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