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