Silk Way Airlines 747-8F MAX Singapore Airlines 787-10 Rollout
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News Item A-1: Boeing (TBC) has delivered 554 commercial airplanes as of September 30, including 202 airplanes during the 3rd quarter alone, (TBC) said on October 5. This is a +1.5% increase on year to-date deliveries over 2016, and a +12.2% year-over-year increase in 3rd-quarter deliveries. Boeing (TBC)’s 737 family airplanes were the only Boeing commercial airplanes to show an increase in deliveries year-over-year, but given the number of 737 orders so far this year (415 gross, 360 net) and the number of 737s in backlog (4,431, or 78.3% of (TBC)’s entire backlog of 5,659 unfilled orders as of September 30), it is not surprising. Ryanair (RYR) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) are vying to be Boeing’s largest commercial airplane delivery customer of the year, with (RYR) leading year to-date with 41 airplanes, all 737-800s, compared to (SWA)’s 38, a mix of 737-800s and 11 new 737 MAX 8s. American Airlines has taken delivery of 26 airplanes so far this year (16 737s and 10 787 Dreamliners), followed by Norwegian (NWG) (with 22 737s and two 787-9s) and China’s Xiamen Airlines (with 17 737s and 3 787-9s). Deliveries to aircraft leasing companies are down slightly this year, 93 in 2017 year to-date, versus 95 in 2016. Singapore’s (BOC) Aviation Ltd (SIL) has taken the most new Boeing aircraft among the lessors so far in 2017, with 14 737-800s and 2 777-300ERs, followed by (GECAS) (GEF) (with 11 737-800s and 2 777-300ERs) and Air Lease Corporation (with 9 737-800s, 2 777-300ERs and 1 787-9).
News Item A-2: Southwest Airlines (SWA) launched the Boeing 737 MAX 8 into revenue service on its network on October 1, flying from Dallas Love Field to Houston Hobby Airport for its 1st official flight with the (CFM) International (LEAP-1B)-powered airplane. (SWA) Chairman & (CEO) Gary Kelly called the MAX 8 “the future of the (SWA) fleet.” (SWA) launched 9 737 MAX 8s into service October 1 and will add +5 more to its fleet by the end of 2017. (SWA) plans to have a fleet totaling 707 airplanes by the end of 2017 comprised entirely of 737-700s, 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s; all of its 737 Classics have been retired. (SWA)’s 737 MAX 8s are configured with 175Y, 32-inch pitch seats in a single-class layout. (SWA), which Boeing (TBC) has said played a pivotal role in helping design the airplane, becomes the 1st North American airline to operate the airplane, which entered the world’s 1st service with Malaysia’s Malindo Air (MXD) in May 2017. (SWA) test flew a 737 MAX 8 on simulated operations over 6 days in September 2016. (SWA) has orders for 200 737 MAX airplanes, a combination of the 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 7 models.
News Item A-3: UK leisure carrier Monarch Airlines (MON) entered administration in the early hours of October 2 and its air operator’s certificate (AOC) has been suspended, marking the UK’s largest ever airline collapse. In addition, later in the day, the joint administrators of Monarch Airlines Ltd and Monarch Travel Group confirmed that 1,858 employees have been made redundant. “Of these, 1,760 were employees of Monarch Airlines (MON), while 98 were employed by Monarch Travel Group.
“Monarch (MON)’s Engineering Arm Continues as Standalone Operation” by Alan Dron alandron@aadepteditorial.cm, October 3, 2017.
The UK’s Monarch Aircraft Engineering Ltd (MAEL) will continue operations despite the October 2 collapse into administration of Monarch Airlines (MON) and the Monarch Travel Group. (MAEL) has hangars at both Monarch (MON)’s home base of London Luton and at Birmingham airport, as well as 10 line maintenance stations in the UK and elsewhere in Europe. Although its sister company was a significant customer for its Engineering Services, (MAEL) has increasingly looked further afield for business and, in the past month, has won a contract to carry out “C1” checks on Virgin Atlantic (VAA)’s fleet of 17 Boeing 787-900s over the next 4 years. At this year’s Paris Air Show, (MAEL) also signed a joint venture (JV) partnership with Boeing Global Services to collaborate on securing additional 3rd-party fleet servicing agreements. (MAEL) is a Boeing-approved Global Fleet Care (formerly “GoldCare”) provider. “(MAEL) has always been a standalone business within the Monarch Group, holding its own cash, employees and property,” (MAEL) Managing Director Chris Dare said. “Despite what has happened at Monarch Airlines (MON) and the Monarch Tour Group, (MAEL) continues to trade as normal, with renewed focus on servicing our existing clients and winning new contracts.”
News Item A-4: Boeing (TBC) will acquire Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, a northern Virginia-based advanced aerospace platforms manufacturer, to further the development of autonomous systems technologies behind future robotic aircraft and aerospace vehicles. “Our [combined] teams will advance the development of autonomy for our commercial and military systems,” Boeing (CTO) and Senior VP Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology Greg Hyslop said. “[With] Boeing, our technologies of long-endurance airplanes, robotic co-pilots (FC), and autonomous electric (VTOL)s will be transitioned into world-class products for the global infrastructure,” Aurora Flight Services (CEO) and Founder John Langford said. Since its founding in 1989, Aurora has developed and flown >30 unmanned air vehicles, featuring autonomous systems that include perception, machine learning and advanced flight control systems, Aurora said, in addition to work on electric propulsion technologies for aircraft. Aurora has worked with Boeing in the past decade on rapid prototyping of innovative airplanes and structural assemblies for military and commercial applications. Terms of the agreement were undisclosed. Once the acquisition process is complete, Aurora will be a subsidiary under Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology and will be known as Aurora Flight Services, a Boeing Company.
News Item A-5: (CDB) Aviation Lease Finance signed a lease agreement for 3 Boeing 737-800 airplanes with China’s 1st privately owned low cost carrier (LCC) Ruili Airlines (RUI).
News Item A-6: Emirates Airline (EAD) will be the 1st operator of the Boeing 777X and expects to take delivery of the 1st airplane in early 2020, (EAD) President Tim Clark said. The delivery, which a Boeing spokesperson confirmed, means that (EAD) will skip ahead of 777X launch customer Lufthansa (DLH) and become the wide body’s launch operator. “I believe we will be the 1st to receive the airplane in early 2020. It will replace the 777-300ER as they retire,” Clark wrote. (DLH) ordered 34 777-9X in September, 2013, with deliveries anticipated between 2020 and 2025. At the Dubai Air Show in November 2013, (EAD) and the 2 other major Gulf carriers each announced commitments for large numbers of 777Xs: – Emirates (EAD) for 150 airplanes plus 50 purchase rights, Etihad Airways (EHD) for 25, and Qatar Airways (QTA) for 50. (EAD) finalized its order, for 115 777-9Xs and 35 longer-range 777-8Xs, in July, 2014. The order, valued at $56 billion at 2014 list prices, was part of the largest product launch in commercial jetliner history. If all options are confirmed, the value of the deal could increase to around $75 billion. “Lufthansa (DLH) is 1 of the launch customers of the 777X. Which airline gets the very 1st airplane is a question for Boeing (TBC),” a (DLH) spokesperson in Frankfurt said.
News Item A-7: “India’s Jet Airways Confirms Order for 75 Boeing Airplanes” by Tommy Wilkes, “Reuters” October 11, 2017.
Jet Airways (JPL) said on October 11 it had agreed to buy 75 Boeing 737 Max airplanes, and that it could purchase another 75 to help it expand in a booming Indian market. (JPL) said that deliveries of the single aisle jets are expected to start in mid-2018 and a decision on adding an equal number of narrow body airplanesa “will be made over the coming few months”. An order for 75 737 MAX 10 jets would be worth as much as US$9.3 billion based on list prices, although airlines typically get discounts for large orders. “Reuters” reported in June that (JPL), which is part owned by Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways (EHD), was in talks to buy either Boeing’s 737 MAX planes or aircraft from Airbus’s A320neo family. Airlines in India have hundreds of airplanes on order as they look to tap into a market growing by nearly 20% a year thanks to rising incomes and low cost fares. Jet Airways (JPL) has the 2nd largest market share in India behind InterGlobe Aviation’s IndiGo (IGO).
News Item A-8: Azerbaijan’s 2 largest airlines will buy another 6 Boeing airplanes by the end of 2017, the USA Embassy of Azerbaijan has announced. Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) (AHY) plans to sign a contract to buy 4 787s, while Silk Way Airlines (AZQ) will acquire +2 more 747-8F freighters. These new purchases are (AHY)’s 4th major investment in Boeing airplanes since 2015. Azerbaijan USA Ambassador Elin Suleymanov said the order will mark “the latest investment by our country in American-made products, the American economy and in American workers.” In 2015, (AZAL) (AHY): — Azerbaijan’s flagship carrier and largest airline, acquired its 1st 787, assembled at Boeing’s Charleston, South Carolina plant, which employs 7,500 workers. In April of this year, Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Airlines (AZQ) purchased 10 new 737 MAX 8 airplanes to be built at the Boeing’s assembly plant in Renton, Washington, which employs >12,000 workers. These airplanes will begin flying in 2018. In 2015, Silk Way purchased 3 Boeing 747-8Fs manufactured at Boeing’s Everett, Washington, plant, home to 30,000 employees. Azerbaijan Airlines (AHY) and Silk Way Airlines (AZQ) operate direct passenger and cargo flights between Baku and New York, as well as direct cargo flights between Baku and Chicago.
News Item A-9: Aeroflot (ARO) low-cost carrier (LCC) subsidiary Pobeda Airlines (PBD) has taken delivery of the 1st of 8 Boeing 737-800s leased by Singapore-based lessor (BOC) Aviation (SIL). Before the end of the year, (PBD) will take delivery of 3 more of the type. In 2018 it will add 8 more 737-800s; in 2019, it will take 6 more from other lessors. The new airplane is the 1st in the fleet that is equipped with Split Scimitar Winglets, which (PBD) said will decrease fuel consumption by 1.6%. (PBD) began operations in December 2014; in June 2017 (PBD) carried its 10 millionth passenger. Between January and May 2017, (PBD) carried 1.7 million passengers, up +6% year-over-year. In 2016, (PBD) carried 4.3 million passengers, up +38.7% over 2015.
News Item A-10: (GE) Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) (GEF) acquired a Boeing 747-8F freighter from Boeing Capital Corporation and will continue the existing airplane lease with AirBridgeCargo (ABC).
News Item A-11: China Southern Airlines (GUN) has placed an order for 8 Boeing 777-300ERs and 30 737-800s in an effort to facilitate its expansion at Beijing’s new airport, which is scheduled to open in 2019. The deal, which is worth $5.7 billion at list prices, is contingent on regulatory approval. These airplanes are scheduled to be delivered between 2019 and 2020; 5 777-300ERs and 12 737-800s will be delivered in 2019 and the rest will be delivered in 2020.
News Item A-12: Qantas (QAN) took delivery of its 1st 787-9.
News Item A-13: Boeing (TBC) has rolled out the 1st 787-10 built for Singapore Airlines (SIA) at its final assembly facility in North Charleston, South Carolina. The 787-10 will now undergo livery painting, system checks, fueling and engine runs. Delivery is scheduled for the 1st half of 2018; the 787-10 will be used on medium-haul routes. (SIA) is the launch customer for the 787-10 and has 30 of the type on firm order. (SIA) also signed a letter of intent (LOI) in February to purchase 19 additional 787-10s. Singapore Airlines (SIA) added to its expanding fleet of wide body airplanes on October 23 with a formal signing at the White House, Washington D C in the presence of USA President Donald Trump and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsein Loong, plus (SIA) (CEO) Goh Choon Phong and Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) President & (CEO) Kevin McAllister, for 20 Boeing 777-9s and 19 787-10s, with options for 12 additional airplanes (6 of each type). The order is valued at $13.8 billion at current list prices. (SIA) originally is the launch customer for the 787-10.
Concurrent with the signing ceremony, (SIA) said it had signed a 12-year service agreement with (GE) Aviation (GEC) for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of 45 (GE9X) engines to be installed on the 20 new 777-9 airplanes (5 engines are spares). The (GE) Aviation contract is valued at >$1.7 billion. (SIA) now operates >50 777 family airplanes and is expecting the 1st deliveries of its 787-10s in 2018. (SIA) already has 30 787-10s on order, originally placed in June 2013. According to Boeing (TBC), the 787-10s will serve (SIA)’s “medium-range operations while partnering with the 777-9 for (SIA)’s long-haul routes. (SIA)’s subsidiaries SilkAir (SLK), Scoot (SCT) and (SIA) Cargo (SQM) will operate Boeing airplanes with the 737 MAX 8 and 737-800, 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners and 747-400F freighter types in service, respectively.”
News Item A-14: See video on 747-8. Click here for video
News Item A-15: “Boeing Starts 1st Flight Test 777-9 Production” by Guy Norris, (ATW) Plus, October 24, 2017.
Assembly of Boeing’s 777X flagship twin jet officially started October 23 when a robotic drilling machine commenced work on the 1st production wing spar for the initial flight test 777-9 at the company’s revamped spar assembly building in Everett, Washington. The spar marks the start of the build-up to assembly of the 1st test aircraft for the program in 2018 with the production of 6 777-9 airframes, 4 of them for flight testing, and 1 each for static and fatigue tests.
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This has been submitted by Peter A Ansdell, retired Boeing Management employee of many years. Peter has offered this for your reading enjoyment by his efforts as the Founder and Managing Director of his website: http://www.7jetset7.com which he tries to keep readers up-to-date on world jet aviation progress, including current jet airline operators, cargo jet operators, worldwide jet airplane manufacturers, industry control bodies, e.g. (IATA) , (FAA), (CAAC) , space exploration advances, prominent parts manufacturers, with a focus on aviation safety, and new developments. Its all our future. Please help to nurture and assist with its advancement.
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