Summary

  • ASKY Airlines has received its first Boeing 737 MAX 8, a 4.9-year-old aircraft leased from AerCap.
  • The delivered aircraft was previously leased to Okay Airways and remained in storage until recently.
  • The airline awaits the delivery of another 737 MAX 8, which remains in maintenance at Addis Ababa.

ASKY Airlines takes delivery of its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The aircraft is yet to enter commercial service, flying alongside other 737s in the ASKY’s existing fleet. The aircraft is a 4.9-year-old jet, first delivered to Okay Airways in China in October 2018. The aircraft was ferried from Addis Ababa International Airport (ADD) to Lomé–Tokoin International Airport (LFW) to join the airline. The carrier has not scheduled services for the newest aircraft yet.

First Boeing 737 MAX delivery

On Tuesday, August 22nd, ASKY Airlines took delivery of its 1st Boeing 737 MAX 8, with a delivery flight from ADD to LFW. The ex-Okay Airways aircraft, registration ET-BAR (MSN 60705/Line Number 7120) departed ADD at 14:30 hours local time as flight ETH9201. It then landed at LFW at 16:34 hours local time for a total flight duration of five hours and four minutes.

ASKY 737-800 taking off
Photo: The Taxi Photographer I Shutterstock.

The aircraft was delivered after the pre-delivery maintenance in Addis Ababa under the 'ET' code of Ethiopian Airlines, a shareholder in ASKY Airlines. The airline awaits the delivery of sistership VP-CZS (MSN 60704), also ex-Okay Airways, which remains in maintenance at Addis Ababa. It is expected to be delivered in the coming weeks.

Togo’s government shareholding

On August 21, Togo’s government acquired a 14.39% stake in ASKY Airlines, according to the terms of an agreement signed by Minister of Economy and Finance Sani Yaya, and ASKY founder Gervais Djondo. ASKY Airlines announced on social media,

This initiative marks an important step in strengthening ties between ASKY and Togo, as well as in the continued development of the aviation sector in the sub-region.

History of the aircraft

The aircraft was delivered new with the registration B-1157 to China’s Okay Airways in October 2018. Under a lease from AerCap Holdings, the airline used the aircraft until the global grounding of the type in March 2019 following two catastrophic crashes that saw a combined loss of 346 people.

An Okay Airways Boeing 737-900ER taking off.
Photo: Boeing

The aircraft was returned to the lesser with registration VP-CZI in 2019, where it remained in storage until recently. ASKY Airlines leased the aircraft in August to be added to its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft.

About ASKY Airlines

ASKY Airlines is a private commercial airline headquartered in Lome, Togo. The airline has its hub at Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport and serves several regions in West and Central Africa. The airline is a strategic partner of Ethiopian Airlines. Founded in June 2008 and commenced operations in January 2010, the airline operates to 23 destinations with an exclusive fleet of Boeing 737s. The airline operates four 737-700s and ten 737-800s.

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The newest aircraft, the 737 MAX 8, will bring the operating total to 15 aircraft when revenue operations commence in the coming weeks. The carrier aims to maintain the type commonality of its fleet, minimizing crew training, operating costs, and maintenance. The majority of ASKY's fleet, except for a single B737-800 on the Togolese register, is on the Ethiopian register.

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Source: ch-aviation.com