes, Hawaiian yesterday ordered an additional A330-200 and sped up deliveries to the second quarter of 2010. Hawaiian now has nine A330-200s and six A350-800s on order, with purchase rights for an additional six of each. Eight of its 767s are up for retirement in the next few years (20.4 years old), but the youngest ten average only 6.3 years.

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Ryanair has released the sequel to 2008's popular yet controversial charity calendar. The 2009 calendar's €100,000 proceeds will go to the Dublin Simon Community, which provides services for Dublin's homeless. The calendar is available here, with a preview found here.

Indianapolis International Airport moved operations to a new $1.1 billion terminal last night. The terminal is the largest in the U.S. to be designed entirely after 2001, so it features numerous security- and environment-friendly improvements not common at most airports. The largest tenant, with nearly a quarter of the passengers, is Northwest Airlines.

The main terminal's structure also looks somewhat like Heathrow's new Terminal 5, doesn't it? No surprise, as a BAA subsidiary manages the airport. You can also read some additional perspective on the new terminal here.

Unfortunately, there's currently no freeware scenery for the new facility. If we find one though, we'll of course make it available on the Downloads page.