The Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, the latest passenger version of the popular widebody, won FAA certification Wednesday; the first of the type is slated for delivery to Lufthansa (LH) early next year ( ATW Daily News, Dec. 6).
BOC Aviation entered into a sale and leaseback transaction for four new Embraer 195s, the lessor's first such transaction involving Embraer aircraft. The aircraft are on long-term lease to Brazil's Azul. Two have been delivered and two are scheduled for delivery by the 2012 second quarter.
Japan Airlines 787-8. Courtesy, Boeing The first Japan Airlines (JAL) Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner rolled out of Boeing’s paint hangar in Everett, Wash., Tuesday night. The aircraft will be used for JAL’s new Tokyo Narita-Boston route and will be delivered early next year. According to Boeing, the airplane's livery features the iconic new brand mark on its tail.
Taiwan-based China Airlines (CI) plans to replace its 13 Boeing 747-400s from 2015/16 and will decide by 2013 which aircraft to order. It is considering the 747-8, Airbus A380, 777-300ER and the A350-1000.
Boeing has received type-design approval from the FAA for up to 330-min. extended operations (ETOPS) for its 777 fleet. The new FAA approval allows airlines that operate routes in the south Pacific, over the North Pole, and from Australia to South America and southern Africa to fly the most direct routes. The first airline to purchase the new longer ETOPS option is Air New Zealand (ANZ), which completed the world’s first commercial 240 min. ETOPS flight between Los Angeles, Calif., to Auckland, New Zealand using a 777-300ER.
Virgin Australia ATR 72-600. Courtesy, ATR Singapore-based leasing company Avation PLC has inked a contract for five ATR 72-600s plus eight options in a deal worth over $295 million (including the options). The aircraft, to be delivered in 2013 and 2014, will be operated by Perth-based Skywest Airlines (XR) on a range of routes on behalf of Virgin Australia (VA).
Boeing said Southwest Airlines' (SWA) commitment announced Tuesday for 208 737s, including 150 of the Max variant re-engined with CFM International Leap-1B powerplants, represented its largest-ever firm order (both in terms of units and value) and provided a major boost to the Max program, for which SWA will serve as the launch customer.
Inmarsat, which is still on track to launch the first Inmarsat-5 satellite in mid-2013 for its Ka-band Global Xpress service, told ATW it intends to initially deploy service over the Indian Ocean covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
UTair (UT) subsidiary UTair Express (UR) will reduce its Tupolev Tu-134 and Antonov An-24 fleet significantly by 2012, when new federal aviation regulations take effect requiring all Russian aircraft to be equipped with a traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) and an enhanced ground proximity warning system (EGPWS). The regional carrier, formerly known as KomiInterAvia, will reduce its fleet to from 28 Tu-134s to 6-8, and from 25 An-24s to 15 of the type. UR’s fleet also includes two passenger-version An-26 aircraft.
Porter Airlines took delivery of two new Bombardier Q400 aircraft, for which it placed a $61 million order in March. The carrier has four outstanding options for Q400s that it anticipates exercising within two years. United Airways (Bangladesh) took delivery of a third MD-83 (ex-Meelad Air) on lease from Phoenix Aircraft Leasing (Singapore). Taikoo Spirit Aerosystems, a composite joint venture between HAECO and Spirit AeroSystems, took delivery of two GE90 thrust reversers to be overhauled.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved the enhanced Package B version of the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, which powers the Boeing 787. The Package B version of the Trent 1000 is certified to 70,000 lb. take-off thrust.
Boeing has rolled out its first 737NG at the production rate of 35 aircraft a month ( ATW Daily News, June 16, 2010) and is on track to deliver the aircraft to launch customer Norwegian Air Shuttle ( ATW Daily News, June 22) in January, the company said.
Boeing finalized an order with Air Lease Corp. (ALC) for four 787-9s. ALC also exercised options for four 737-800 NextGens. The order, worth more than $1.2 billion, marks the completion of an agreement announced during the Paris Air Show in June ( ATW Daily News, Aug. 16). The aircraft join the 74 737-800s and five 777-300ERs that ALC has on order.
MA60. Courtesy, AVIC African carriers have placed six firm orders for the Chinese-produced MA60 turboprop, according to AVIC. National Airways Cameroon ordered three MA60s, Air Burundi ordered two aircraft and Trans Air Congo ordered one of the type. Deliveries are scheduled for 2012.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner arrived Monday at the Beijing Capital International Airport, making its debut in mainland China, marking the start of a six-month worldwide Dream Tour with the all-new aircraft. The US manufacturer said the 787 will be in China Dec. 4-11, with further stops in Guangzhou and Haikou. The 787 entered service Oct. 26 when launch customer All Nippon Airways flight 7871 landed at Hong Kong from Tokyo Narita ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 27).
Russia`s second-largest carrier Transaero (UN) has confirmed an order for eight Airbus A320neos following an MOU signed in August ( ATW Daily News, Aug. 17). The first delivery is scheduled for 2017. The carrier has not yet announced an engine selection between CFM International's Leap-X and Pratt & Whitney's PW1100G.
Boeing and Lufthansa (LH) will conduct pre-delivery testing on a 747-8 Intercontinental set to arrive at the carrier's Frankfurt (FRA) base Tuesday before returning Friday to Seattle.
Boeing on Thursday opened its new Interiors Fabrication facility in North Charleston, S.C. The Interiors Responsibility Center South Carolina team will manufacture 787 interior parts including stowbins, closets, partitions, class dividers, floor-mounted stowbins used by flight attendants, overhead rests for flight-crews and flight attendants, video control stations and attendant modules for Boeing South Carolina.
