Airbus’s higher-weight A330-900 has obtained certification from the European airworthiness authority, enabling operators to take advantage of greater range. The aircraft, the larger variant of the A330neo family, has a maximum take-off weight of 251t. French carrier Corsair will be the first carrier to introduce the new version. Airbus commenced flight-testing of the higher-weight version at the end of February this year, using MSN1967 The aircraft has undergone modifications, including strengthened landing-gear and structural reinforcements, which the airframer describes as “weight-neutral” – adding that it retains 99% spares commonality. “Modifications to the nose- and main landing-gear have also enabled Airbus engineers to extend their time-before-overhaul,” it says, stretching the interval from 10 to 12 years. The increased capability gives the A330-900 an additional 650nm (1,200km) of range compared with the 242t version. Airbus says the 251t aircraft has secured European Union Aviation Safety Agency certification. “With this new A330-900 offering, operators will have the necessary range and capacity to capitalise on longer routes while rationalising their fleets,” it adds. Airbus A330 chief engineer Francois Kubica says the aircraft is “more flexible” as a result of the enhancement, able to take 6t more payload. The airframer intends to obtain similar 251t certification next year for the smaller A330-800. Airbus is aiming the longer-range A330neos – which are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines – at the transpacific markets as well as Asia-European routes.

Source: Cirium

Wizz Air plans to establish a base at Oslo Gardermoen airport and operate domestic Norwegian services to Bergen, Tromso and Trondheim from early November. The move will add 1.5 million seats to the market annually, with the carrier basing two aircraft in Oslo and positioning crew in the city. Wizz says the move will enable it to "tap into over-charged oligopoly markets". All three routes are currently served by both Norwegian and SAS, while Bergen and Trondheim are also served by Wideroe. Wizz will operate four flights a day on the Bergen and Trondheim routes and twice-daily between Oslo and Tromso. "Our low-fare and high-frequency services between Norway's capital and prominent regions will give our passengers a true alternative," states chief executive Jozsef Varadi. Cirium's data indicates that as internal flights – that are unaffected by international travel restrictions – significant domestic traffic remains on the routes, despite the coronavirus crisis. Between Oslo and Bergen, for example, there was a seven day average of 16 flights per day on 6 October, against 21 daily flights a year earlier. While this represents a decrease of nearly a quarter, it is a far smaller decline than on most European routes, with Cirium's data showing that arrivals to Oslo from all destinations were down by 57% on 6 October. Norwegian and fellow incumbent operator SAS have been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis and are now facing an onslaught of competition in their home market. Norwegian is in the process of restructuring its business to scale back long-haul services and focus on the Nordic market. It warned in August that it would require further financing next year to survive the winter. In addition to Wizz's announcement, industry veteran Erik Braathen said on 6 October that he was planning to launch a new airline in Norway that reflects “the new economic reality” with five Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s.

Source: Cirium

EasyJet Switzerland has begun a formal consultation process on cutting 70 jobs and two aircraft from its Basel operation.
That would see its fleet at the airport reduced to 10 aircraft from a pre-pandemic level of 12 jets, EasyJet states, with its workforce falling to around 385 employees. “We are focused on doing what is right for the company and its long-term health and success so we can protect jobs going forward,” states EasyJet Switzerland managing director Jean-Marc Thevenaz. “Unfortunately, the lower demand environment, forecast until 2023, means we need fewer aircraft and have less opportunity for work for our people.” The Swiss unit’s Geneva operation – which features 15 aircraft and around 560 employees – is untouched by the new proposals. The proposed cuts follow EasyJet’s group-wide announcement in late May that it would cut staff levels by up to 30% and reduce its all-Airbus fleet by 51 jets. Thevenaz notes that from late summer, EasyJet Switzerland has faced fresh travel restrictions and quarantine requirements in many of its markets, “which has impacted consumer confidence to make travel plans due to the uncertainty”. He continues: “We are committed to working constructively with our employee representatives in Switzerland with the aim of minimising job losses as far as possible and provide transfer options within our local bases.” EasyJet Switzerland is the smallest of the group’s three affiliates, accounting for 9% of its pre-pandemic fleet of approximately 320 aircraft. Around 165 of those jets were based with its UK unit, and the remainder operated by Vienna-based EasyJet Europe. EasyJet holds a 49% stake in the Swiss operation, which uses the group’s brand under a franchise agreement. The remaining 51% of the business is held by private investors. Elsewhere in Switzerland, flag carrier Swiss recently announced that at least 1,000 jobs – around 10% of its workforce – could be at risk over the coming two years.

Source: Cirium