Here it is , the very first A345 Arik Air , after rolling out of the paintshop at Orly.
It has a temporary registration , but will operate with a Portugese reg , which will be apply on the plane , when delivered at TLS.Thus this plane will be operated by Hifly for Arik Air.
Already one question.
What Hifly will do with it (and the second) after Arik will receive their 77Ws ?
For info the second A345 for Arik , is already in the paintshop at Orly , and has already lost the Kingfisher livery.
AsoRock From Nigeria, joined May 2006, 293 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 14397 times:
Quoting FCKC (Thread starter): Here it is , the very first A345 Arik Air , after rolling out of the paintshop at Orly.
Looks beautiful! Quite an investment by Arik Air. I have a feeling the market will respond very positively to their first routes (London Heathrow and Houston). They just need to focus on service quality on board and on-time performance.
Quoting FCKC (Thread starter): What Hifly will do with it (and the second) after Arik will receive their 77Ws ?
There are plenty of leasing opportunities as several airlines have quite a long wait till they receive their ULH A/C currently on order!
EbbUK From United Kingdom, joined May 2006, 1262 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 14361 times:
Extremley brave to start up an airline in Africa with 2 widebodies when the world is in recession. Or is it foolhardy?
Keeping my fingers crossed. Africans a crying out for an abundance of home-grown carriers that, for one, understand their needs for extra luggage allowance.
AsoRock From Nigeria, joined May 2006, 293 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 14201 times:
Quoting EbbUK (Reply 3): Extremley brave to start up an airline in Africa with 2 widebodies when the world is in recession. Or is it foolhardy?
Arik already has a fleet of 19 A/C including single-aisle Boeing next generation aircraft. I also understand their total A340-500 operation will include 3 frames as of next January. This is a temporary solution till they take delivery of their own 787/777 order from 2010 onwards. Dont think its so bad, taking into account the falling oil prices, relatively unaffected Nigerian economy and above all, their need to develop a long haul market dominated by the likes of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Frigatebird From Netherlands, joined Jun 2008, 1033 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 14121 times:
Quoting FCKC (Thread starter): What Hifly will do with it (and the second) after Arik will receive their 77Ws ?
Quoting Keesje (Reply 2): Will the letter of intent on 3 747-8i's stand after they included these A340's?
The A340s were not in sight when this letter of intent was signed.
I expect the A340's to stay until the 787-9's are delivered, since the capacity is almost the same. Maybe Arik uses some of the compensation from Boeing to finance these birds?
Since both the 77W and the 748i are a lot bigger than the A345, I don't think Ariks plans regarding the Boeings will be much affected by the arrival of the Airbus planes.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 8227 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 13371 times:
Nice colors on that A345 but Arik Air needs to redesign their livery as it now only reminds me of a privately owned aircraft and not of a commercial airline. Even though it is a nice livery, it has very little imagination other than a privately owned aircraft.
MWHCVT From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 543 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 12755 times:
I think that is one stunning livery, Just hope that we get to see it flying into the worlds airports for years to come, What is the reason for painting this and the next plane in Orly, as I understand this is one of the planes that Kingfisher was to receive so why not just do the repaint at TLS?
Must think up a new one soon, slow moving brain trying to get into gear ;)
QatarA340 From Qatar, joined May 2006, 1478 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 12226 times:
Quoting A388 (Reply 7):
Nice colors on that A345 but Arik Air needs to redesign their livery as it now only reminds me of a privately owned aircraft and not of a commercial airline. Even though it is a nice livery, it has very little imagination other than a privately owned aircraft.
A388
Well, that is rediculous. You cant deny that livery looks great, there is no need to make it uglier just so that it can be just as ugly as other commerical airliners.
Keesje From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 12165 times:
Quoting Frigatebird (Reply 6): I expect the A340's to stay until the 787-9's are delivered, since the capacity is almost the same. Maybe Arik uses some of the compensation from Boeing to finance these birds?
I don't think so. The A345 is a smaller replacement for a 747 on long flights. A 787-9 is more seized like a A330-200. The A345 is the only aircraft flying ULH while we speak. On the routes anticipated it should be able to carry a lot of cargo, even from hot Nigeria.
A388 From Netherlands Antilles, joined May 2001, 8227 posts, RR: 14 Reply 10, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 11851 times:
Quoting QatarA340 (Reply 9): Well, that is rediculous. You cant deny that livery looks great
Did I say the livery is bad? No I didn't. I am only saying that the livery can be better as it reminds me of a privately owned aircraft. Just look up any picture of any privately owned 737BBJ/767 and A340 and you will see the similarities.
FCKC From France, joined Nov 2004, 2342 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 11634 times:
MWHCVT
The reason why both these A345s ex KF have been painted at Orly is only because TLS is fully utilised , and there was a gap left at Orly to do this job.
This is not the first time this job is done at ORY for Airbus, and will not be the last time.
Many Airbusses rolling out the line at TLS , are painted at Chateauroux , as are quite many ATRs as well.
Dinard in Brittany does also this job.
AznMadSci From United States of America, joined Dec 2007, 3094 posts, RR: 3 Reply 13, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 11361 times:
Definitely look forward to this livery gracing among the various airliners of T-D at IAH!
The journey of life is not based on the accomplishments, but the experience.
Qwame From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 129 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 11285 times:
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3598 posts, RR: 29 Reply 15, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 11260 times:
Quoting AznMadSci (Reply 14): Definitely look forward to this livery gracing among the various airliners of T-D at IAH! Big grin
SFOnative From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 209 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 11083 times:
Quoting QatarA340 (Reply 9): You cant deny that livery looks great
Sure you can.....while the livery is acceptable, it is by no means anything special and actually looks a bit generic IMHO.
They have however chosen to very bold and rich colors.
Just what they have done with them is a bit uninspiring compared to whatever else the imagination could have come up with.
Leezyjet From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 4036 posts, RR: 57 Reply 17, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 10954 times:
Quoting AsoRock (Reply 1): I have a feeling the market will respond very positively to their first routes (London Heathrow and Houston). They just need to focus on service quality on board and on-time performance.
For an African Airline, especially a Nigerian airline, safety might be a good area to focus on long before service quality and OTP if they are to attract non national's to the airline. Without safety, the other 2 are irrelevant.
"She Rolls, 45 knots, 90, 135, nose comes up to 20 degrees, she's airborne - She flies, Concorde Flies"
MWHCVT From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 543 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 10074 times:
Quoting FCKC (Reply 12): The reason why both these A345s ex KF have been painted at Orly is only because TLS is fully utilised , and there was a gap left at Orly to do this job.
This is not the first time this job is done at ORY for Airbus, and will not be the last time.
Many Airbusses rolling out the line at TLS , are painted at Chateauroux , as are quite many ATRs as well.
Dinard in Brittany does also this job.
Thanks for the info. This is interesting so if EADS eventually ramp up production they are going to be very stretched, Even if as stated in another current tread that this growth is to be curtailed some what, maybe its time for a central painting facility (Pipe Dream I know but a guy can dream, Right?) Send all the planes from Spain (A400) TLS (A320, A330, A340, A350 and A380) XFW (A318, A319, A320 and A321) Then all the costs could be centralised at one point ie Single management team as apposed to 1 for each site, but then know I am probably going waaaaay off topic hear. Maybe its time for a thread in non-av on how would you structure EADS for the future
Must think up a new one soon, slow moving brain trying to get into gear ;)
BRJ From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 218 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 9970 times:
Looks great, but titles are a litlte too small IMO for the A340.
If they can provide a level of service comparable to the European carriers, I think they will be very successful on the flights to IAH with the oil traffic.
AsoRock From Nigeria, joined May 2006, 293 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 9444 times:
Quoting Leezyjet (Reply 18): For an African Airline, especially a Nigerian airline, safety might be a good area to focus on long before service quality and OTP if they are to attract non national's to the airline. Without safety, the other 2 are irrelevant.
Safety is non-negotiable. Surprise! Nigeria is shaping up. Arik demonstrated this by planning its own mega hangar, and maintenance contract with Lufthansa. Although there's some more work to do, including enforcing the pilot's weekly flying hours quota.
AF022 From France, joined Dec 2003, 2031 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5732 times:
Quoting BRJ (Reply 19): Looks great, but titles are a litlte too small IMO for the A340.
If they can provide a level of service comparable to the European carriers, I think they will be very successful on the flights to IAH with the oil traffic.
I don't buy it. Most business passengers love their miles and are dedicated to established carriers. Even if it had the best maintenance and the best service in the world it would take a lot to get Texans off the European carriers.
Leezyjet From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 4036 posts, RR: 57 Reply 24, posted (3 years 7 months 1 week 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 5693 times:
Quoting AsoRock (Reply 20): Surprise! Nigeria is shaping up. Arik demonstrated this by planning its own mega hangar, and maintenance contract with Lufthansa. Although there's some more work to do, including enforcing the pilot's weekly flying hours quota.
The airlines have been investing alot of money in safety in the last few years with a lot of new modern types appearing, and if a home carrier is to operate these new modern a/c types to the best of their abilities and as safely as possible, then it might be a good idea if NCAA and FAAN invested in upgrading the airports, radar and ILS equipment and training to cope.
Not much use having an all singing all dancing A340-500 if you cannot land at your home base in fog because the ILS doesn't work, or you have a mid-air collision because there is no radar coverage.
The airlines have finally done it, now the Government needs to put their money where their mouths (and ego's) are.
"She Rolls, 45 knots, 90, 135, nose comes up to 20 degrees, she's airborne - She flies, Concorde Flies"
25 YYZ757FAN: Arikair has 2 brand new DH8-400's sitting in DeHavilands pre delivery hangar at Pearson International Airport in Toronto (YYZ). I have no idea as to w
26 LH526: In my eyes it's the exact other way round ... A345 is a beautiful aesthiti shape ... but that paintjob and choice of coliurs and design is just hideo
27 BRJ: I suppose this is true for some; however, my father used to work in the oil business - we actually lived in Lagos for 3 years. He then worked 28 days
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