Thai Airways sold six widebodies last year as part of its strategy to “continuingly sell decommissioned aircraft”. The flag carrier says in a stock exchange filing that it disposed of five Airbus A330-300s and one Boeing 747-400 in 2019. It did not disclose the names of the buyers. Cirium fleets data indicates that Thai Airways still has eight 747-400s in service, as well as 15 A330-300s. In 2019, Thai’s losses widened by Bt3.4 billion ($109 million) to Bt12.4 billion in 2019, as revenues fell despite increased passenger numbers. Among the factors the carrier cited were the civil unrest in Hong Kong, suspension of its Pakistan services due to airspace closure, strong competition from low-cost and Middle Eastern operators, and impact from the USA-China trade war.

Source: Cirium

Central European budget carrier Wizz Air has reached a firm agreement to establish a new operator in Abu Dhabi, which will commence services in autumn this year.

The airline is tying up with Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company to set up the Middle Eastern operation.

It states that it has commenced the process of obtaining an air operator’s certificate and licence from the United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority.

Wizz Air describes the definitive agreement as a “major milestone”, adding that Wizz Air Abu Dhabi will bring “low fares paired with a high-quality on-board experience”.

It has yet to unveil its network but promises a range of routes to destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa.

The airline adds that it is to embark on a recruitment programme for the carrier over the next few months.

Wizz Air is an exclusive Airbus A320-family operator but has still to outline fleet plans for the Abu Dhabi operation.

“[Our] mission feeds into Abu Dhabi’s diversified economic strategy as we aim to stimulate traffic by creating demand to the benefit of growing Abu Dhabi’s touristic and economic diversity,” says Wizz Air Holdings chief Jozsef Varadi.

Wizz Air adds that the decision aligns with a Dhs50 billion ($13.5 billion) accelerator programme in the emirate, known as Ghadan 21.

Source: Cirium

The European Commission is launching an in-depth state-aid investigation into a series of agreements between Ryanair and Beziers airport in France. This follows a preliminary investigation launched after a complaint that the airport's operating practices were incompatible with EU single-market rules. The Commission says the complaint covers "marketing and airport services agreements concluded between Ryanair and the Beziers airport operators" from 2007 to today, adding: "At this stage, the Commission has concerns that the agreements in question may give Ryanair an undue economic advantage vis-a-vis its competitors that might amount to incompatible aid in favour of Ryanair." Also under investigation is whether the airport has itself benefited from unfair support from local public bodies. Beziers airport was owned by and managed by the local chambers of commerce from 2007 to 2011, and then taken over by a syndicate made up of local and regional public authorities. It served more than 250,000 passengers last year.

Source: Cirium