Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa (HEL)) plans to use the first of five Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac (TLS)) sharklet-equipped A321-200s on its Helsinki Vantaa (HEL) to Dubai International (DXB) route with effect from March 30, 2014. Ordered in 2010, the Finnish carrier plans to use the jets to replace its ageing fleet of four B757-200 WIN.s, used primarily on leisure flights.

South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg Oliver Reginald Tambo International (JNB)) will take delivery of its first of a batch of twenty Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac (TLS)) A320-200s in Q3 of this year. The delivery, signed over a decade ago as part of the airline's fleet renewal strategy, has been persistently deferred by the South African national carrier as a result of its ongoing financial woes. In addition, SAA has renegotiated the terms of the deal with Airbus where it will now lease the aircraft, as opposed to buying them, thereby allowing it to recuperate the pre-delivery payments made to purchase them. SAA chief financial officer Wolf Meyer said last week the airline had selected a lessor for the "sale and leaseback" acquisition strategy but would not name them until the transaction had been approved by SAA's board.

Titan Airways (ZT, London Stansted (STN)) has announced that its first Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac (TLS)) A320-200, G-POWI (c/n 2791), is due to begin flight operations with Jet2 (LS, Leeds/Bradford International (LBA)) for the duration of summer 2013 where it will be used on the Low Cost Carrier's flights to Spain from Jet2's Newcastle (NCL) base. Coincidentally, G-POWI will become Jet2's first Airbus metal to regularly feature on its network.

Asian Wings Airways (YJ, Yangon Mingaladon International (RGN)) has begun jet operations following reports that it has deployed its first Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac (TLS)) A321-100, XY-AGN (c/n 865), into active service on its daily Yangon Mingaladon International (RGN) to Mandalay International (MDL) milkrun route. Owned by a local Myanma tourism firm, Sun Far Travels & Tours Co, Asian Wings also operates a fleet of two ATR72-500s on an extensive domestic route network.

Hong Kong Airlines (HX, Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok International (HKG)) has leased two Airbus Industrie (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac (TLS)) A320-200s, B-LPB (c/n 4970) and B-LPH (c/n 5341), to Hong Kong Express (UO, Hong Kong Chep Lap Kok International (HKG)) in preparation for the latter's metamorphosis into a Low Cost Carrier (LCC). Once the change is complete and a suitable route network and corporate structure for Hong Kong Express have been settled on, it is expected that Hong Kong Airlines will transfer more A320s to its subsidiary to help bolster its operations. According to Hong Kong press reports, a renewed Hong Kong Airlines is due in the skies in either late Q3 or early Q4 of this year.