ALL THINGS BOEING

               Ethiopian Commits to Purchase Eight Boeing 777-9s

Ethiopian Airlines has committed to purchase eight 777-9s as part of a deal that could see the Addis Ababa-based carrier take a further 12 aircraft.  Brad McMullen, Boeing’s senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing, and Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tased, signed the MoU on March 5th.

Ethiopian Airlines’ selection of the 777-9 positions the carrier as the first 777-9 customer in Africa and builds on its landmark 2023 order for 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 Max airplanes in growing its modern fleet.

Based on the 777 and with advanced technologies from the 787 Dreamliner family, the 777-9 features new carbon-fiber composite wings and engines that will enable the aircraft to achieve 10% better fuel efficiency and operating costs than other fleet families.

As of the end of January, Boeing held unfilled orders for 453 777-9s.  It says the 777-9 will be capable of carrying 426 passengers and will have 7,285nm (13492km) of range.

Source: Ethiopian Airlines, picture Boeing

            Boeing Lands $3.4 Billion Contact for P-8As Contract

Boeing has secured a $3.4 billion production contract from the US Navy(USN) covering P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for Canada and Germany.  Overall, the contract covers 17 examples, of which 14 are for Canada’s air force and three for Germany’s navy, says Boeing.

In November 2023, Ottawa announced that the P-8A would replace its fleet of Lockheed Martin CP-140 Auroras local designation for the P-3 Orion.  Canada is expected to receive its first P-8A in 2025.

In November 2023, Germany’s BAAINBW federal procurement agency said it had signed a 1.2 billion contract with the USN for an additional three P8-As, taking to eight its total commitment for the US-built type.

For both customers, Boeing has teamed with the local industry to support the acquisition and operation of P-8s.  Germany will take its first P-8A this year.

Source: Boeing, picture Boeing

                     Boeing Orders and Deliveries in February

Boeing’s pace of Max deliveries slowed again in February amid intense scrutiny over product quality.  However, Boeing succeeded last month in accelerating narrowbody deliveries to customers in China, a country that had been essentially closed to new 737s until recently.

Boeing handed over 27 aircraft in February, the same number as in January, but still at a significantly slower pace than what it was delivering jets in 2023, Boeing said on March 12.  Ryanair was among airlines to receive new 737 Max aircraft from Boeing in February.

February deliveries included only 18 737s, down from 25 in January, among them 17 737 Maxs and one 737NG-based P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.

Boeing cooled its production pace after a mid-basin door plug blew out on Alaska Airlines 737 Max9 during a January 5 flight, sparking investigations by the National Transportation Safety  Board and Federal Aviation Administration.  The civil aviation regulators have prohibited Boeing from expanding 737 Max production.

Despite the slowdown, Boeing in February shipped six 737 Max jets earmarked for Chinese airlines, which it badly needs to clear from its books.

The six Chinese airlines are 9 Air, Air China, China Southern Airlines, Donghai Airlines, Shandong Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.

Boeing’s February deliveries also included nine widebody jets including seven 787-9s, of which Hawaiian Airlines received its first, Air Canada received one, Etihad Airways received three, and Korean Air and Turkish Airlines each took one.

Its other deliveries included one 767 Freighter received by FedEx and one 767-based KC36 military refueling jet.

Boeing landed new orders for 15 aircraft, including 10 737 Max and one 777F ordered by customers that Boeing declines to name, and four 787-9s for Royal Brunei Airlines and recorded no cancellations for the month.

Source: Boeing                 

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

                             More about the A320neo Successor

Airbus envisions a successor to the A320neo emerging towards the end of the next decade, indicating it would be designed specifically to consume sustainable aviation fuel.

Speaking during a full-year briefing on February 15, chief executive Guillaume Fuary said this next-generation single-aisle aircraft would be crucial to the air transport industry’s effort to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Faury says the development of this proposed aircraft is separate from its exploration of hydrogen propulsion through its ZEROe program.  The next-generation single-aisle aircraft would arrive over the second half of the 2030s.

Faury says it will be based on a “new platform” and will not be a stretch of an existing variant.  He adds that the airframer wants to serve as an enabler to drive sustainable fuel consumption.  “The successor to the A320 will be short-to mid-range aircraft relying on 100% sustainable fuel”, he states.

Source: Airbus 

                          Airbus Orders & Deliveries in February

Airbus has recorded a new firm agreement for a pair of A350-900s the framer’s only order activity for February.

The two additional A350s are attributed to an undisclosed customer and take overall net orders for the first two months of 2024 to 33 aircraft all of which are widebodies.

Airbus delivered 49 aircraft in February, including two A350s and two A330s plus 39 A320neo-family jets and six A220s.

This took total deliveries over the first two months to 79.  Airbus is expecting to deliver 800 aircraft this year.

Source: Airbus             

                         REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

           Embraer’s E2 Jets Secure 120min ETOPS Certification

Brazilian airframer Embraer has secured regulatory approval in several jurisdictions for 120min extended twin-engine operations(ETOPS) for its new-generation E190-E2 and E195-E2 aircraft.  The company said on March 14, that Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority ANAC, the US Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency have granted the 120min ETOPS permission. That achievement, it adds, speaks to the aircraft’s design and system maturity.

“ETOPS is an important additional capability for the E2, and a key enabler for more sales, especially in Asia Pacific,” Embraer commercial aircraft chief executive Arjan Meijer says.  Airlines flying routes with up to 120min diversion times, for example over water or remote areas, will be able to use straighter, quicker, and more fuel-efficient routes, and have access to more diversion airports, he adds.

Source: Embraer, Picture Embraer                                                                      

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

          GE Aerospace Targets Production & Quality Improvement

GE Aerospace plans to significantly hike its investment this year in efforts to improve quality and boost output at its facilities and those of suppliers.  The Ohio-based engine maker will spend $650 million on the efforts more than twice the $335 million it spent on similar projects last year, GE Aerospace said on March 12.

The company intends for the funds to help suppliers address nagging operational problems and shore up production of both commercial and defense powerplants.  The funds will “strengthen the company’s US supply chain, helping suppliers build and maintain capacity and capabilities needed for sustained growth”, GE Aerospace says.

News of the investment comes as General Electric plans on the 2nd of this month to spin off its energy business, leaving GE Aerospace as its sole remaining operation.  At that point, General Electric will take the GE Aerospace name.

“We are making significant investments in the future of flight and in dozens of communities and supplier partners helping us build it,” GE Aerospace executive Lawrence Culp says of the planned spending.  “These investments are part of the next chapter for GE Aerospace, supporting cutting-edge equipment and safety enhancements that will help is meet our customers’ growing needs.

Of the planned $650 million company expects to spend $450 million on “new machines, inspection equipment, building upgrades and new test and safety enhancements” at 22 of its US facilities.

The company have been working to overcome supply chain, production and quality troubles that executives have largely attributed to shortages of skilled workers. GE Aerospace and partner Safran Aircraft Engines which jointly own maker CFM international have particularly been working to hike output of CFM Leap turbofans, which power Airbus A320neo-family jets and Boeing’s 737 Max.

Source: GE Aerospace, Picture GE Aerospace

         Korean Air Breaks Ground for New Engine MRO Facility

Korean Air has begun construction for a new engine MRO facility in Unbuk, near Seoul’s Incheon airport, with operations expected to commence in 2027.  The 140,000 sq m(1,507,000 sq Ft) facility, which, Korean Air says is the largest engine maintenance plant in Asia, will see the consolidation of all engine MRO capabilities into a single cluster.

Korean Air currently has an engine test cell at Unbuk but performs MRO work at Bucheon, which is located between Seoul and the airport.  The airline currently conducts MRO work on six engine models, including the Pratt& Whitney PW4000 and CFM International CFM56.

With the expansion, Korean Air is looking to add three more engine types, such as the GE Aerospace GEnx engines which power Boeing 787-family aircraft, and CFM Leap-1B engines for the 737 Max.

“The airline is also exploring the possibility of servicing Asiana Airlines’ engines, including, the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB used on the Airbus A350,” it adds.  Korean Air is in the process of acquiring A350 operator Asiana Airlines and is hoping to complete the merger this year.

Source: Korean Air, Picture Korean Air

                 GKN Aerospace Expands Support Leap Engines

GKN Aerospace has signed a decade-long agreement with Safran Aircraft Engines to expand its support for the LEAP engines.  The contract covers new shafts and spare parts production for the Leap 1A variant for the Airbus A320neo aircraft, with the expectation to produce similar components for the Leap 1B for the 737-Max aircraft in the future.

Through this contract, GKN will support Safran with its significant future demand and will start up new shaft production at GKN Aerospace’s global center in Kongsberg, Norway.  The first shafts are expected to be delivered from GKN Norway to Paris in the second half of this year.

GKN Aerospace and Safran have worked together closely for more than 35 years, with a long-term partnership in place for the industry-leading CFM56 and GE90 engines, as well as on the next-generation RISE technology development program.

Alexander Andersson, senior vice president of GKN Aerospace’s Engines Business, said: “This is a significant agreement and another important milestone in our partnership with Safran.  The Leap is at the forefront of the industry and we are proud to increase our presence on the engine today while continuing to explore new technology development for the next-generation RISE engine.

Source: GKN Aerospace, Picture Safran        

LATEST NEWS

• MIAT Mongolia Airlines signed a long-term contract with Lufthansa Technik regarding the component support for its Boeing 787 fleet.

• Ethiopian Airlines GE Aerospace has reached an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines for 16 GE9X engines to power the airline’s new fleet of Boeing 777X aircraft.

• flydubi was named ”Airline of the Year” while its cargo division was also recognized for its “Outstanding Contribution to the Air Cargo Sector”.

• Etihad Airways is celebrating the arrival of three new Boeing 787-9 aircraft the week of February  23rd.

• Royal Jordanian has selected Viasat’s in-flight connectivity (IFC) systems in line with the airline’s plan to increase and modernize its fleet.

• Canada Jetlines has taken delivery of a leased Airbus A320 from Aviation Capital Group and recently signed lease agreements covering the acquisition of an additional two of the type.

• Nolinor Canadian Charter carrier has adorned its first Boeing 737-400 with an update of its distinctive blue, white, and gold livery.

• flynas has taken delivery of two new Airbus A320neo aircraft and increased its seat capacity during the month of Ramadan this year by 25% to more than 1.2 million seats compared to the same period last year.

Sources: FlightGlobal, Royal Jordanian, Nolinor, Boeing, Etihad Airways, Ethiopian Airlines

                                              Air Cargo

     China Airlines Sells Five 747-400Fs to Two Cargo Operators

Taiwanese carrier China Airlines has disclosed an agreement to sell five Boeing 747 freighters to two operators.  The carrier states that it is divesting three 747-400Fs to Air Atlanta Icelandic, valuing the transaction at $83 million.  China Airlines is also selling a pair of 747-400Fs to Korean Carrier Asiana Airlines.

China Airlines has around 10 747-400Fs all powered by General Electric CF6 engines.  It has not identified the specific airframes involved in the sales.   The carrier had given UK-based AMS Aircraft Services an exclusive mandate last year to sell five 747-400Fs, all manufactured between 2001 and 2003.  AMS had added that they were available for delivery from April to October this year.

Source: China Airlines, AMS

                   Silk Way West Signs for Another 777LRF

Azerbaijan’s Silk Way West Airlines has disclosed that it is ordering another Boeing 777LRF extending an original agreement for five of the type.  Silk Way West says the extra aircraft is scheduled to be delivered next year.  It has already received two of the five 777Fs for which it signed in April 2021.  All the twinsets are due to arrive by 2027.

“Purchase of this additional 777F is a testament to our ongoing efforts to operate responsibly and minimize our carbon footprint,” says Silk Way Group president, Zaur Akhundov.  He says the Baku-based company is “committed” to sustainability and reduction of environmental impact.  All 777Fs are powered by General Electric GE90 engines.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

         More Details About MD-90 Into NASA’s X66-A Demonstrator

As follow-up to my February Report concerning the X66-A demonstrator, the X66-A will have fly-by-wire controls but Boeing will retain the MD-90’s mechanical – cable system that controls its rudder and elevator, said Boeing’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator program manager.

Boeing has said a truss-braced airliner could fly Mach 0.8.  It calls the wing “transonic” because at that speed some air flowing around the aircraft’s airfoils will meet or exceed M1.

“Our goal is to validate the architecture, learn about the new novel elements of the configurations so that we can better inform future product strategy,” Kadce says.  X-66X can help Boeing demonstrate tools and methods related to computational fluid dynamics, finite-element analysis, and structural-joint-architecture analysis.

X-66A must be shorter because Boeing removed the aft-mounted engines and will install new power plants under its wings, changing the center of gravity.  Those engines will be twin Pratt & Whitney geared turbofans (GTF), which Keduce calls “perfectly matched from a thrust-class perspective” to X-66A.

NASA Hopes the project will help Boeing determine if truss-brace wings are operationally and economically feasible.  If so the agency hopes Boeing’s new narrowbody jet – the 737’s replacement – will have the wing.  I will follow the development of this project in my upcoming blogs.

Sources: NASA, Boeing

           Boeing Lost $2.2 Billion In 2023 Amid 737 Max Scrutiny

Boeing lost $2.2 billion in 2023 as the company continued seeking to stem vast losses from its commercial aircraft business, which faces ongoing quality troubles and fresh scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The company’s 2023 loss improved from its $5.1 billion loss in 2022, reflecting unresolved troubles within its defense business.

“Our full focus is on taking comprehensive actions to strengthen quality at Boeing, including listening to input from our employees that do this work every day,” Boeing chief financial officer Dave Calhoun said on January 31st, the day the US manufacturer disclosed its 2023 financial results.

Boeing’s commercial aircraft business lost $1.6 billion in 2023, improved from a $2.3 loss in the prior year, with the unit’s 2023 revenue up 30% year on year to $33.9 billion.  That revenue bump reflects an increase in aircraft deliveries; the company delivered 528 jets in 2023, up 10% year on year.

Losses came during a year Boeing continually dealt with fresh troubles affecting its 737 Program.  In 2023, Boeing revealed an issue involving miss-drilled holes in 737 aft-pressure bulkheads and a problem involving loose bolts in rudder assemblies.  It also disclosed a separate issue with fuselages produced by Spirit Aerospace.

The 737 faced heightened scrutiny following a January 5 in-flight blow-out of an Alaska Airlines’ 737 9’s door plug.  Investigators and experts have pointed to manufacturing and quality troubles within Boeing as the cause of the incident, though the investigation remains ongoing.

In response, the FAA says it has significantly hiked its oversight of the 737 Program, including by prohibiting Boeing from expanding production on the jet.

Source: Boeing                                

                                   Boeing Cap on Production

Boeing is producing the 737 Max at a rate of 38 monthly amid a cap on production expansion implemented in January by the Federal Aviation Administration.  Boeing is also now producing 787s at a rate of five monthly.  Boeing disclosed the rates on January 31 when its financial results for 2023.  “The 737 program continues to deliver airplanes, and its production rate at 38 per month,” Boeing Says.

The production situation became more uncertain after the FAA in January said it was prohibiting Boeing from expanding the Max production due to concern about quality and safety stemming from January 5th in-flight blow-out of a door plug on Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9.  At the same time Boeing confirmed it is now producing five 787s monthly up from four in mid 2023.

Source: Boeing

Boeing Orders & Deliveries for January

Air Europa and an unidentified customer cancelled orders for three Boeing jets in January, while the company’s deliveries slipped to only 27 aircraft during the month.  The period was a difficult one for Boeing due to an in-flight 737 Max door-plug failure that renewed questions about the safety and quality of the company’s production system.

Boeing calls its January activity “modest”, though the numbers reflect a significant slowdown from prior months.  Deliveries also declined, with Boeing handing over just 27 jets in January, down from 67 in December 2023.  The 27 aircraft delivered included 25 737 MAX.

Notably two of those narrowbody jets went to China Southern Airlines and one to China’s Kunming Airlines, marking Boeing’s resumption of deliveries to Chinese carriers following a pause that lasted most of the last five years since regulators grounded 737 Max in March 2019.

Other customers to receive new 737 Max in January included Air India(3), Air Lease(2), Akasa(1),Ethiopian Airlines(1), Flydubai (1), Gol(1), Southwest Airlines(2), SunExpress(2), Ryanair(6) and United Airlines(3).

Boeing also delivered two widebody jets in January: one 787-9 taken by lessor AerCap and one 767-based KC-46 military refueling jet.

Source: Boeing                

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

               Airbus’s New Beluga Carrier to Serve US Destinations

Airbus has been authorize to conduct transatlantic services with its newly established Airbus Beluga Transport outsize cargo operation.  The airframer obtained a French air operator’s certificate on November 13 for the carrier, which will use the manufacturer’s A300-600ST Beluga fleet.

Its five Belugas are being withdrawn from internal logistics activity and replaced by the A330-700L BelugaXL.  Airbus Beluga Transport has been set up to capitalize on the outsize freight capability of the older twinjets.

It sought authorization to to fly to US destinations in December – stating that it aimed to begin the services this month – and clearance has been granted by the US department of Transportation.

Source: Airbus, picture Airbus.

Airbus Orders and Deliveries for January 2024

Airbus’s first monthly orders for January featured widebody aircraft agreements with two carriers taking A350s.   Delta Air Lines reached an agreement for 20 A350-1000s and Ethiopian Airlines firmed an order for another 11 A350-900s.

Airbus delivered 30 aircraft over the course of January for two A330neos, one for ITA Airways and one for Condor plus 26 A320neo family jets and a pair of A220s.

Source: Airbus           

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

             Royal Jordanian Receives Two Embraer E195-E2 Aircraft

Azorra has delivered the first two Embraer E195-E2 to Royal Jordanian Airlines.  The full agreement, announced in May 2023, is for eight aircraft in total – six aircraft from Azorra’s existing backlog with Embraer, plus two further E195-E2 firm orders from airline directly with Embraer.

John Evans, CEO and founder of Azorra, says: “Our team’s longstanding partnership with Royal Jordanian began more than a decade ago.  From that Embraer 175, to these next generation E2 aircraft today, we’re proud to continue our support of Royal Jordanian, and the airline’s fleet modernization and expansion goals.”

“We’re confident Royal Jordanian will soon see the environmental & economic advantages of operating these new E2 aircraft, while offering superior levels of passenger comfort.”  Samer Majali, Vice Chairman CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, says:”We’re looking forward to becoming the first E2 operator in the Middle East, supported by our trusted partners at Azorra.

Source: Azorra, Royal Jordanian, Picture Royal Jordanian                                                                     

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

              Most Alaska & United 737 Max 9s Back in the Air

Nearly all of Alaska’s and United Airlines’ Boeing 737 Max 9s have returned to service a month after the rapid de-pressurization of Alaska Airlines flight 1282 grounded most of the Boeing 737 Max 9s in the USA.

All but one of United’s 79 Max 9s have resumed scheduled passenger flying, compared with 57 of Alaska’s 65 next-generation narrowbody Boeing jets, the US Federal Aviation Administration said during a February 5th update on its oversight of Boeing’s beleaguered Max program.

Meanwhile, about 95% of the Max 9s in the USA have completed inspections and are eligible to return to service, said Jodi Baker, the FAA’s deputy associate administrator for aviation safety.

Oversight of Boeing’s production facility in Renton, Washington, has increased in response to a mid-flight door-plug blowout involving during a January 5 flight on an Alaska Max 9.

“These would be in association to the existing audits…and be more informal,”Baker says.

“ We wouldn’t necessarily have to provide notice.  One advantage of this is we get a better sense of the safety culture because we can actually talk to employees and figure what’s motivating them and their concerns”.

The FAA is handling Boeing’s latest quality issue through its “continued operational safety Process” Baker says, adding that the civil aviation regulator will “ensure that those airplanes meet all safety standards before we can approve them for safety”.

Source: FAA

             Qantas to Install Split Scimitar Winglets on 737-800s

Qantas will install split Scimitar winglets on 23 of its Boeing 737-800s, as part of their efforts to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions.  The Australian operator said on February 6 says installation work is taking place at its MRO facility in Brisbane, and will continue through 2026.

The 23 737s with the new winglets will be deployed on a mix of international destinations such as Bali and Fiji, as well as domestic points.  According to CIRIUM fleets data, the Oneworld carrier has 75 737s in-service.

Qantas states that the new winglets will improve the fuel efficiency of each aircraft by up to 2%,and will cut over 8,000t in carbon emissions once all 23 aircraft have been retrofitted.

Andrew Parker, the airline’s Sustainability chief, says the airline is still focused on improving the operational efficiency of our fleet, even as it takes delivery of newer fuel-efficient jets.  He adds: “The new winglets are one of many changes, small and large, that customers will notice as we transform our operations to be more sustainable”.

Sources: Qantas, picture Qantas

                Nolinor Aviation re-Introduces 737-200 For Operations

Canadian charter airline Nolinor Aviation has re-introduced a Boeing 737-200 optimized for gravel runways that it plans to use in austere far-northern operating environments.

The Montreal-Based passenger and freight carrier disclosed on February 13 that the jet, which recently underwent a $3 million mechanical overhaul, will operate primarily in Nunavut – Canada’s northernmost territory.

“This particular model holds a unique position in the aviation industry, being the only one with Boeing certification for gravel runway operations,” the carrier says.

Nolinor’s president Marco Prud’Homme says that “the 737-200 remains the optimal choice for serving the challenging northern regions”.   “This move comes in response to the increasing demand for efficient, robust aircraft capable of operating on gravel runways, especially amid the recent surge in mining activities in Nunavat driven by the global push towards electrification,” the company says.

The refurbished 737-200 represents the first expansion of the Carrier’s northern division in three years. It currently has six of the type in service, according to Cirium fleets data, and also flies one 737-300 variant.

Nolinor’s narrowbody Boeing jets are between 30 and 50 years old. The company in 2018 embarked on a project to equip its 737-200s with modern glass-cockpit avionics.

“The 737 family is uniquely equipped to operate across Canada, enabling Nolinor to fly passengers and provide essential services to remote, northern regions,” says Charles Sullivan, president of Boeing Canada.  “We’ll continue to support the 737-200 through the entire life of the fleet.”

Source: Molinor Aviation, picture Nolinor Aviation

                          Austrian Airlines Acquiring 11 Boeing 787-9s

In April 2023, Austrian Airlines revealed plans to refresh its long haul fleet, replacing its existing wide body aircraft with Boeing 787-9s.  Austrian’s long haul fleet currently consists of nine aircraft, including three Boeing 767-300ERs and six Boeing 777-200ERs

In order to modernize its fleet, Austrian will be taking delivery of 11 Boeing 787-9s.  That means the airline is not only refreshing its long haul fleet, but also expanding it.

The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner will join Austrian’s fleet this year-end; the fleet refresh should be complete by 2028, at which point all previous generation long haul aircraft will be retired.

As of June 15, 2024, Austrian will start flying the 787 between Vienna and New York (JFK).  As of July 1, 2024, Austrian will start flying the 787 between Vienna and Chicago.  Austrian’s first two 787s will be former Bamboo Airways Jets.

Source: Austrian, Picture Austrian Airlines

           Hawaiian’s Shareholders Accept Alaska’s Takeover Bid

Hawaiian Holdings’ shareholders have voted to accept the $1.9 billion acquisition offer from Alaska Airlines.  The Honolulu-based company said on February 16 that preliminary results of the shareholder vote show “a substantial majority” favor the transaction, which the companies announced late last year.

“Stockholder approval of our transaction with Alaska is an important milestone toward combining our airlines,” says Hawaiian Airlines chief executive Peter Ingram.  ”Together, we will bring stronger competition to the US airline industry, deliver more value to our guests and the communities that we serve, and provide greater job opportunities for our employees”.

The transaction is valued at $18 per share, and includes Alaska taking on $900 million of Hawaiian’s debt.  Alaska Airlines had initially offered $20 per share before the two sides eventually agreed to the final prices; Hawaiian’s share price lost two-thirds of its value during the second half of 2023.

The companies have said they expect the acquisition will close in 12-18 months, with Alaska Airlines’ chief executive Ben Minicucci slated to take the top job of the combined company, pending regulatory approval.  Executives at both companies maintain the deal is “pro-consumer and pro-competitive” and they are confident that the US aviation regulators will agree.

Source: Hawaiian Airlines                 

LATEST NEWS

• Thai Always firmed up an order for 45 787-9s plus 35 options; the deal also offers the carrier a route to the new 777X.

• Avelo Airlines will add five leased Boeing 737NGs to its fleet sourced from Brazilian LCC Gol Linhas Aéreas, bolstering its current fleet of 16 737NGs.

• Hawaiian Airlines has taken delivery of the first of 12 787-9 for which it holds firm orders.

• Allegiant Travel Company is expecting another lengthy delay in the delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, further difficulties for Boeing’s next generation narrowbody program.

• Thai Airways International has sealed leases with lessor AerCap for 17 aircraft, including Airbus A350s, A321neos and Boeing 787s in relation to its recently outlined fleet plan.

• Lessor China Aircraft Leasing Group(CALC) has picked CFM International Leap-1A engines to power a batch of 20 Airbus A320neo-family jets.

• Royal Brunei Airlines has ordered four new 787-9s from Boeing.  The airline has been a Boeing customer since its founding in 1974.

Sources: Boeing, Thai Airways, Allegiant, Hawaiian

                                                 Air Cargo

                     ANA Delays Nippon Cargo Takeover Again

All Nippon Airways parent ANA holdings has postponed its takeover of Nippon Cargo Airlines for a second time, saying that anti-trust authorities need more time to review the deal.

In a stock exchange filing, the company says it now expects the transfer of ownership will take place on April 1, two-month delay from the original February 1 deadline.

ANA Holdings says it is ”taking into consideration the time to complete the review of the business combination that will result from the share exchange by relevant authorities in Japan and foreign countries”.

The firm had previously announced a delay in late September 2023 on similar grounds.  ANA in July announced plans to acquire Nippon Cargo from Logistics giant NYK, in a deal that would make the cargo carrier a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group.

Adds the airline group: “As a result of making Nippon Cargo a wholly-owned subsidiary…the balance sheet and income statement will be consolidated from the first quarter in this calendar year ending March, 2025.”

According to Cirium fleets data, Nippon Cargo has in-service fleet of eight Boeing 747-8Fs.  It also owns seven-400s that are operated by Atlas Air and ASL Airlines Belgium.

Source: ANA, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Nippon Cargo Airlines

                Starlux Orders Five Airbus A350 Freighters

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines has ordered five Airbus A350 freighters.  The order marks the carrier’s first dedicated cargo aircraft and continues its rapid expansion since launching services in 2020.  Starlux has also taken options for five more freighters.

Starlux chief executive Glenn Chai says: “With this order, StarLux becomes the first Taiwanese airline to operate the next-generation A350F widebody freighter”.

Launched in July 2021, the A350F is expected to enter service in 2026 and has so far gained 50 orders from airlines including Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines.

Source: Starlux, Airbus, Picture Airbus

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

                Boeing Begins Transforming MD-90 into NASA’s X-66 A

Boeing has started dismantling and scanning an old MD-90 as part of a multi-year NASA-supported project to transform the former passenger jet into the X-66A truss-braced-wing demonstrator.

Since the jet arrived at a Palmdale, California, hanger last August, Boeing’s team has removed the MD-99’s twin international Aero Engines V2500 turbofans and completed optical and laser scans of the aircraft, Boeing says on January 8th.

The work has just started.  Boeing and its partners will now spend several years removing the jet’s wings and 19 fuselage sections before equipping it with Boeing’s “transonic truss-braced wing”.  The first flight of the X-66A is targeted for the third quarter of 2028.

On January 8th the company also released a time-lapse video depicting modifications today, including removal of the MD-90”s engines,” jacking and shoring of the jet” and scanning.

Boeing manufactured the MD 90 (registration N931TB) in 1999 and acquired it from Delta Air Lines, Cirium fleets data shows.

Boeing’s truss-braced wing, to be mounted atop the MD-90’s fuselage, will be highly flexible and much longer than traditional jetliner wings, requiring it to be supported by trusses.  That extra length and increased aspect ratio (which denotes the relationship between a wing’s span and area) should generate less drag than traditional wings.

NASA has estimated that truss-braced wings could make a future new narrowbody jetliner 10% more efficient than current aircraft, with other technological advancements bringing total potential efficiency gains to 30%.

Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences is manufacturing the X66A’s composite-material wing in West Virginia.  The wing will then be shipped to Palmdale.

More Details about the X66A will be coming to you in my March report.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

Boeing Orders& Deliveries for December 2023

Boeing logged more aircraft orders and deliveries in December than in any month in 2023, marking a positive finish to a year marred by production and quality issues.

But despite ending 2023 on a bit of an upswing, Boeing has found itself facing another crisis after an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 suffered a failed emergency exit door plug on the 5th of January.

Boeing in December logged new orders for 371 jets, including 301 737s, two 777 Freighters, and 68 787s, the company said on January 9th.

It also logged two order cancellations two 787s by Air Europa bringing the company’s net new December orders to 369.

That strong finish bumped Boeing’s total 2023 net new orders to 1,314 aircraft, 70% more than the 774 net orders it landed in 2022.

Customers to order the 301 737s in December included Avolon Aerospace Leasing for (40), Ethiopian Airlines(20), Lufthansa (40) and SunExpress (45).  Boeing says customers it declines to name ordered another 156 of the jets last month.

The company’s 787 order activity included 11 orders from Ethiopian, 12 from Qantas, and 45 from unnamed buyers.  Unidentified customers ordered two 777Fs.

Boeing also managed to accelerate its deliveries in December, by handing 67 jets to customers more than any month last year.

Source: Boeing                  

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

                  Airbus to Broaden A300-600ST Beluga as New Carrier

Airbus has secured an air operator’s certificate for a new carrier established to conduct outsize freight transport using the airframer’s withdrawn A300-600ST Beluga fleet.

The manufacturer unveiled plans two years ago to set up Airbus Beluga Transport, intending the company eventually to operate as a dedicated airline.

Airbus has introduced the larger A330-700L BelugaXL to replace the five A300-600STs previously used to ship aircraft structures between its manufacturing facilities.

“We now have the aircraft, we have the people and we have the facilities and the certificate,” says managing director Benoit Lemonnier.  ”So now we can operate missions as our own airline”.

The carrier has also established a management structure and recruited some 60 personnel, among them additional pilots.   It offers a new avenue for A300 and A310 cockpit crews, and the company predicts a need for 26 Beluga pilots by 2026.  To bridge the training gap, it will temporarily take 12 Airbus Transport International pilots for up to three years.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus

                    Airbus Orders and Deliveries For December 2023

Airbus handed over a total of 735 aircraft during 2023, managing to exceed its full-year target of 720.

It also secured net orders of 2,094 aircraft – a record figure for the airframer – compared with the 820 reached last year.  The figures mark the first time Airbus achieved more than 2,000 net orders in a single year.

Airbus delivered 247 aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2023.  Overall deliveries for the year comprised 571 A320neo-family jets, 64 A350s and 68 A220s.

Source: Airbus

        A330-300 Backlog Falls to Zero 30 Years After Entry Into Service

Airbus has removed the old outstanding order for A330-300s from its backlog, an agreement for eight aircraft with China’s state aviation supply firm CASC.

The adjustment means all 776 A330-300s on firm order have been delivered, almost exactly 30 years since French Airline Air Inter put the first into service in January 1994.

CASC placed an order for 30 A330-300s in October 2015 but still had eight aircraft on the airframer’s backlog by 2019.  Airbus’s latest full-year backlog data shows the aircraft have been removed.  There is no indication which carrier was destined to operate the twinsets.

The A330-300 has evolved into the A330-900, the larger member of the re-engined A330neo family which has taken 284 orders.

Gross orders for the A330neo during 2023 reached 37 aircraft, all but one the -900 variant.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus                  

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                   Greek Carrier Sky Express Adds to ATR Fleet

Greek carrier Sky Express continued its fleet modernization efforts by taking delivery of the first of two newly ordered ATR72-600s in December.

Sky Express already operated six 72-600s following an order placed with ATR in the summer of 2021. It has now ordered two more 600 models, the first of which was delivered in December.  The second will follow in the first quarter.  It also operates six older ATR 72-500s.

Sky Express chief executive Konstantinos lliakis says:  ”As we continue to grow our regional fleet, we are delighted to operate the youngest ATR fleet in the region and we have commitments for further fleet standardization and improvement early in Q1 2024.”

The Greek carrier also operates A320neo-family  narrowbodies, having taken delivery of its first A320neo in November 2020 as part of an expansion of its international services.  The airline also last year took delivery of its first two A321neos, which it operates alongside the eight A320neos.

Source: FlightGlobal, picture ATR

                               Envoy to add More Embraer E-Jets

American Airlines’ regional subsidiary Envoy Air plans to add 19 Embraer regional jets, 8 Embraer 175s, and 11 E170s to its fleet, with deliveries expected to begin this year.

The Irving, Texas-based regional carrier disclosed the planned fleet expansion on the 3rd of January, noting that the incoming E-jets will bring Envoy’s total fleet to 169 aircraft – 126 E175s and 43 E170s.

The airline does not specify from where it will receive the jets, or if they will be new or used.  Envoy did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

“This measured, sustainable success is a direct outcome of Envy’s commitment to safety, quality, and cost,” says Pedro Fabregas, Envoy’s chief executive.

The carrier operated 119 aircraft at the end of 2022 and has since aggressively added aircraft to its ready-massive E-Jet fleet.  In June of last year, it retired the last of its 50-seat ERJ-145s.

The carrier flies to some 160 cities in the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Source: American Airlines                                          

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

             Boeing Inaugurates Parts Distribution Center In India

Boeing has inaugurated a new distribution center in India, as it eyes continued growth in the Indian airline market.  The 36,000 sqft distribution center is located in Khurja, in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state, says Boeing.  It will distribute parts to customers in the region and should improve aircraft utilization.

“This center will support the emergent needs of spare parts for Boeing aircraft in India, reducing lead times, improving availability, and supporting the MRO industry here,” says Boeing India president Salil Gupte.

The company first announced the new distribution center in February 2023, and it shipped its first parts 10 months later.

Other Boeing initiatives in India include a partnership with GMR Aero Technic to set up a freighter conversion line in Hyderabad, and a Support center in Gurgaon.  Cirium fleet data indicates that there are 158 Boeing aircraft in service with Indian airlines. In addition, Indian carriers have orders for 547 Boeing aircraft.

Source: Boeing, picture Akasa Air.

              Turkish Airlines Secures AOC for Low-cost Unit AJet

Turkish Airlines has secured an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) for its low-cost carrier AnadoluJet for when it begins operations as stand stand-alone unit under the AJet Brand.

AnadoluJet was established by the airline in 2008, but last year Turkish Airlines outlined plans to separate the company as a wholly-owned subsidiary from this summer.

To support the move, Turkish Airlines has been working on securing a separate AOC for the airline, under which it is being rebranded Ajet.  In a short statement, the company says the country’s aviation regulator granted AJet’s AOC on January 2nd.  “ AJet is expected to start its operations at the beginning of the summer season in 2024,” the airline says.

Under its long-term growth plans, Turkish Airlines aims to more than double its AJets fleet from 94 at the end of last year to 200 aircraft by 2033.  That will include a completely renewed fleet by 2029.  These expansion plans envisage the fleet by 2029.  These expansion plans envisage the fleet serving an increased network of 80 international destinations by 2033.

Source: Turkish Airlines, Picture Turkish Airlines

         Lufthansa Technik CelestialStar VVIP Cabin for BBJ777-9

Lufthansa Technik(LHT) has revealed the final part of its new CelestialStar cabin concept for the Boeing Business Jet 777-9, a design it sees as ideal for the Middle East head-of-state market.

The German completions house had already teased the unnamed concept at EBACE and NBAA business aviation shows in May and October, respectively, last year. Still, it said it was waiting until the Dubai air show to unveil the full details of the design and branding.

“It says the CelestialStar interior combines traditional influences from the Middle East’s cultural heritage with a modern twist” and is “specifically tailored to the requirements of a new generation of VVIP and head-of-state aircraft”.

While much of the concept has been previously disclosed, details of the forward VVIP cabin and lounge area adjacent to the main cabin entry doors had remained a secret.  The private suite takes the forward part of the CelestialStar design and incorporates a private bedroom and bathroom.

The windows are fitted with electrochromic dimming – a concept first introduced in the 787.

Hassan Gasim, sales director of Middle East VIP & special aircraft services at LHT, says Sister carrier Lufthansa’s position as the launch customer for the 777-9 has enabled the completions unit to build up extensive technical expertise early.

Source: Lufthansa Technik, Boeing, FlightGlobal       

LATEST NEWS

• Akasa Air has ordered 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, landing Boeing its first major commitment for the type in 2024.  The order, announced on January 18 at the Wings India India air show in Hyderabad, comprises Max 10s and Max 8-200s.  Deliveries will run until 2032, says the low-cost operator.

• Delta Air Lines has announced an order for 20 Airbus A350-1000s, with options for 20 more marking its first commitment for the wide body family’s larger variant.

• EVA Taiwanese carrier has placed a firm order for 18 Airbus A350-1000s and 15 A321neos, sealing an acquisition previously announced in 2023.
• Alaska Airlines has received its first Boeing 737 Max 8, an aircraft with sufficient range to enable the carrier to launch new transcontinental routes.

• NATO Plans to acquire six Boeing E-7A Wedgetail aircraft for introduction in the early next decades as part of preparations to draw down its veteran Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control system(AWACS) fleet.

• Juneyao Airlines took delivery of the first 787-9 Dreamliner to China since 2019.

Sources: Boeing, Delta, Alaska, FlightGlobal, EVA

AIR CARGO

                                     Atlas Air Received Fourth 777F

US cargo carrier Atlas Air has taken delivery of the last of four Boeing 777-200 freighters to fly for Swiss Transport and logistics specialist Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

Atlas parent, Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, confirmed the delivery on January 11, saying Atlas is now operating the quartet of widebody cargo jets “on a global basis” on behalf of MSC Air Cargo.

Atlas took its first of the 777Fs in November 2022, while two more were delivered last year.  The newest addition to Atlas’ stable of freighters under long-term aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) agreements with MSC will allow it to boost capacity on flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Hong Kong.

The delivery also builds on the cooperation between Atlas and MSC.  “The delivery of this fourth freighter that we are operating for MSC marks an incredibly exciting milestone of our long-term strategic partnership,” says Richard Broekman, chief commercial officer and head of sustainability for Atlas Air Worldwide.

Source: Atlas Air Worldwide, Picture MSC Air Cargo

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

                       Boeing Orders And Deliveries in November

Boeing ramped up its 737 Max deliveries in November and secured a massive order from Emirates Airline for the in-development 777X, giving Boeing a boost as 2023 nears closure.

The company delivered a combined 56 aircraft in November, including 46 737s, marking an improvement for a program that has suffered most recently from a delivery decline owing to a bulkhead-related quality problem.

Airlines that received the most 737 Max last month included United Airlines, which took eight, Southwest Airlines, which took seven, and Ryanair, which took five, Boeing said on December 12 in disclosing its November order and delivery figures.

Boeing has delivered 351 737s (Including 343 737Max) in 2023 through November, edging toward its goal of delivering 375-400 of the narrow-body jets this year.  It had previously helped to deliver 400-450 of the aircraft in 2023 but revised the range in October due to the bulkhead issue.  Boeing has been inspecting and fixing hundreds of undelivered aircraft to address the problem, which involves mis-drilled holes in bulkheads supplied by Spirit AeroSystems.

Boeing also last month delivered 10 widebody jets, including two 777 Freighters, six 787s,  one 767F, and one 767-based KC-46 military refueling aircraft.

The big news for Boeing in November was Emirates’ order for 90 777X, including 55 777-9s and 35 777-8s, announced by the companies at the Dubai Air Show.

Also last month, Boeing landed orders for nine 737 Max (four from lessor BOC Aviation and nine from unidentified customers) and 15 KC-46s.

Combined, it took orders for 114 commercial aircraft in November, though unidentified customers canceled orders for 10 737 Max, bringing Boeing’s net November new orders to 104 aircraft.

In the first 11 months of 2023, Boeing has landed total net orders (accounting for cancellations) for 945 aircraft, compared to 571 in the same period last year.

Boeing ended November with 5,324 commercial aircraft of all types in its backlog, up from 5,239 at the end of October.  The backlog now includes 4,076 737s, 111 767s, 466 777s, and 671 787s according to Boeing’s figures.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

                        Airbus Orders & Deliveries in November

Airbus delivered 64 aircraft in November, down 6% from the same month of 2022, to bring the total so far this year to 623 aircraft, the platemaker confirmed on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.  The tally leaves Airbus needing what several analysts say is a relatively achievable 97 deliveries in December to reach its full-year target of 720 deliveries.

Analysts have said Airbus’ full-year delivery target is looking increasingly manageable after it missed and eventually abandoned such a goal amid problems last year. However, CEO Guillaume Faury, in the same week, said supply chains remain challenging.  Airbus said it had won 1,512 orders this year or a net total of 1,395 after cancellations.

November’s net orders included previously announced new business at the Dubai air show from SMBC Aviation Capital, reflecting an A230neo cancellation from Kuwait lessor ALAFCO.

November’s data included the reshuffling of a handful of plane orders between airline group IAG and two of its subsidiaries, British Airways and Aer Lingus.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus

             REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS                           

                            Dassault Falcon 6X Enters Service

Dassault Aviation confirmed its Falcon 6X entered service on November 30th, just over three months after the jet received US and European certification.

The French manufacturer, which has not disclosed any customer details, attributes the delay to “post-certification upgrades” related to its fuel tank that required European Union Aviation Safety Agency approval.

The 6X program was launched in 2019 after Dassault abandoned its 5X predecessor following problems with its Safran Silvercrest engines.  The 6X is powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW812D engines and first flew on March 10, 2021.

Dassault describes the type, which has a cabin width of 2.58m (8ft5in) and a range of 5,500 nm              (10,200km), as “the first extra-wide-body business jet”.

The 6X’s entry into service leaves the flagship Falcon 10X as Dassault’s only in-development business jet.  The company is targeting late 2025 for the latter’s introduction.

Source: Dassault Aviation                                                                       

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                       Canada Signs to Acquire 14 Boeing P-8As

The Canadian government has agreed to purchase at least 14 Boeing P-8A Poseidon multi-mission aircraft, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2026.

“Canada has finalized a government-to-government agreement with the United States government for the acquisition of up to 16 PA-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force,” the country’s Department of National Defense said on November 30.  It adds that Canada will buy 14 of the aircraft but hold options to acquire another two.

Boeing confirms the news, saying Canada signed a “letter of offering acceptance” for the jets under the US government’s Foreign Military Sales program.

Canada expects to receive roughly one P-8A monthly starting in 2026, to have all the aircraft by roughly autumn 2027, and to achieve full operational capability with the type in 2033.

Canada had in March 2023, disclosed its intention to acquire the Boeing jets.  The deal aligns Canada with several allies that also operate P-8As, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA.

Sources: Boeing, Royal Canadian Air Force, Picture Boeing

                         GE9X Engine’s Advanced Technologies

The world’s largest and most powerful certified commercial engine, the GE9X is also GE Aerospace’s most efficient engine built per pound of thrust.  Incorporating advanced technologies, the GE 9X engine is designed to deliver up to 10% greater fuel efficiency than its predecessor, with emissions of nitrogen oxides(NOx) 55% below current regulatory requirements.

After undergoing a rigorous development program, the GE9X engine has emerged as GE Aerospace’s most advanced certified commercial engine to date.

It holds the world record for the highest thrust 134,300 pounds, a feat made possible by its unprecedented size: 11 feet in diameter.

The engine was designed for reduced emissions, building on the proven architecture of the GE90 engine, the GE9X team has adapted key innovations from new product lines to deliver the most efficient wide-body engine in its thrust class, with up to 10 percent lower specific fuel consumption than its predecessor, the GE90-115B.

Along with streamlined components in the core, the fan’s long thin carbon-fiber blades maximize airflow through the engine.  Because the blades are designed to be efficient, the GE9X engine needs only 16, down from 22 in the GE90.

With fewer blade surfaces to hinder airflow into the engine and a larger fan, the GE9X achieves another mark of efficiency: a high bypass ratio.  Modern airliner engines channel most of the airflow around the core rather than through it.  Driven by the fan, this air creates thrust when it exits out the back of the engine.

The ratio of masses of each stream—the air that skirts around the core and the air that moves through it —is called the bypass ratio.  Engines with higher bypass ratios are more efficient, because when less air moves through the cordless fuel burns.

The GE9X has one of the highest bypass ratios for a commercial engine, at 10:1, meaning that for every unit of air that goes through the combustion chamber,10 units bypass it.

Source: GE Aerospace

                                 Lufthansa Orders First 737 Max Jets

Lufthansa Group placed a firm order for 40 Boeing 737 Max 8s and has taken options on 60 more.  The Boeing order is notable as it marks the group’s first order for Max jets and its first deal for narrowbodies from the US manufacturer for almost 30 years.

“It is a good strategic decision for the Lufthansa Group to order Boeing 737 aircraft again for the first time since 1995,” said Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.  Around 60 years ago, Lufthansa was a co-developer and launch customer of this globally successful model.

With the new modern, quiet, economical, and efficient 737-8, we are making progress both in modernizing our short-and medium-haul fleet and in achieving our carbon CO2 reduction targets.”

“ Our relationship with the Lufthansa Group has led to several industry achievements and we are delighted to see the 737 return to the original launch customer’s fleet,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO, of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.”  The Lufthansa Group has set bold targets to de-carbonize its operations.  The 737-8 will help the Lufthansa Group meet those sustainability targets with significant improvements in fuel use, emissions, and community noise impacts, all while reducing costs for the airline.”

Lufthansa launched the Boeing 737 in 1967, taking delivery of the first of 146 737s until its final delivery of a 737-300 in 1995.  The airline retired the last 737 in 2016 when it started its group-wide fleet modernization program.

Source: Boeing         

LATEST NEWS

• Porter Airlines has placed firm orders for 25 more Embraer 195-E2s on top of 50 previous orders in a deal valued at $2.1 billion.

• Turkish Airlines has disclosed that it will order another 220 aircraft from Airbus, with 70 A350s, including five freighters.

• Japan Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 on December 14, 2023.

• Azul of Brazil has ordered four more Airbus A330-900s to expand its long-haul route offering.

• Avolon Irish lessor is expanding its single-aisle portfolio with an order for 140 aircraft, including 100 Airbus A321neos and 40 Boeing 737 Max 8 jets.

• Chile’s LATAM Airline Group has ordered five more Boeing 787 Dreamliners and will equip them with GE Aerospace GEnx engines.

• Virgin Australia has increased its Boeing 737 Max orders with a commitment for six more Max 8 aircraft, taking its total orderbook to 39 Examples.

• Juneyao Airlines took the first direct delivery of a 787 Dreamliner to China since 2019 landed in Shanghai on Friday, December 23,2023.

Sources: Boeing, Virgin Australia, Avolon, Japan Airlines, Airbus, Porter Airlines

AIR CARGO

                  Cathay Pacific Orders Six Airbus A350 Freighters

Cathay Pacific has ordered six Airbus A350 freighters, becoming the second Asian customer for the airframe’s newest cargo jet.  The deal, worth around $2.7 billion at list price, also sees Cathay take options for 20 more aircraft.

Cathay expects the first aircraft to be handed over in 2027, with deliveries to run through 2029.  The A350Fs will operate long-haul cargo destinations in North and South America, as well as Europe, the airline said on December 8, 2023.

Apart from Cathay, Singapore Airlines also has orders for seven A350Fs and was the first Asian operator to commit to the freighter program.  Other customers include Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways.

Source: Cathay Pacific

                   MSC Mediterranean Took Delivery of the Third 777F

US carrier Atlas Air has taken delivery of its third of four Boeing 777 Freighters placed on long-term aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance agreements with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Atlas confirmed the delivery on November 30th, adding the Max will boost existing weekly cargo flights and add a route from Hong Kong to Dallas-Fort Worth using the new jet.

“We are proud to support the ongoing expansion of MSC’s air cargo solution by providing additional speed, flexibility, and reliability to their existing network,” says Richard Broekman, chief commercial officer for Atlas.  ”We look forward to this third 777 Freighter entering into service for MSC, and will welcome the arrival of the fourth”.

On November 28th, Atlas ordered two more 777Fs to be delivered in the second half of this year, which would give it six of the large widebody jets.

Source: Atlas Air, Picture Atlas Air

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

                     Boeing Business Jets Launches “BBJ Select”

Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) has unveiled “BBJ Select”, a new offering which allows potential customers to configure aircraft through a modular concept, plus simplifies and accelerates the purchasing process.

“We have streamlined the engineering, the design, the build and installation processes,” BBJ president Joe Benson said ahead of the National Business Aviation Association’s exhibition in Las Vegas on October 16.

“ We accomplish this through custom modules that customers can select, throughout different zones in the aircraft.  It also enables us to not only compress the overall completion timeline, but also to drive out one-time costs and pass these savings on to our customers. Thus we can offer this completed turnkey BBJ at a very attractive fixed price,” he adds.

The BBJ Select offering will be available on the 737 Max 7 aircraft, and first deliveries are expected in 2026.

BBJ is working with partners ALOFT Aero Architects and Greenpoint Technologies to make this new service available to potential customers.  The two companies already have ample experience of completion work on Boeing jets.

The company is offering BBJ Select exclusively for the Max 7, and in addition to the traditional purchasing process of a completely bespoke aircraft which BBJ has been offering for 27 years. BBJ has delivered 250 VIP Boeing aircraft, of which more than 160 were 737 models.

Source: BBJ, Picture BBJ

Boeing Orders & Deliveries

Boeing booked 123 gross orders in October, bolstered by a deal with Southwest Airlines for 11 MAXs.  It reported cancellations, which included one MAX for Aerolieas Argentinas and five MAXs for customers that Boeing declined to identify.

The deliveries for October included 18 737 MAXs which wanted to the following airlines: Air India, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, FlyDubai, Southwest Airlines, Turkish Airlines,United Airlines and Ryanair.

Widebody deliveries included three 777 Freighters, six 767 Freighters and six Dreamliners.

Source: Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

Airbus Signs With Indian Firms to Build Airframe & Wing Components

Airbus has signed a series of agreements with Indian companies to locally produce airframe and wing parts for the A320neo, A330neo, and A350.  The supply agreements have been signed with two contract manufacturers, Aequs and Dynamatic as well as Mahindra Aerospace, a unit of India’s Mahindra & Mahindra automotive group, says Airbus.

The Indian operation of UK firm Gardner Aerospace also secured work from Airbus.  Airbus says that signing up the new suppliers will help it ramp-up its aircraft program, while also supporting India’s aviation sector expertise in areas such as metal, machining, and extrusion profiles.

“Made in India is at the core of Airbus’ strategy in India.  We are proud that we are putting in place all the critical building blocks for an integrated industrial ecosystem that will propel India into the front ranks of Aerospace manufacturing nations,” says Remi Maillard, president and managing director,Airbus India and South Asia.

The new contracts follow Airbus’s allocation of the A320neo family cargo and bulk cargo doors to another Indian company, Tata Advanced Systems, earlier this year.

Airbus adds that India currently produces components and services that are worth $750 million annually.

Source: Airbus

Airbus Orders & Deliveries in October

Airbus has revealed that 10 A350-900s were among nearly 120 aircraft ordered from the airframer in October.  But the identity of the customer behind the agreement has not been disclosed.

The deal takes overall A350 orders to 1,056 aircraft of which 791 are the -900 variant.

United Airlines and Cathay Pacific accounted for the majority of the Airbus activity in October.  United is taking 60 A321neos while Cathay has signed for 24 A321neos and eight A320neos.

The combined agreements for 119 jets took Airbus’s total for the first 10 months of this year to 1,334.

Airbus handed over 71 aircraft in October which lifted overall deliveries to 559.

Source: Airbus                   

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                            Scoot to Take First E2 in March 2024

Scoot will take delivery of its first Embraer E190-E2 in March of next year as it focuses on building up its short-haul network.

Leslie Thng, the low-cost operator’s CEO, says Scoot will take delivery of another four E22 through 2024, and that the type will be deployed on “a mix of new and existing destinations”.

Thng, who was speaking at the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines’ Assembly of Presidents in Singapore, declines to comment where Scoot will be launching flights to, except to reiterate that these details would be disclosed “when we are ready “.

His comments are the latest updates from the airline on its incoming fleet of E2s.  The Singapore Airlines Group unit announced in February it would be taking nine E190-E2s on lease from lessor Azorra.  The Jets will seat 112 passengers in a single-class layout—the smallest aircraft in the SIA Group’s fleet.

Source: Scoot, Picture Embraer

          E195-E2 Secures Steep-Approach for London City Airport

Embraer’s largest re-engined E-jet, the 195-E2, has secured certification to conduct the steep approach into London City airport.  The twinjet obtained the approval from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.  It complements a similar EASA clearance for the smaller E-190-E2 achieved two year ago.

Embraer says its aircraft are”uniquely able to manage The Challenges” of operating from the downtown UK airport.

Vice-president for sales and Marketing, and head of region for Europe, Marie-Louise Philippe says the manufacturer’s aircraft dominate London City’s traffic.  The E195-E2- powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1900G engines, carried its first landing at London City in July last year.

Source: Embraer, Picture Embraer                                                                    

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

               China Eastern Orders 25 GEnx Turbofans for 787s

GE Aerospace and its affiliate CFM International have landed new orders from Chinese carriers for both GEnx-1B and Leap-1B turbofans.  US engine maker and CFM, which GE Aerospace co-owns with Safran Aircraft Engines, disclosed deals on November 5th.

China Eastern ordered 15 787s in 2016, started receiving them in 2018 and now has 10 of the jets, which are operated by China Eastern’s affiliate China Eastern Airlines Yunnan and Shanghai Airlines, according to Cirium data.

Boeing has yet to deliver the remaining five of the original 15 787s ordered by China Eastern, according to Cirium  and Boeing data, though China Eastern’s 2022 financial report says it expects to add three 787-9s to its fleet in 2024.

CFM says Xiamen ordered a batch of Leap-1As, including those to power 40 Airbus narrowbodies (among them 25 A320neos and 15 A321neos) and some as spares.

Xiamen also signed a service agreement with CFM which the engine company will help maintain the Leaps and carrier’s CFM56 turbofans, which power its 737-800s.

Sources: GE Aerospace, Cirium data

                Thales Will Supply In Flight System For Emirates’ 

French aerospace firm Thales has reconfirmed that it will supply the in-flight entertainment system for Emirates Boeing 777X fleet.  Thales will provide the Dubai-based airline with its Avant Up equipment from 2025.

Thales says the Avant Up features Optic 4K ”smart display” including high-definition screens, as well as its ‘Pulse’ power-management system offering high-speed charging at each seat. Passengers’ personal electronic devices can be synchronized to the screen.

Thales adds that the system will have user inter faces enabling visually – impaired passengers to have an ”immersive experience”.  “We will bring extraordinary new features and innovations to elevate the passenger experience,” insists executive vice-president of avionics Yannick Assouad.

Source: Thales

          EgyptAir to Take 737 Max 8s Under Air Lease Agreement

EgyptAir is to lease 18 new Boeing 737 Max 8s from US-based Air lease as part of the airline’s fleet expansion plans.   It marks EgyptAir’s first Max jets.  The Star Alliance carrier is already an operator of Boeing 737-800s and Airbus A320neos.  Delivery of the Max aircraft will run from 2025 to 2026.

Speaking during a press conference at the Dubai air show, where the deal was announced, EgyptAir Holdings chairman, Yahia Zakaria, said the aircraft will largely be used to expand the fleet, rather than as replacements.  “We have ambitious expansion plan for both the network and fleet size,” he says.

“This is the first part of the EgyptAir fleet.  By 2028, we have ambitious plans to reach a fleet up to 125, both narrowbodies and widebodies”.

For the network we hope to reach up to 100 destinations by 2028.   This the first phase of our plan.”

Source : EgyptAir

  Emirates’ Clark: 777x Follow On Order A Balance of Confidence

Emirates president Tim Clark is optimistic that the Boeing 777-9 service entry is on track, expecting the type inspection which begins formal certification tests around February next year.

Speaking during the Dubai air show on November 14, a day after Emirates committed to another 90 777Xs, Clark said he was more confident on the timeline for the twinjet with Emirates expecting to take its first in October 2025.

He says he thinks Boeing and the US FAA are “getting on top” of the regulatory requirements in relation to the aircraft’s capabilities.  “So I am hoping it’ll be OK for us” he adds, but acknowledges that given the 777-9 is a new airframe, with a new engine in General Electric GE9X “we are not out of the woods at all with regards entry into service”.

“Irrespective of the difficulty of getting these aircraft out the door, we have to place orders now because the lead time for deliveries is so long,” he adds.  “We have to face bumps in the road as to what manufacturers can do.”

The Order for 777Xs includes 55 777-9s and 35 777-8s the -8s are due for delivery from 2030.

“I ‘m reassured by head of GE that the GE9X will be good to go, and meet all contract specifications,” says Clark. “On the basis of that, there’s a large amount of trust, and we have placed those orders.”

Source: Emirates   

LATEST NEWS

In this section this month, I will give a breakdown on all airline orders and commitments at the Dubai air show.

The show started after home carriers Emirates and Flydubai led a bumper first day of business at Dubai air show with deals for Boeing 777X and 787s, widebodies accounted for almost half the firm orders and commitments placed over the first three days of the event.

The majority, 159 units, of the widebody business was secured by Boeing.

In addition to 90 777-8 and -9s ordered by Emirates as well as five more 787s and 30 Dreamlines by Flydubai, Boeing obtained widebody business from Ethiopian, Royal Jordanian and Royal Air Maroc.

Ethiopian committed up to 26 787-9s, while Royal Jordanian and Royal Air Maroc committed to six and two more Dreamliners respectively.

EgyptAir has provided Airbus with its other widebody deal, signing for 10 A350-900s.

Airbus business at Dubai also includes 30 firm orders and 20 more purchase rights from Latvian carrier Air Baltic for A220 narrowbodies.

Boeing secured 138 Max commitments at the show, just over half of which are firm deals.  That includes a follow-on order from SunExpress for 45 firm and 45 options for 737 Max 8s and Max 10s.  Ethiopian with its first Max order since a fatal crash with the type four years ago and Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines for 7 737Max-8.

Sources: FlightGlobal, Emirates, FlyDubai.

AIR CARGO

         Low Nose Loading Leaves747-8F as Capability’s Last Stand

Low airline appetite for nose-loading freighters means the 747-8f is currently on course to be the capability’s swan song in terms of purpose-built commercial aircraft.  It features on around 250 in service airframes today, according to speakers at The International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA’s) Executive Summit in Brussels.

During a panel discussion at the event on November 8, Boeing’s regional director of marketing Tom Hoang said the capability would be available to airlines for some time yet, given the service life left in 747 production freighters, but added: “We do not have plans to have a nose-loader on any new airframes at this point.”

Among airlines that offer freight services, the vast majority simply do not see capability as critical, Hoang explains, which makes inclusion uneconomical.

Indeed, speaking on the same panel, Qatar Airways’ vice-president of cargo network planning and strategic partnerships, Elodie Berthonneau, says: “If we look at the nose-loading type of cargo that we have, it represents only 1% to 2% of the cargo we carry justifies having a nose-loading capability for the next-generation aircraft…as an airline we do not really want it.

“The value of it does not really justify the costs from an airline point of view, we are not asking Boeing or Airbus to develop this kind of option.”

Lufthansa Cargo’s director of sales and handling Georg Theis concurs with Berthooneau’s assessment.

“ When we designed the 777-8F, that was one of the questions that that we asked the working group: how importent is the nose loader to you and what percentage of this is being used?” Hoang recalls. In reference to the assessments offered by Berthonneau and Theis, he states:  “And that’s the type of message that we received.”

“The 747-8F, we delivered about 107 examples…the average age of that is about seven years, so you’re looking at 20 more years of life for the 747-8F,” Hoang continues.

Sources: FlightGlobal, Boeing, TIACA, Picture Qatar Airways

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

FAA Clears Boeing to Start 737 Max 10 Certification Flights

The Federal Aviation Administration has approved Boeing to begin certification flight – test program for its 737 Max 10, moving the company closer to completing the aircraft’s long-delayed certification effort.

This week, the FAA granted Boeing a “type inspection authorization” for the Max 10, Boeing executives said in a November 22nd memo to employees.  The authorization clears ”the way for the airplane to begin certification flight testing” and allows FAA pilots to participate in these tests, says the memo.

“This is a significant milestone as we work to get the 737-10, the largest of the Max family, certified to enter passenger service with operators around the world.”

The FAA issues type inspection authorizations after determining that an in-development aircraft likely meets certification requirements.  The documents authorize certification flight testing.

Boeing has yet to achieve certification for either the Max 10 ( the largest Max variant) or the Max 7 (the smallest).  The programs suffered delays following two

737 Max 8 crashes and the resulting global grounding of the Max 8 and Max 9 between March 2019 and November 2020.  Those events led to heightened certification oversight by the FAA.

Boeing has said it expects to deliver the first Max 10 next year.  It anticipates achieving the Max 7s certification this year and to also begin delivering that type next year.

Boeing completed the Max 10’s first flight on June 18, 2021 and has since completed more than 400 flights and logged nearly 1,000h of flight time.

The 737 Max 10 will be capable of carrying up to 230 passengers and will have 3,100nm (5,741km) of range, according to Boeing.

The type has proved a recent strong seller for Boeing, which holds unfilled orders for 963 for the type data shows.  Airlines to place sizable orders for the type include Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Ryanair, United Airlines and Vietjet, according to Cirium fleets data.

Three Boeing executives signed the November 22 letter: senior vice-president of development programs and customer support Mike Fleming, vice-president and general manager of the 737 program Ed Clark, and vice-president and general manager of test and evaluation Wayne Tygert.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

              Pratt & Whitney to Supply GTF engines to Boeing X-66A

Pratt & Whitney will supply geared turbofan (GTF) engines for the truss-braced-wing narrowbody aircraft demonstrator Boeing is developing under a NASA project.  Disclosed by RTX, the Connecticut engine maker’s parent, on October 3rd, the company says subsidiary Collins Aerospace will also contribute to the aircraft, supplying nacelles and engine accessories.

Boeing will modify an MD-90 aircraft with what it calls the Transonic Truss Braced Wing— a long, slender structure with a high aspect ratio, supported by a truss joined to the lower fuselage.  First flight is targeted for 2028.  It says the architecture could inform the design of an aircraft to replace the 737 Max in the 2030s.

“NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator is a leading example of how public-private partnerships can help foster the technological breakthroughs needed to deliver on industry-wide goal of a more sustainable, net-zero emissions future,” says P&W senior vice-president of engineering and Technology Geoff Hunt.

“We will work with Boeing to apply GTF engines to the X-66A and help demonstrate the potential of its pioneering truss-braced-wing design.”  NASA will invest $425 million in the program over seven years, while Boeing and its partners will contribute the remainder of the funding, estimated at about $725 million.

Source: Pratt & Whitney, picture Boeing

Boeing September Orders & Deliveries

A massive commitment from Ryanair for the 737 Max 10 pushed Boeing’s total new orders in September to 224 aircraft, while the airframer also made progress ramping up the pace of 787 deliveries.

Ryanair in May signaled its intension to order 150 of the largest Max variant, with the deal only finalized in September.

Boeing also maintained strong sales momentum, bringing gross orders for total of 72 787s: United Airlines will take 50 787-9s; Air Canada will take 18 787-10s and an unnamed customer or customers will receive another six 787s.

Boeing’s September deliveries came to 27 aircraft, including 15 737 Max.  Those went to customers including Air India, Air Tanzania, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United and lessors Air Lease and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.

Boeing did manage to significantly hike its 787 delivery rate, handing over 10 of the jets in September to carriers including All Nippon Airways, LATAM, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Vistara and the government of Iraq.

Rounding out the September deliveries, Boeing shipped one 777F each to DHL and Silk Way West Airlines.

Source: Boeing

            United Airlines Orders 50 more Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Boeing and United Airlines announced on October 3rd the carrier is expanding its 787 Dreamliner fleet, exercising options to order 50 787-9 airplanes and securing an additional 50 options.  The new Dreamliner order provides United flexibility as the airline modernizes its global fleet over the next decade.

With 150 firm orders, United has the largest Dreamliner orderbook on record and is positioned to become the largest 787 operator in the world.

As the first airline to operate all three models in the family, United’s existing fleet consisted of more than 70 Dreamliners.  The fuel efficiency and reliability of the 787 provide United with the flexibility to fly its expansive global route network.

The 787 is the best-selling widebody in history with more than 1,800 orders from 87 customers including more than 870 repeat orders from 56 repeat customers.  In the last year, customers have placed nearly 350 orders and commitments for the 787 family.

Source: Boeing,Picture Boeing                      

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

                      Airbus Splits Corporate & Aircraft Leadership

Airbus is splitting the roles of chief executive and head of commercial aircraft, appointing Christian Scherer currently chief commercial officer to the latter role.  Scherer will take on the position which has been held by chief executive Guillaume Faury for the past five years.

Giving Scherer the position of commercial aircraft chief executive, says Faury, will enable the company to “reinforce focus” on the success of this core part of its business.  “It will allow me to dedicate my time to steering Airbus in a complex and fast-evolving global environment,” he adds.

Airbus intends the re-organized structure to take effect from January 1 next year.  Airbus’s latest rearrangement restores separate management of the overall company and its key commercial aircraft business.

“It is an honor and a thrill to be called upon to lead our commercial aircraft business at a critical time in our industry,” says Scherer.

Source: Airbus  

                                Airbus Orders & Deliveries for September

Airbus had delivered 488 jets by September 30, two-thirds of the target, leaving it with another backloaded fourth quarter, if is to achieve 720 commercial deliveries for the full year.

These deliveries comprised 36 A350s, 20 A330s and 391 A320neo-family aircraft plus 41 A220s.

It recorded orders for 10 A350-900s for Turkish Airlines and 13 A321neos for LATAM during September.

The Turkish agreement takes total passenger A350 orders above 1,000.

Airbus did not disclose any additional cancellations, so its net orders for the first nine months of the year reached 1,241.

Source: Airbus       

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                 NetJets Signs for Up to 1,500 Cessna Citation Jets

Fractional operator NetJets could take up to 1,500 Cessna Citation jets over the next 15 years through a record-breaking fleet agreement with Textron Aviation.  Revealed on September 20th, the deal also sees the Berkshire Hathaway-owned firm become the launch customer for the Citation Ascend, a significantly updated version of the midsize Excel unveiled in May.

Extending a previous agreement, the commitment sees NetJets gain options for an increasing number of aircraft each year.  Included are the Citation Latitude, Longitude and Ascend twinjets deliveries of the latter are due to begin in 2025.

If all the options are exercised it would require a significant ramp-up in Cessna production: last year the company delivered a total of 178 Citation-family aircraft, data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association records.

Source: Textron Aviation, picture Textron Aviation                                                                   

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                              GE Celebrates GEnx Milestone

GE Aerospace’s GENx engine family has exceeded 50 million flight hours in under 12 years, which the manufacturer claims is the fastest ever rate for commercial widebody engine.

The GEnx-2B variant has accumulated 18 million hours hours since entering service in 2011 on the Boeing 747-8, while the GEnx-1B, which powers the 787 Dreamliner, has accumulated nearly 32 million hours since its introduction in 2012.

According to GE, there are almost 3,000 of the engine type in service and on backlog, including spares with more than 70 operators worldwide.  They collectively accumulate more than 450,000 flight hours each month.

“We are thrilled with the performance and staying power of the GEnx engine,” said Dave Kircher, general manager for the GEnx program.

As the fastest-selling high-thrust engine in GE history, the GEnx has powered some of the longest airline routes, including a record-breaking 9,765 miles flight between Papeete in French Polynesia and Paris in France in 2020.

Source: GE Aerospace, Picture GE Aerospace

          Allegiant Secures $412m of Financing New Narrowbodies

US ultra-low-cost carrier Allegiant Air disclosed on October 3rd that it has secured $412 million in financing for 11 narrowbody jets—7 Airbus A320ceos and 4 Boeing 737 Max aircraft.  The carrier currently operates an all-Airbus fleet but has a deal to purchase up to 130 737 Max 7s and Max 8-200s, a high-density variant of the baseline Max 8.

The Las Vegas-based discounter says the deal includes financing commitments from European bank BNP Paribas and global aircraft lessor Jackson Square Aviation, securing its “financing needs into the second quarter of 2024.”

“We are delighted with BNP Paribas and Jackson Square’s creativity in providing what we believe is an efficient framework that affords us robust liquidity to support foundational investments inner fleet,” says Robert Neal, Allegiant’s chief financial officer.

“This transaction taps into young A320neo aircraft and will also serve as the inaugural financing for our Boeing 737 Max equipment.”

“ Combining the strengths of Jackson Square & BNP Paribas, we are able to provide an efficient financing solution for Allegiant’s fleet of in-service Airbus A320s and next generation Max8-200, which we are also excited to introduce as a first into our portfolio,” says Chris Daily,Jackson Square’s chief commercial officer.

The carrier currently operates a fleet of 127 A319 and A320 aircraft, which plans to grow its fleet to more than 200 aircraft over the next five years.

Source: Allegiant, Picture Allegiant Air

                 Jeju Air Eyes Growth Strong Rebound From Pandemic

South Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air has successfully bounced back from the coronavirus pandemic as it prepares to induct the Boeing 737 Max 8.

During the first half of 2023, the Seoul Gimpo-based carrier flew 2.5 million passengers on domestic and 3.3 million passengers on international routes, surpassing the number flown in the first six months of 2018 according to chief executive E-Bae Kim.

The 737-800 has served Jeju Air well, but its new 737 Max 8s will open new route opportunities.  He adds that the carrier’s domestic network has fully rebounded compared with 2019, but that international traffic is just 75-80% of pre-pandemic levels.  “We continuously adapt our route portfolio with a focus on both profitability and growth.”

Domestically, Jeju Air is focused on retaining its strong market share on the key Seou-Jej route, while on international front it recently resumed services to Hong Kong as well as leisure destinations such as Borcay in the Philippines and Phu Quoc in Vietnam.  Kim says these routes are adding additional revenue and operating profit.

The carrier operates about 40 737-800s as well as a pair of 737-800BCF freighters.  This month will see it introduce its first two 737 Max 8s from its orderbook of 40 examples.

Source: Jeju Air, picture Jeju Air

                  Air India Express Rebrands as 737 Max Jets Arrive

Air India Express has launched its new branding, weeks after taking delivery of its first two 737 Max jets, as Air India Group continues its transformation and growth under Tata Group ownership.  The livery was unveiled on October 18, with the merger of Air India Express and Air Asia India under the former’s name “now in final stages”, says Air India chief executive Campbell Wilson.

The new branding incorporates an “ energetic and premium color palette”, the airline says, with aircraft having “ a variable tail fin design inspired by rich art and crafts heritage of the country”.

Air India Express managing director Aloke Singh explains that a total of 50 Max aircraft due for delivery over the next 15 months, the low-cost carrier will almost double in size.  From 58 aircraft – 28 737s and 28 Airbus A320s – it is today on its way to a 170 aircraft target within the next five years.

The Max deliveries-which Cirium fleets data indicates began in late September with the arrival of two units – came from Air India’s huge orders for more than 500 aircraft, including 190 Max jets, that were firmed at this year’s Paris air show.

Of the integrated carrier’s current fleet, the A320s come from the Air Asia India side of the business, with the pre-merger Air India Express a 737 operator.

Source: FlightGlobal, picture Air India Express.   

LATEST NEWS

• Air Canada has opted for GE Aerospace GEnx-1B engines to power its latest batch of Boeing Dreamliners ordered in September.

• Alaska Airlines has agreed to sell the last 10 of its Airbus A321neos to American Airlines with deliveries expected to begin before year -end.

• Air India has commissioned a warehouse facility in Delhi to facilitate storage of over 1,000,000 spare parts.
• Etihad Airways on October 13 has received a new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.  The arrival comes exactly three years to the day since Etihad took delivery of its last Boeing 787-10 on October 13, 2020.

• Saudia has revealed its new brand livery during an event in Jeddah.  The new identity is in line with wider strategic digital transformation plan aimed at strengthening the airline’s support for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 to bring the world to Saudi Arabia.

• Air Tanzania takes delivery of its first Boeing 737 Boeing Max -9 on October 3rd.

• Qatar Airways Group named Badr Mohammed Al-Meer as the new Group Chief Executive for Qatar Airways replacing Al Baker.  He worked alongside Al Baker with the development of the Hamad International Airport in the role of chief operating officer.

Sources: FlightGlobal, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Air India, Saudia, Qatar Airways

AIR CARGO

                    Azerbaijan’s Silk Way West Received First 777F

Azerbaijani cargo operator Silk Way West Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777 Freighter, following an order disclosed two years ago.  The Baku-based carrier signed for five 777Fs and a year ago, supplemented the agreement with a pair of 777-8Fs, with combined deliveries running to 2030.  The first 777F carries the Bermuda registration VP-BM.

Silk Way West says the arrival of the aircraft powered by General Electric GE90 engines represents a  “significant leap forward” in its commitment to offering “top-tier” cargo services, highlighting the “growing importance” of Azerbaijan as a transport hub.

“This addition to our fleet not only enhances our capabilities but also underlines our commitment to providing sustainable cargo services to our customers,” says the carrier’s, says the carrier’s president, Wolfgang Meier.  The airline highlights the 777F’s range, which will open up new possibilities for connections from Baku.

Source: Silk Way West, Picture Boeing

                                             FarCargo Airline

FarCargo will operate between Vagar airport in the Faroe Islands and Newark International airport.  The return flight from the US will be to a strategic European airport depending on the demand, before returning to the Faroe Islands.

With a range of 7,000 km(4350 miles) we can offer our customers a wide range of destinations within Europe and the Middle East with our 757-200F, which has a maximum payload of 35.000 Kg(77.100 lbs)   said Birgir Nielsen, CEO at Far Cargo.

“This is a new chapter in Faroese trade history.  The aim is to deliver fresh high quality salmon both in the USA, Israel and other remote markets a mere day after the fish swims in Faroese fjords.  We believe this will significantly strengthen our competitiveness and provide our customers with the freshest product on the market”, said Regin Jacobsen, CEO of Bakkafrost.

Source: FarCargo, Bakkafrost

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

          Boeing to Set up 737-800 Freighter Conversion Line in Jordan

Boeing is to establish a new 737-800 freighter conversion line in the Middle East, in co-operation with the Jordanian-based maintenance firm Joramco.  Amman-based Joramco is a subsidiary of United Arab Emirates leasing firm Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.

“We continue to look for opportunities to bring freighter conversion capacity closer to our customers,” says Boeing commercial programs vice-president of converted freighters Mike Doellefeld.  He says the agreement with Joramco “reflects the potential of a growing region”.  Joramco’s location makes it suitable to deliver freighters to operators in Europe, Africa and the CIS as well as the Middle East.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise acquired Joramco in 2016 and says revenues at the company have since more than doubled.  It expects to have 22 maintenance lines by the end of next year.  “This latest agreement underpins our commitment, and we look forward to continuing to deepen our relationship with Boeing as well as developing new product offerings for Joramco’s global customer base,” says DAE chief Firoz Tarapore.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

August Orders and Deliveries

Boeing took in 45 gross orders in August, with the month’s sales activity dominated by leasing companies, which accounted for 38 of the total.  The figure includes a 25-strong 737 Max 8 commitment from SMBC Aviation Capital, a deal for 13 of the type from Aviation Capital Group.SMBC’s order brings the company’s Max order to 81 aircraft.

Boeing also booked orders for seven Dreamliners from two unidentified customers, it disclosed on September 12th.  It had two order cancellations from unidentified customers, taking the net order figure for the month to 43.

Deliveries during August also slid once against 35 aircraft, down from 43 units handed over in July.  Shipments in August included 22 737 Max jets, one of which was a Boeing Business jet, an 11-unit decline on the previous month’s narrowbody total.

Southwest Airlines took the largest number of MAX jets during the month, adding seven aircraft to its fleet, followed by United airlines with five.   Aercap took three examples, American Airlines took two, and Gol, Alaska Airlines, Aviation Finance & Leasing and BOC Aviation took one each.

For the year so far, Boeing has delivered 271 737s against a full-year target of 400-450. A few production issue, disclosed last month, may change that number, however.  It would need to deliver 33 to 45 737s each month through end-2023 to hit its goal.

Boeing also shipped 13 widebodies last month: five 767s including three KC-46 military tankers, three 777Fs and five 787s.  The Dreamliner jets went to EVA Air, JAL’s low-cost subsidiary Zipair Tokyo, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways And Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Boeing closed August with 4,971 aircraft in its backlog, up from 4,928 aircraft in July.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

                    Airbus Opens Pulse Line in Hamburg for A321XLR

Airbus has formally opened a facility in Hamburg for equipping the aft fuselage sections for the new long-range A321XLR.  The sections will be fitted with various electrical and mechanical systems, floor panels, windows and other features.  Airbus says they will travel on an automated pulse line comprising eight sections in the new hanger facility, known as building H259, enabling up to eight fuselage sections to be fitted simultaneously.

The aft sections of the A321XLR have been designed to accommodate the large rear fuel tank and associated systems which give the twinjet its long-range capacity.

Once the fuselage sections have been completed and tested in the facility, they will be transferred to the Hamburg Finkenwerder final assembly line.

“The hanger with a full range of state-of-art technologies for operations and manufacturing, such as automated logistics, fully digital systems, and test stations that can output the status of each fuselage section—both in terms of logistics and resources—at any time,” says Airbus.

Airbus is intending to ramp-up production of A320neo-family aircraft to 75 per month in 2026, and has been modernizing and digitalizing its industrial systems to support this rate rise.  The new facility will be able to handle eight aft fuselages simultaneously.

Source: Airbus.

Airbus Orders & Deliveries in August

Airbus delivered 52 aircraft to 34 customers in August and received 117 new orders for the month amid a strengthening market for narrow and Wide-bodies.  In total, the deliveries today for the year stand at 433 for 77 different customers.

Turkish Airlines announced a new order for 10 additional A350-900 aircraft, taking its total for the type to 40 .  Wizz Air also signed a firm contact for additional 75 A321neo Family aircraft earlier in August.

Source: Airbus      

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

    Bombardier Reveals Cockpit Updates for Global Business Jets

Bombardier has rolled out program for in-service Global-series large-cabin business jets that includes equipping the jets with a “ combined vision system”.  The so-called “Advanced Avionics Upgrade” is now available as an aftermarket modification for in-service Globals that have Bombardier’s “Vision” flight deck, which is supplied by Collins Aerospace says Bombardier.

The Montreal company is offering the update for Global 5000s, 5500s, 6000s and 6500s.  It already offers the features in new-production 5500s and 6500s.  Bombardier is offering the updates to in-service types including its 5,900nm ( 10,927km)-range Global 5500.

The “new avionics software enhancement…boasts the latest technology to enhance situational awareness and offer advanced visualization features,” Bombardier says.  The company will perform the avionics modifications at its service center in Wichita.

The Updates also include improvements to the jet’s head-up displays, primary flight displays and synthetic vision systems and better messaging feature within the avionics’ engine indicating and crew alerting system”, Bombardier adds.

Source: Bombardier, picture Bombardier

              GulfStream Bumps G-700’s Range to Up to,7,700nm

Business jet maker Gulfstream has bumped up the advertised maximum speed and range of its in development large-cabin G700, a move coming as the company works to get the delayed jet across the certification goalpost.

On September 5, Gulfstream said it added 250nm(463km) to the G700’s maximum specified range when flying at Mach 0.85, bringing the figure from 7,500nm to 7,750nm.

Similarly, it now says the G700, when flying at Mach 0.90, can cover 6,650nm-also 250nm more than previously advertised.  The company adjusted the figures in response to the jet’s performance during the tape’s ongoing certification flight-test campaign.

The Rolls-Royce Pearl 700-powered G700’s new advertised maximum operating speed is M0.935, up from M0.925.  The aircraft’s certification program has already been delayed several times by Gulfstream. The company now aims to complete the process with the Federal Aviation Administration by year end.  Gulfstream executives have repeatedly said that the FAA’s strict requirements have made for a longer certification process.

Source: Gulfstream, Picture Gulfstream                                                                                                 

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

         ANA to Deploy High-Density 787-10s on Domestic Flights

For the first time All Nippon Airways will operate Boeing 787-10s on its domestic network, with the type progressively replacing 777s that will be phased out.  In a network update issued on August 22, the Star Alliance carrier says the -10s will first operate flights between Tokyo’s Haneda airport and Fukuoka, as well as Sapporo, from February 2024.

The 787-10s will be configured to seat 429 passengers in two cases: 28 in ‘ Premium’ class and 401 in economy class.  It is the second highest seat seat count in an ANA domestic jet, after the 777-300, which has 514 seats in two classes. ANA’s domestic 787-8s and -9s seat between 335 and 395 passengers.

ANA says it will take delivery of the remaining 11 aircraft likely to be domestic- configured examples by fiscal 2026, which starts on April 1, 2026.  By 2030, parent company ANA Holdings expects to have at least 100 787s by 2030 or 35% of the group’s total fleet.

Source: ANA, Picture ANA

              P&W Geared Turbofan Issue will Ground A320neos

Airlines will need to remove hundreds of Pratt & Whitney PW1100G geared turbofan (GTF) engines from the wings of Airbus neo-family jets by the end of 2024 to inspect for defective high-pressure turbine and compressor discs.

P&W parent company RTX revealed the scope of the issue on September 11, which it says will cost it over $3 billion.  It centers on a previously disclosed defect involving a “rare condition in powdered metal used to manufacture certain engine parts”.  The issue is sure to further disrupt an airline industry already struggling with shortages of engines and maintenance capacity.

Raytheon Technologies Corp(RTX) says 600 -700 PW1100G engines must be removed from A320neos and inspected between now and 2026.  That figure is “beyond(P&W’s) shop visit forecast entering 2023”.  Of those inspections, the majority will be completed this year and early next.

RTX “expects a significant increase in aircraft-on-ground levels for GTF powered A320 new fleet throughout 2024-2026”, it adds.

MTU Aero Engines which owns 18% of the GTF program says the problem will result in “an average of 350 aircraft-on-ground in the period 2024 to 2026”.  RTX says it planned $3.5 billion third-quarter charge reflects P&W’s 51% ownership stake in the GTF program.  The US aerospace conglomerate expects the problem will erase $3-3.5 billion in profit over “several years”.

Sources: P&W, RTX, MTU Aero Engines

                                Saab Extends 787 Door Pact

Saab has extended its agreement with Boeing covering the manufacture of parts for the latter’s 787 program.  Originally signed in 2004, the contract sees the Swedish firm supply composite large cargo doors, bulk cargo doors and access doors to its US partner.  Since the program started,Saab has delivered more than 1,100 door chipsets for the Dreamliner.

“With this contract extension we continue to be a proud partner to Boeing on the successful 787 program, one of the world’s best-selling widebody aircraft,” says Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s aeronautics business unit.

Source: FlightGlobal, Picture American Airlines

          Hawaiian Launches Ticket Sales for Boeing 787 Flights

Hawaiian Airlines has begun selling tickets for flights on its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, set to be delivered to Honolulu-based carrier in January.  The airline said on September 6th that flights on the new type are scheduled to begin on April 15,2024 between San Francisco and Honolulu.  On May 14th, 2024, it will introduce the aircraft on select flights to Los Angeles, and between Los Angeles and Maui on May 15, 2024.

Hawaiian has ordered 12 examples of the 787-9 model with deliveries of those aircraft scheduled through 2027.

“We are eager to get out and it will be in service in early part of next year,” chief executive Peter Ingram told FlightGlobal in August.  ”We expect to have four by early part of 2025.”

The total order of 12 will be a combination of growth for our airline swell as starting replacement of the A330-200s, although we intend to operate them in parallel for a period of time,” he added.

Source: Hawaiian Airlines, FlightGlobal, Picture Hawaiian Airlines            

LATEST NEWS

• Thai Vietjet Vietnam low-cost carrier Vietjet Air has entered a Memorandum of Understanding with USA’s Carlyle Group for $550 million in funding for future 737 Max deliveries, with the first 12 examples going to Thai Vietjet in 2024.

• Air India Express the low-cost subsidiary of Air India has received its first Boeing 737 Max aircraft. The airline plans to take delivery of a total of 20 Max aircraft by the end of 2023.

• Vietnam Airlines announced on September 11th that the carrier has selected the 737 Max family to expand its single-aisle fleet, with a commitment to order 50 737 Max 8 airplanes.

• Avolon Irish-based lessor has firm order for 20 Airbus Airbus A330neos, and is converting 50 A320 neos in its backlog to the larger A321neo.

• Aviation Capital Group has ordered 13 more Boeing 737 Max in a deal that brings the aircraft lessor’s total outstanding 737 orders for 47.

• Airbus delivers its 50th A220 from its Mobile manufacturing facility the plane was delivered to Breeze Airways.

• Air Baltic the Latvian National airline took delivery of its 43rd Airbus A220-300 jet on September 2nd.

• Air NewZealand signs for two ATR 72-600s and took options for two more.

• Ryanair is expanding in Amman, Jordan, confirming the five year heavy maintenance agreement with Joramco.

Sources: Airbus, FlightGlobal, AirBaltic, Ryanair, Avolon, Vietnam Airlines

                                         AIR CARGO

  Mammoth Progresses with First 777-200LR Freighter Conversion

US modification specialist Mammoth Freighters is progressing with its prototype Boeing 777-200LR conversion for freight carrier Cargojet Airways.  The company has shown the aircraft undergoing mid-panel removal, in the left aft side where the main freight door will be installed.  This airframe(N105DN), powered by General Electric GE90 engines, was originally delivered to Delta Air Lines in 2009.

Mammoth unveiled its 777-200LR and-300ER conversion programs in 2021, and disclosed Cargojet as the launch customer for the -200LR modification in November the same year. The converted aircraft is designated the 777-200LRMF.

Cargojet placed an initial order for two aircraft with options for two more well as a pair of -300ERMFs.

Mammoth stated that N705DN-MSN29742-would be the conformity aircraft for certification and the first delivered to the carrier.  Cargojet disclosed in its half-year financial release, covering the six months to 30 June, that it had signed agreements for conversion of four 777-200s with the first delivery expected in the first quarter of 2024.

The remaining aircraft are scheduled to arrive in the second and third quarters of 2024, and first quarter of 2025.  Mammoth also has 777-200LRMF conversion agreements with DHL Express, while AviaAM Leasing signed as launch customer for the 777-3000ERMF.

Source: Mammoth Freighters, Picture Mammoth Freighters

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

                                   US Airlines to Advise on X-66A Project

Several US airlines have agreed to provide technical advice in support of Boeing’s project to develop the A-66A truss-braced-wing demonstrator aircraft.  Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have joined the program as advisers, Boeing says on July 25.

On the same day, NASA also released an image showing the paint scheme with which it intends to adorn the demonstrator.

The Airlines “will provide input on operational efficiencies, maintenance, handling characteristics and airport compatibility,” Boeing Says.

Boeing is developing the X-66 as part of NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project.The US agency has said the aircraft will enable it and partners to test various fuel-efficiency improving technologies, including Boeing’s “Transonic Truss-Braced  Wing” design.

The demonstrator’s wings will be mounted above its fuselage and supported by trusses.  Those trusses will enable to give X-66A longer wings, which translates into improved efficiency.  Other technologies to be tested using the demonstrator include more-efficient turbofans and open-rotor engines.

Boeing is developing the aircraft at its site in Palmdale, California, using a significantly modified MD-90 fuselage as its structure.  NASA aims for the demonstrator to fly in 2028.

“Hearing directly from the operators during all phases of Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project will help us understand exact requirements and trade-offs,” says Boeing chief technology officer Todd Citron.  The airlines’ feedback will significantly contribute to the X-66A project learning.

Source: Boeing, Picture NASA

Boeing July Orders & Deliveries

Boeing delivered fewer airplanes in July as it continued to work through logistics and supply chain disruptions affecting its bestselling 737 narrowbody jet.

Boeing delivers 43 aircraft in July, down from 60 planes it delivered in June.

The 737 MAX deliveries fell from 48 in June to 32 in July, marking the lowest level since April, when the company discovered that brackets had been incorrectly installed on the vertical tail of around 75% of the 737s in its inventory.

In addition to the MAXs, Boeing delivered four 787 Dreamliners, three 767s, three 777 freighters and one Next-Generation 737 to be converted into a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft for the U.S.Navy.

The company booked 52 gross orders over the month, including a previously announced sale of 39 Dreamliners to Saudia, with no cancellations.

Source: Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

Airbus Formally Inaugurated A New A320neo Assembly Line in Toulouse

Airbus has formally inaugurated a new A320neo-family final assembly line in its Toulouse manufacturing facility, which will support the airframer’s single-aisle ramp-up strategy.

The assembly line will be capable of producing variants including the A321neo, which has recently become the most-ordered aircraft variant in Airbus’s range.  It has already commenced work on constructing the first aircraft which will be an A321neo, following fuselage section delivery last year.  Airbus expects to roll out this initial twinjet by the end of this year.

Airbus is aiming to reach A320neo-family output of 75 aircraft per month in 2026.  The A321neo accounts for around 60% of the backlog across the family.  Chief executive Guillaume Faury says inauguration of the line is “another milestone” in the company’s industrial system modernisation.

Airbus is expanding to 10 assembly lines for A320neo-family jets, which will be A321neo-capable. Alongside the two Toulouse and four in Hamburg, it will have two US lines in Mobile and two Chinese lines at Tianjin.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus

Airbus July Orders & Deliveries

Airbus took orders for 10 A30-900s, four were ordered on July 11 and another six on July 31.

Airbus single-aisle activity for July remained strong with 36 aircraft booked for Turkish budget carrier Pegasus Airlines and the Icelandair ordered 13 A321neos.

It delivered 65 jets in July, taking total deliveries for 2023 to 381. It is still expecting to hand over 720 this year.

Source: Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

       Bombardier Delivered 6th Global 6000 For Saab GlobalEye

Canadian airframer Bombardier has delivered a sixth Global 6000 jet to Saab, under Swedish aircraft manufacturer’s GlobalEye program.  Saab describes GlobalEye as a multi-domain airborne early warning and control

(AEW&C) solution that boasts a mix of modern active and passive sensors and the ability to provide long-range detection and identification of airborne objects over land and sea.

The UAE’s fourth example of the Global 6000-based GlobalEye surveillance aircraft was airborne from Saab’s Linkoping site on April 3.

Bombardier on July 19 revealed that the latest Global 6000 earmarked for the GlobalEye program is destined for service with the Swedish air force.

Source: Bombardier, picture Saab 

              Cessna SkyCourier Wins Brazilian Type Certification

Cessna’s SkyCourier utility turboprop twin has won type certification from the National Civil Aviation Authority of Brazil (ANAC); parent company Textron Aviation said at the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and exhibition LABACE 2023.

The approval allows for its delivery and operation in the expansive Brazilian market for regional, utility and special-mission aircraft.

“The Cessna Sky Courier’s high payload capacity, short takeoff and landing capability, and cost-efficiency make it a great choice for operators in Brazil,” said Lannie O’Bannion, Textron Aviation’s senior v-p for global sales and flight operations.

Powered by two wing-mounted Pratt & Whiney Canada PT6A-65SC turboprop engines the SkyCourier flies to maximum cruise speed of more than 200ktas and a 900-nm maximum range. It features a large cargo door, a flat floor cabin, and Garmin G1000 NXi avionics.  The freighter variant can hold up to three LD3 shipping containers with 6,000 pounds of payload capacity.

Source: Textron Aviation, Picture Textron Aviation                                                                

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

 No End in Sight for P-8, E-7 Output

Boeing has no date in mind for ending production of its 737NG for conversion into military derivative models, as the P-8 Poseidon and E-7A Wedgetail variants continue to attract customers.

“The P-8 is operating very well, the E-7 is coming on line in quantity,” says Dan Gillian, Boeing Defense, Space & Security vice-president and general manager of mobility, surveillance, and bombers.  “We have plans to build P-8 and E-7 well into the next decade and beyond as long as the market demands those platforms.”

Noting that Canada is the latest nation to have announced plans to acquire its maritime patrol aircraft with interest in 16 examples, he says:

“We will continue to see countries come forward and want to buy the P-8”.   “I think we’ll also see demand from existing customers for additional aircraft, because it performs well and because the mission it does is really important for the threat of today and tomorrow.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

            Dubai Lessor Takes Over 64 737 Max from China’s CALC

Middle Eastern lessor Dubai Aerospace Enterprise is to acquire a batch of 64 Boeing 737 Max jets including MAX 10s, from the Chinese leasing company CALC.  The aircraft have a delivery schedule which runs from this year to 2026.  DAE states that the portfolio includes the Max 8 and Max 9 variants, as well as the larger Max 10 which is yet to enter service.

The terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, but DAE says the “definitive agreement” covers the rights, interests and obligations of the jets held within a wholly owned CALC subsidiary.

About 20% of the portfolio is on lease to customers who are also current DAE clients, says chief executive Firoz Tarapore.  “The remainder of the acquired portfolio of assets will be placed directly by DAE in the coming quarters,” he adds.

DAE says the agreement bring its overall portfolio up to 550 aircraft with a collective value of $20 billion.  All 737 Max jets are powered by CFM International Leap-1B engines.

Source: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, picture DAE

            Royal Air Maroc to Take More 737 Max Jets Under Lease

Royal Air Maroc is to introduce another batch of Boeing 737 Max jets, as part of a package of aircraft acquired through US-based Air Lease.  The Moroccan flag-carrier is to take four 737 Max 8s and a single 737-800 under the long-term lease agreement.

Air Lease says the twinsets will be delivered to Royal Air Maroc in 2024 and will be taken from the backlog of aircraft already on order from the lessor.  “Royal Air Maroc will receive additional aircraft that will strengthen and modernize our operational fleet,” says the carrier’s executive, Abdehamid Addou.

Air Lease, which already has aircraft placed with the airline, values the agreement for additional five jets at $300 million.  All 737 Max jets are powered by CFM International Leap-1B engines, while the 737-800 is fitted with CFM56.

Royal Air Maroc recently disclosed a strategic plan to expand its fleet to some 200 aircraft over the next 15 years.

Sources: Air Lease, Royal Air Maroc, picture Boeing      

LATEST NEWS

• FAA U.S. regulators are requiring immediate inspections and possible repairs to Pratt & Whitney engines on some Airbus passengers jets because of manufacturing problem that cause parts to wear out sooner than expected.

• Wizz Air shareholders have approved the firming of 75 Airbus A321neo purchase rights’ plan originally disclosed by the carrier nearly 11 months ago.

• Everett’s Paine Field is renamed Seattle Paine Field International Airport.

• Israel’s El Al has finally taken delivery of the last Boeing 787 from its original order, bringing its fleet of the twinsets to 16.

• Turkish Budget Carrier Pegasus Airline has disclosed an agreement to take another 36 firm Airbus A321neo twinjets.

• Akasa Air has become the first Asia-Pacific operator to take delivery of the higher-density Boeing Max 8-200.

• British Airways has firmed an order for six Boeing 787-10 wide bodies, while adding six more options for the variant.  The aircraft will join British Airways’ fleet in the 2025-2026 timeframe.

• MIAT Mongolian Airlines starts flights with its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner after taken delivery of its first Boeing 787.   The Mongolian flag carrier received the first of two 787-9s it has on order from leasing company AerCap.

Sources: Wizz Air, FAA, Israel’s El Al, Akasa Air, British Airways, Pegasus Airline, Mongolian Airlines.

Air Cargo

                        Maersk Opens Atlanta Airfreight Station

A.P Moller-Maersk has opened a 123,000-square-foot air freight station near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to support quicker international shipping for customers in the Southeast, the ocean shipping giant announced on July 19, 2023.

The warehouse, which will also serve as a forward staging point for Maersk’s dedicated freighter hub at Greenville-Sparten International Airport in South Carolina.  It is the latest step in Maersk’s one-year buildout of a U.S. air network, part of a larger transformation into a global logistics integrator.

Last year, Maersk consolidated airfreight forwarding and existing private airline under the Maersk Air Cargo brand to give businesses more seamless logistics options using Boeing 767-300 Freighters.

Source: Maersk Air Cargo

             Atlas Air Takes 2nd Of Four Expected 777-200F Deliveries

US cargo and Charter airline Atlas Air Worldwide has taken delivery of the second of four new Boeing 777-200 Freighters it plans to operate on behalf of shipping giant MSC mediterranean.

Atlas said on July 20 that it expects Boeing to deliver the remaining widebody freighters in the fourth quarter of this year.

The new freighter rolled off the production line at Boeing’s Paine Field in Everett, Washington and completed its first light on July 5th.  It carries the serial number 67993.  The Jet was delivered as part of a long-term aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement between the Purchase, New York-based Atlas and MSC, which is headquartered in Geneva,Switzerland.

MSC Air Cargo Solution began operating the first of the 777s in November 2022, marking the global company’s entry into the air cargo business.  The second 777-200 F will complement the shipping specialists’ weekly flights to airports in Mexico City, Indianapolis, Liege, Seoul and Xiamen.

“ Building on the successful launch of MSC’s Air Cargo Solution, we are very pleased to welcome this second 777 delivery as part of our long-term strategic partnership,” says Michael Steen, chief executive of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings.

Source: Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Picture Atlas Air

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

 Boeing’s Proposed Demonstrator Aircraft for NASA Project as the X-66A

The U.S. Air Force has designated the aircraft that Boeing is building under NASA’s Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project as the X-66A.  X-66A is an X-plane meant to help the U.S. achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as stated in the White House’s Aviation Climate Action Plan, the space agency said on Tuesday June 13.

An industry team led by Boeing will develop a single-aisle demonstrator aircraft with Transonic Truss-Braced Wing under a contract that NASA awarded in January.

“ We are incredibly proud of this designation, because it means that X-66A will be the next in a long line of experimental aircraft used to validate breakthrough designs that have transformed aviation,” said Todd Citron, chief technology officer at Boeing.

“With the learning gained from design, construction, and flight-testing, we’ll have an opportunity to shape the future of flight and contribute to the decarbonization of aerospace,” Citron added.  Boeing and NASA will modify an MD-90 to build a demonstrator plane equipped with a set of aerodynamic trusses and long, thin wings with engines.

Source: Boeing/NASA

   Boeing is Deploying Experienced Pilots to Airlines For Training

Boeing is deploying experienced pilots to airlines that are training their employees to fly Boeing aircraft, part of a wider push to reduce aviation safety risks after two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019.

In 2022, a total of 125 so-called “flight operations representatives” worked with more than 60 airlines, Boeing officials told reporters in during a media event in Washington.  “When there is an operator that is getting a new fleet type, we send them out,” said Lacey Pitman, Boeing’s vice president of its global aerospace safety initiative.  ”What we currently doing is deploying where there is that need and a request.

Boeing Chief Safety Officer Mike Delaney said that while it’s up to aviation regulators to ensure airlines are ready to operate new aircraft types, having Boeing pilots on the ground allows the company to address practices that may be concerning.

While Boeing historically has sent engineering and maintenance experts to embed with airlines, sending pilots on a semi-permanent basis to answer questions about flight operations procedures is a new endeavor for the company.

Boeing hopes to recruit additional flight operations representatives – who are mostly former retired airline pilots with more than 13,000 flight hours under their belt Pittman said.

Source: Boeing

Boeing Orders and Deliveries For June

Boeing roars back in June with 288 new aircraft orders, more than it has logged in any month in recent memory.

Notably, Boeing last month included a now finalized order from Saudi Arabian start-up Riyadh Air for 39 787s.  They also took orders for the 737 Max in June and managed to increase the pace of narrowbody deliveries, handing over 48 of the jets during the period.

In all, 190 of the 737 Max orders stemmed from confirmation on June 20 of a tentative deal with AirIndia, which also included 20 787-9s and 10 777X aircraft.

Boeing delivered 60 aircraft in June, including one 737NG-based military surveillance jet,(P8-Posiedon), 48 737 Max, four 767-300Fs, one 777F and six 787s.

For the six months to end-June, Boeing has delivered 216 737s against an annual target of 400 to 450.  It closed the month of June with 4,879 aircraft in its backlog.

Source: Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

                        Airbus’s Second ‘Wing of Tomorrow’ Testing

Airbus is preparing to conduct a destructive test of an experimental wing as part of a technologies initiatives; it opens a new facility at its UK site in Filton dedicated to future wing research.  The Facility -known as the Wing Technology Development Center – will focus on constructing and testing demonstrators for various aerospace projects including the airframes’s Wing of Tomorrow program.

Wing of Tomorrow is examining a variety of new technologies which could be incorporated into lightweight low-drag wings, with broader spans and higher aspect ratios, to improve performance and fuel efficiency.  It also seeks to determine whether such technologies can be introduced at sufficiently low cost and applied to high rates of aircraft manufacture.

Airbus Wing of Tomorrow head Sue Partridge, speaking in Filton during a July 3 briefing ahead of the facility’s formal opening, said the center would focus on next-generation wing technology, and “leverage” the site’s broad engineering and test work.

Partridge says the experimental wing newly delivered to the facility is the second created under the Wing of Tomorrow program.  An initial wing, completed last year located at the Airbus plant in Broughton and used for modular assembly and integration work, and a third set to be assembled by 2025 to test the rate capability of selected technologies.

Source: Airbus,Picture Airbus

               A321neo Overtakes A320 as the Most-ordered Model

Thirty years after the Airbus A321’s maiden flight, the A321neo has just taken over as the airframer’s most popular individual model across its aircraft range.

Airbus’s half-backlog figures show the A321neo has accumulated orders for 5,163 aircraft, overtaking the 4,763 for the original A320.

The A321neo had already been outselling other variants in the A320neo family’s carriers migrated to the larger model.  Airbus’s latest backlog data states that 1,078 A321neos have been delivered to customers.

Source: Airbus

Airbus Orders And Deliveries for June

Record demand from India sharply increased Airbus orders in June, leaving the European planemaker with 1,044 net orders in the first half of the year.

Airbus officially booked orders for 500 jets from budget carrier IndiGo of India and 250 from Air India and finalized at the Paris Airshow.  Airbus gross orders before cancellations stood at 1,080 aircraft in the first half and delivered 316 jets during the period.

Source: Airbus         

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

  Binter Orders Six More Embraer E195-E2s

Binter Canarias placed a firm order for xix more E195-E2 aircraft at the Paris air show on June 20.  Deliveries of the Pratt & Whiney PW1900G-powered jets will commence in the second half of 2024, Embraer says.

The Canary Islands-based carrier has already received five E195-E2s from an existing order for 10 of the type, having taken delivery of its example in November 2019.

Deliveries from that order are set to continue through to mid-2024.  Binter configures the jet with 132 seats.

Source : Binter Cararias, Picture Binter Canarias

                                        Pilatus PC-12 NGX Fleet Expands to Japan

The first PC-12 NGX has been handed over to OpenSky Inc., the Japanese “private Jet Membership” company.  From now on, the single-engine turboprop with its unique asian-type design will carry passengers to destinations all over Japan.

It was already evening when the PC-12 NGX arrived in the Japanese megacity of Osaka after its ferry flight from Switzerland.  Even though no information was published in advance, numerous plane spotters outside the airport were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the “Swiss Made” PC-12 NGX.

OpenSky Inc. serves a discerning clientele, offering a unique travel experience which stands out from the competition in terms of both product and service.

The Japanese operator additionally took delivery of a PC-24 Super Versatile Jet this year, which it will also use to offer business flights.  In addition, the company has placed an order for a second PC-24 which will be delivered in the fall of 2024.

Source: Pilatus

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

                           Air NewZealand 777s Return to Service

The last remaining Air New Zealand has arrived back in Auckland after more than two years in storage in the Mojave Desert.  Four of the flag carrier’s 777s were withdrawn and ferried to Victorville Airport in California during the pandemic, with the remaining three parked in Auckland.

The final example, ZK-OKM landed back on home soil on May 10 after more than 855 days in storage. Air New Zealand’s chief operations officer, Alex Marren, explained how the aircraft was prepared for its return to service:

“The process started with unwrapping the plane from its storage protection and giving it a good wash to get rid of the dust and grime that accumulated in the desert.  Then it went through a thorough servicing and maintenance program.

It’s a long and a complicated process and our engineering and maintenance team have done an amazing job getting the aircraft ready to fly again.”

The 777 left the US on April 1 and was routed via Hawaii to Singapore where it spent a month undergoing heavy maintenance before completing its journey to New Zealand.  It returned to service to Nadi, Fiji on May 11.

Source: Air New Zealand,AirlinerWorld

                        Riyadh Air Picks GEnx Engines to Power Dreamliners

Saudi start-up Riyadh Air has picked GE Aerospace GEnx engines to power its on-order Boeing 787-9s.

Riyadh Air, in March, announced an order for 39 firm Dreamliners and took options on 32 more as part of a wider Saudi widebody order.  That order also included more 787s for the Saudis, which already operates GEnx engines on its Dreamliners.

The engine agreement was disclosed at the Paris air show.  Riyadh Air is targeting the launch of services in 2025 and aims to be connecting over 100 destinations with the Saudi capital by the end of the decade.

Riyadh Air chief executive Tony Douglas says: “The agreement highlights our determination to significantly extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with the world.  We look forward to fostering strong strategic relationships within the wider aviation ecosystem as we continue to shape our new digitally native airline to become one of the most sustainable and guest-centric carriers in the world.”

Source: Riyadh Air

                       Virgin Australia Takes Delivery of First 737 Max

Virgin Australia has taken delivery of its first Boeing 737 Max 8, kickstarting the airline’s fleet growth and renewal program.  The aircraft(VH-8IA on lease from lessor CALC is the first of 33 737 Max aircraft that the airline will take delivery of over the next five years.  Virgin Australia has eight Max 8s and 25 larger Max10s on order.

The new jet entered commercial service at the end of July, where it will be deployed to fly the Cairns-Tokyo Haneda services new route which is being operated by 737-700s.

Airline operations chief Stuart Aggs says the new aircraft are a “critical part” of the airline’s transformation – both operationally as well as in its sustainability efforts – not the type’s fuel efficiency credentials.

Adds Erika Pearson, Boeing’s vice president for commercial sales and marketing, Southeast Asia and Oceania: “operating younger, more fuel-efficient 737Max8 airplanes will support Virgin Australia to take key steps in meeting sustainability goals, while providing passengers with enhanced comfort and a more enjoyable flying experience.”

The carrier is the second Australian operator of the 737 Max. Low-cost start-up Bonza, which began operations in January this year, also operates the 737 Max 8.

Source: Boeing, Virgin Australia     

LATEST NEWS

• Delta Air Lines has exercised options on a dozen more Airbus A220-300s, taking its firm commitments for the jet, including the smaller -100s, to 131.

• IAG British Airways and Iberia parent IAG is converting options on another 10 Airbus A320neos into firm orders.

• flynas has received two Airbus aircraft of the next-generation A320neo.

• Air Inuit is to introduce three Boeing 737-800s to modernize its fleet, which includes 737-200 Variants.

• Airbus has rolled out the sixth and final example of its BelugaXL high-capacity transport, designed to fly aero structures between the airframes’s manufacturing facilities.

• Luxair Luxembourg’s flag-carrier has introduced its first Boeing 737 Max, as it embarks on further fleet modernization.

• Turkish Airlines’ AnadoluJet arm is to lease a batch of Boeing 737 Max 8s from the Chinese-linked lessor CDB Aviation.

• Pegasus Turkish  budget carrier has disclosed an agreement to take another 36 firm Airbus A321neo twinsets.

Sources : Airbus, Delta Airlines, Luxair, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, IAG, Air Inuit

                                                     Air Cargo

             ANA Completes Deal for Nippon Cargo Airlines

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has firmed its agreement with shipping and Logistics group NYK to acquire Boeing 747 freighter operator Nippon Cargo Airlines(NCA).

The share transfer is due to take place at the start of October, following approval of NCA’s shareholders and will see the cargo carrier become a wholly-owned subsidiary of ANA.  The two companies signed a preliminary deal on the transaction in March this year.

NYK says the cargo operator will be better positioned to grow further within an airline group, which would also in a better position to support NCA with emissions reduction requirements.

“In the highly volatile business environment of airfreight transportation, NCA has been facing challenges in expanding its business scale at a level that is commensurate with such costs.”

NCA currently operates a fleet of eight Boeing 747-8 Freighters and owns five 747-400 freighters that are operated by ASL and Atlas Air.

At the same time the update on the sale of NCA was announced, a series of management changes were also unveiled, Hitoshi Oshika, who is currently president and chief executive, will become chairman of the board.  Hiroyuki Homma has been promoted to president and chief executive from his current role as senior managing director.

Source: NCA/ANA

                          Airbus Hikes Payload Specs For A350 Freighter

Airbus has hiked the payload capability of the A350 freighter, bringing it up to 111t from the initial level of 109t.  Senior vice-president for widebody programs Florent Massou disclosed the higher figure during a briefing on June 14.

The aircraft emerged towards the end of 2021 and has so far secured 39 orders, it will enter service in 2026.

“We’ve progressed so well on the design we can add  2t more, for more revenues with airlines, plus more efficiency overall with the platform,” says Massou.

Among the features of the aircraft will be a 175in(4.44m) wide main-deck cargo door, larger than the 146 door on the 777F and the Israel Aerospace industries 777 conversion well as the 160in of Mammoth Freighters’ modified 777.  “This is the widest door in the market,” says Massou.  No other product can be compared to the door of the A30F.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus                    

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian 

ALL THINGS BOEING

                       Boeing’s 1st Priority is Current Certifications

Boeing will focus on successfully completing plane certifications, shoring up its supply chain and improving technologies in development before launching a new plane model, said Chief Executive Dave Calhoun.

“You have to be patient, you have to get your ducks lined up,” Calhoun at a briefing at Boeing’s Charleston, South Carolina, factory organized ahead of the Paris Air Show in late June.

These include the shortest version of its best-selling 737 Max, the 737-7, as well as the longest is the 737-10. The third jet moving through the US regulatory process is the long-distance 777X.

“It’s enormous amount of work at scale to move through all those certifications,” Calhoun said.  Mike Fleming, who heads Boeing’s development programs, said Wednesday, May 31st, that certification of the 737-7 was taking longer than expected.

“ The amount of documentation that we are producing on these airplanes relative to what what we had to produce in the past is considerably more,” said Fleming, adding that the company still hopes to receive final approval for the jet by the end of the year. The company also expects to be cleared to undertake certification flights on the 737-10 “within this year,” Fleming said.

Source: Boeing

           Boeing Steps Up 787 Production to Four Aircraft Monthly

Boeing’s 787 program continues gaining momentum with recently stepped up production of its flagship widebody jet to four aircraft monthly.

Lane Ballard, vice-president and general manager of the 787 program, said during May 30th press conference at the company’s 787 assembly plant in Charleston, South Carolina that Boeing show rolling a 787 off its production line every five production days.

Boeing plans to ramp up production of its widebody to five aircraft monthly by the end of the year-end, double that rate by opening a second production line in 2024.

Source: Boeing, picture United Airlines

Boeing Orders And Deliveries in May

Boeing booked 69 orders in May, including 59 Maxs and 10 Dreamliners. It also reported 11 cancellations, which included four 737 Maxs for Air Niugini, six 777 freighters for Hong Kong International Aviation and one 777-300ER for an unidentified customer.

Deliveries of the cash-generation Boeing 737 Max increased to 35 jets in May, Boeing said on June 13.  The company handed over only 17 MAXs to customers the prior month, when Boeing found a bracket installation defect that forced it to fix aircraft before delivery.

Boeing delivered 50 jets in May, 13 fewer than European rival Airbus, but a 43% improvement on the same month last year. Over the first five months of the year, Boeing delivered 206 aircraft-fewer than rival Airbus, which has delivered 244 aircraft over the same period.  Airbus is also slightly ahead on net orders, with 144 to Boeing’s 127.

Source: Boeing.

                                   ALL THINGS AIRBUS                           

               Airbus A321XLR Delays Average 12 Months

Qantas Airways will receive its first Airbus A321XLR in December 2024, six months later than first planned.  Airbus declined to comment on specific deliveries, but a top executive told Reuters on Sunday, June 4th it was seeing a more predictable  pattern in its industrial activities and what appeared to be the start of a more positive trend.

Source: Airbus

                                  Airbus Orders And Deliveries In May

Airbus’s net orders for the year remained unchanged during May, additional agreements were offset by cancellations.

Delta Air Lines took a single A330-900, and the only other activity comprised orders for 16 A320neos- seven for Lessor BOC Aviation and nine for an undisclosed customer.  But the modest gain of 17 aircraft during the month was negated by the cancellation of a single A330-900 for Virgin Atlantic plus the removal of 16 A320neos from the backlog.

Airbus delivered a total of 63 aircraft during May.

Source: Airbus.                                 

                               REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

                          Embraer In No Rush to Launch Turboprop

Embraer will not rush to a decision on whether to launch its planned regional turboprop, after failing to secure sufficient buy-in from engine suppliers to bring the product to market later this decade, commercial aviation chief says.

“We are disappointed,” says Arjan Meijer, following the Brazilian airframes’s decision to put its development effort on hold.

“When we paused the program a few months ago, there were some airlines that were disappointed,” he says.

“To have an aircraft in this segment in a two-and two configuration with a much better and quieter cabin and better performance is really something that the market is looking for.”

Following the decision to pause the project, Meijer says Embraer’s earlier 2028 entry into service target for a new turboprop now will “slide to early 2030.”

Source: Embraer, picture Embraer 

                 First Global 8000 Prototype Flies Maiden Sortie

Bombardier has flown its first Global 8000 prototype as the airframer looks to keep the new jet on track for service entry in the latter half of 2025.

Launched at EBACE last year, the 8,000nm(14,800km)-range twinjet builds on the current Global 7500, using the same wing, fuselage and GE Aerospace Passport engines.  Although Bombardier has already flown a modified version of its FTV1 test aircraft, the recent sortie shows the program continuing to make progress.

Stephen McCullough, senior vice-president of engineering and product development, speaking at EBACE on May 22, said the milestone took place middle of May and performed flawlessly.  “On the first day of testing it conducted a flight of more than 7.1 hours”, he says.

“We are fully on track for a successful service entry of 2025,” he adds, noting that the airframer is “confident of meeting its performance commitments”, carrying 19 passengers at speeds of up to Mach 0.94-up to 13% faster than the Global 7500.

Changes between the two aircraft include modifications to the control software for the Passport engines and the carriage of more fuel to boost range.

Source: Bombardier, picture Bombardier                                                                 

                                       OTHER AVIATION NEWS

               SpiceJet Will Add 10 737 Maxs From September 2023

India’s SpiceJet will add 10 Boeing 737 aircraft to its fleet between September and October to cater to the growing passenger traffic, the low-cost carrier said.

As of June 2023, its fleet comprised 91 aircraft, according to the SpiceJet website.  It was not clear if the figure included the 25 planes it has grounded.  The low-cost carrier is trying to revive the grounded fleet, the latest being a partnership with FTAI Aviation for lease on engines.

SpiceJet said the grounded planes will resume services soon.  “The introduction of these planes, which coincides with the peak travel season in India, will help us launch routes and strengthen our presence on existing ones,” SpiceJet said in a statement.

Source: SpiceJet, Picture SpiceJet

               Avolon $4 trin Needed to Transform Global Jet Fleet

Global Aviation needs $4 trillion over the next 20 years to fund new commercial airlines and leasing companies will take delivery of 44,300 commercial passenger aircraft by 2042, of which approximately half will be for replacement and half for growth, the world’s third-largest aircraft lessor said.

The world’s commercial passenger aircraft fleet is set to nearly double to 46,880 aircraft by 2042, the Dublin-based firm predicted.

The new report comes ahead of the June 19-25 Paris AirShow where aerospace companies will highlight plans to reach and industry-wide target of net zero emissions by 2050, while wrestling with short-term supply chain problems.  Avolon has said the focus should be on increasing the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuels(SAF).

Growth will be dominated by narrow-body jets including the Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX.

Europe’s Airbus will maintain leadership of the narrow-body market with 53% share of the fleet rising to 58% by 2042, Avolon predicted. Boeing will maintain leadership of the widebody market with 59% share.

Source: Avolon

              Air Niugini Finalized an Order for Two Boeing 787-8s

Air Niugini announced an order for two 787-8 Dreamliners to support the growth of the carrier’s long-haul fleet.  The jets will enable the national flag carrier of Papua New Guinea to fly new routes from the Pacific island nation and boost capacity for inbound tourism.

“Signing this contract with Boeing for the purchase of two modern, widebody 787 Dreamliners will enable Air Niugini to grow its network across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand and fulfill its mission as the Premier airline in Papua Guinea, providing the best air service in the region,” said Gary Seddon acting CEO of Air Niugini.

More than 85 customers around the world have placed orders for more than 1,600 Dreamliners, making the 787 Dreamliner the fastest-selling in History.

Since entering service in 2011, the 787 family’s fuel efficiency, flexibility and range have enabled airlines to open more than 350 new nonstop routes.

Source: Boeing, Air Niugini, Picture Boeing

                    Boeing Business Jets Secures First BBJ 777-9

Boeing Business Jet’ new president Joe Benson has an instant impact at EBACE (European Business Aviation Conference& Exhibition), revealing his team has landed orders and commitments this year to sell four VVIP-configured airliners, including its first BBJ 777-9.

“What I love about our orders is the diversity,” said Joe Benson in Geneva on May 22.  ”We have each part of our family represented in those orders and commitments.”  Benson was appointed as BBJ’s president on May 8, stepping into a role held, for slightly less than a year, by Erica Pearson who has switched to a new post in Boing’s commercial unit Boeing’s commercial unit.

“One of the things I bring to the job is continuity,” says Benson, who joined the Company in 2010 and previously was BBJ’s deputy to the president and Business director.”  There’s been some turnover recently…This is my dream job.”

The four BBJ commitments taken this year include orders for one BBJ 737 Max 7 and for two BBJ 787s, while another customer took an option to purchase one BBJ 777-9.  Boeing declines to name the customers but Boeing says buyers of large BBJs like 777-9s tend to be governments, which use the aircraft for head of state transport.

This month to be exact, July, 1998, 25 years ago the first BBJ was rolled out into the Seattle sunlight.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing        

LATEST NEWS

• Bermudair is planning to fly from Bermuda to three US cities in Florida, Massachusetts and New York, starting with two Embraer 175s.

• Togo’s ASKY is to add its first Boeing 737 Max 8s after reaching agreement to lease a pair of the jets from AerCap.

• Boeing is seeking authorization to fit mini-suites to its 737 Max range, similar to those already approved in other aircraft types.

• FAA has finalized a rule requiring new passenger aircraft have “secondary” Cockpit barriers’ measure intended to better prevent passengers from storming the cockpit.

• Comac’s C919 following 16 years of development and six years of rigorous flight testing, China’s first narrowbody jet, the C919, entered commercial service on May 28.

• Flair Airlines is leasing two more Boeing 737 Max jets through a sale-leaseback deal with SMBC Aviation Capital, and will begin flying this summer.

• Riyadh Air is displaying its livery for the first time at the Paris Air show on a Boeing 787-9 on the static display.

Sources:  Boeing, Flair Airlines, Togo’s Asky, Bermudair, FlightGlobal

AIR CARGO

                        Air Tanzania Unveils Cargo Services

Air Tanzania has outlined initial cargo services including cities in the middle East and India, after introducing a new Boeing 767-300F freighter to its fleet.  The airline states that its cargo network will include flights to Dubai and Mumbai, as well as the African destination of Kinshasa and Lubumbashi from June 26.

Air Tanzania received the new-build registered 5H-TCO, and powered by General Electric CF6 engines on June 3, ordering it in mid-2021.  Boeing says the transfer is its first direct delivery of a 767 cargo jet to an African carrier.

“We are looking forward to expanding our imports and exports industry that require timely delivery,” says Air Tanzania managing director Ladislaus Matindi.

Arrival of the aircraft will open opportunities for global businesses to transport commercial cargo goods to various parts of the world, which will boost national economic growth.  Air Tanzania operates a fleet which includes Boeing 787s,Airbus A220s and De Havilland Dash 8s, and it has another 787 and two 737 Max jets on order.

Source: Boeing, Air Tanzania, Picture Air Tanzania

                    Texel Air Sets Up Auckland-Based Cargo Carrier

Middle Eastern Freight operator Texel Air is to establish a Pacific region sister carrier, which will be based at Auckland in New Zealand.

Texel Air is located in Bahrain and uses a fleet comprising several variants of Boeing 737 freighter: two 737-800s, two 737-700s and a 737-300.

It states that the Auckland airline — to be branded Texel Air Australasia—will initially have a 737-800 converted freighter, and two more will be introduced by the end of this year.  The new operation was formally unveiled on June 10.

The company aims to expand the oval fleet to 10 aircraft by 2026, mainly flying wet-lease capacity in Australia and New Zealand to support cargo and express services.

“These next steps are sure to create employment opportunities and boost economic growth,” says Texel chair John Chisholm, who is a New Zealand national.

Texel Air Australasia’s initial aircraft was originally delivered as a passenger jet to Korean Air in 2001.  It was operating with Texel’s Bahraini arm before being transferred to the New Zealand registry.

Source: Texel Air, Picture Texel Air.

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian