Boeing forecast demand for 30,900 new commercial aircraft valued at $3.6 trillion over the next two decades in its latest Current Market Outlook released yesterday, projecting the global fleet will expand 92.2% from 18,890 currently to 36,300 in 2029.
Boeing yesterday conceded that delivery of the first 787 to launch customer ANA could slip into 2011. In widely reported comments, 787 Program VP and GM Scott Fancher said that while the company is still planning to deliver the aircraft in the fourth quarter, the margin in the Dreamliner's flight test program schedule has been "pushed."
Qantas Group announced yesterday that it brought forward deliveries of eight of its 50 787s on order to mid-2012, a move it said would allow it to speed the retirement of its 767s, give its low-cost carrier Jetstar a competitive edge and bolster its own domestic fleet.
Zodiac Aerospace rejected a takeover bid by Safran, which confirmed that it sent a letter to the chairman of the supervisory board of Zodiac proposing that the two companies examine the merits of consolidation. Zodiac directors unanimously decided against considering a merger during a July 9 board meeting.
COMAC yesterday announced that many of the C919's most critical systems will be developed and produced via joint ventures between Western and Chinese companies, including a GE Aviation Systems/AVIC JV that will be responsible for the aircraft'savionics core processing system, display system and onboard maintenance system.
Alaska Airlines completed outfitting all 55 of its 737-800s as well as 10 737-900s with Aircell's Gogo inflight Internet service, representing more than half the carrier's fleet. It said the service will be available on its remaining two 737-900s by the end of the month and on its remaining -400s and -700s by year end.
Boeing said it delivered 114 aircraft in the second quarter, down 8.8% from 125 delivered in the year-ago period. It said its delivery guidance for the full year remains unchanged at 460-465. It delivered 481 aircraft in 2009 and by the midpoint last year had delivered 246; so far this year it has delivered 222. Second-quarter deliveries were led by 95 737NGs. It also delivered three 767s and 16 777s.
Eastern Airways yesterday took delivery of an additional ERJ-135, increasing its fleet to 30 aircraft. It added another ERJ-135 last month. Both are on lease from GECAS and are assigned to charter flying across the UKand mainland Europe. The UKindependent regional previously operated an all-turboprop fleet consisting of 20 29-seat Jetstream 41s and eight 50-seat Saab 2000s.
Boeing restarted 787 flight testing Sunday and Monday following a three-day suspension to inspect the Alenia Aeronautica-produced horizontal stabilizers on its five flight test aircraft.
Air China said Friday it has reached agreement with Boeing on an order for 20 737-800s to be delivered 2013-15. The Beijing-based carrier revealed the order in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It said the order is worth about $1.4 billion at list prices, but noted that it received "a significant price concession" from the manufacturer. CA said the order would increase its capacity by 5%.
Boeing temporarily suspended 787 flight tests Thursday, saying it needed to inspect the Alenia Aeronautica-produced horizontal stabilizers on its five flight test aircraft and all Dreamliners in production owing to a "workmanship issue" that was "recently identified." It insisted that first delivery to ANA in the fourth quarter "remains on track" even as it revealed Friday that some subsequent deliveries would be pushed back slightly for reasons it said were not related to the inspections.
Airbus said A320 family aircraft recently passed the 50-million-flight milestone and have carried 5 billion passengers since entering commercial service in 1988. "One of our A320 family aircraft takes off every six seconds somewhere around the world," COO-Customers John Leahy noted, adding that the manufacturer is "investing at least €100 million [$122.7 million] a year in the A320 family" to improve its efficiency and extend the program's life "for decades to come."
Southwest Airlines Executive VP and COO Mike Van de Ven yesterday called on aircraft manufacturers to develop a new narrowbody aircraft, saying that today's 737NG and A320s are unable to deliver the "step change" in efficiency that the airline industry needs.
Embraer this year will begin to manage all parts and logistics support for its commercial aircraft and executive jets in the Asia/Pacific region from its Regional Distribution Center in Singapore. It said the move "paves the way for the company to be self-sufficient in the management and administration of all parts and logistics support for Embraer's growing fleet of aircraft and customers in Asia/Pacific."
ATR reappointed Filippo Bagnato as CEO, stating that the move "responds to the aim of ATR’s shareholders, Alenia Aeronautica and EADS, to ensure the continuity of the ATR program management and its further growth, keeping up strong relationship with customers and privileged confidence from them." He succeeds Stephane Mayer, whose three-year mandate has expired, the joint-venture company said.
