ALL THINGS BOEING

Boeing Opens New Commercial Parts Warehouse In Germany

On May 14, 2025, Boeing opened its third parts distribution center in Germany, thereby strengthening the company’s regional service footprint and enhancing its customer support capacity.  The new distribution center located in the city of Dormagen, will store more than 9,000 unique parts for Boeing aircraft, including large items such as landing gear components.

Major airline customers in Europe benefit from shorter parts delivery times, enabling quicker repairs as well as maintenance and overhaul work to keep airplanes in service.

“Service excellence is the cornerstone of our mission.  We are committed to actively listening to our customers to ensure we deliver the critical parts they need when they need them,” said William Amofo, senior vice president, Parts & Distribution and Supply Chain, Boeing Global Services.

“The expansion of our global network through this new warehouse exemplifies our dedication to being where our customers need us most.”  “Our new logistics and spares parts center in Dormagen joins our existing distribution services operations in Norderstedt and Hensstedt-Uzburg,” said Dr. Michael Haidinger, Boeing Germany.  “With this new site, we are doubling down on our commitment to the German aerospace community, our customers, and local partners.”

Stocked with the fastest-moving parts in the spares catalog, Boeing’s Cologne Distribution Center is expected to ship around 30,000 parts this year.  Primarily set up to support major European airlines, it will serve all Boeing Commercial airplane Customers.

Source: Boeing

GE Nears Completion of More GE9X Dust Injection Tests

GE Aerospace expects to soon complete a second round of GE9X dust-ingestion tests, insisting that the efforts will help ensure the massive power plant does not suffer from the dust-related durability issues that have affected earlier engine models.  The tests come as GE prepares for the 105,000 lb (467kN)-thrust GE9X to enter service on Boeing’s long-delayed 777-9, which Boeing aims to have in customers’ hands next year.

GE said on 28 May, it is close to completing the second round of GE9X dust-ingestion tests, which build on an initial round of evaluations it completed in 2022.

The GE9X is the first powerplant GE has put through dust-ingestion tests before the engine enters service, reflecting an increased focus by the company on durability, GE says.  The moves follow a spate of reliability issues that have affected GE’s and competitors’ engines in recent years.

The first round of GE9X dust tests involved 1,600 engine-run cycles and revealed no adverse findings, GE says.  “The 9X is one of our most-ready engines before it ever gets into service,” says GE future of flight engineering head Arjan Hegeman.  GE says it has run its GE9X through 27,000 simulated flight cycles and 17,000h of operation.  The company began shipping production-conforming GE9Xs to Boeing last year and plans to ramp up production in the second half of this year.

Source: GE Aerospace, Picture GE AeroSpace

Fitch Upgrades Boeing’s Outlook

Fitch Ratings has signaled increased confidence in Boeing’s financial and operational stability by boosting its long-term outlook for the aircraft manufacturer.  The ratings agency said on 30 June that it has revised its outlook for Boeing to “stable” from “negative”.  It cites Boeing’s cash on handouts recovery from last year’s machinists’ strike, and other “sustained operational improvements, particularly continued 737 Max production progress”.

Fitch has left its credit rating for Boeing unchanged at BBB, which the agency defines as “good credit quality” and within the range of investment-grade credit.

Fitch also cites Boeing’s progress in ridding itself of its once-massive inventory of stored 737 MAX jets it had produced but not delivered in recent years due to required rework.  Boeing has said it expects to complete rework on the last of those stored 737 Max this year.  Fitch expects Boeing’s Max deliveries will hit the “high-400s” this year.  For context, Boeing delivered 265 737s in 2024.

Source: Fitch Ratings                 

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

Long-Distance Delivery Flight to Qantas From Airbus

Qantas has taken delivery of its initial Airbus A321XLR, one of 28 on order with the Australian airline.  The carrier received the twinjet fitted with Pratt& Whitney PW1100G engines at the airframer’s Hamburg Finkenwerder plant, following a customer acceptance flight on 24 June.  Qantas becomes the launch operator of the XLR in the Asia-Pacific region.

Airbus points out that the long-range performance of the aircraft(VH-OGA) is being demonstrated during the delivery flight.  The jet took off from Finkenwerder on 30 June, on a 5’200nm ferry flight to Bangkok, followed by a further 4,100nm sector to Sydney.  It is scheduled to arrive in Sydney on 2 July, says Qantas.

The Carrier says nearly 1,000 personnel, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and ground staff, have been trained in preparation for the XLR introduction.  Airbus says the twinjet has been configured with 197 seats, including 20 in a business-class cabin.  The aircraft will initially be deployed on domestic flights.  Qantas’s low-cost subsidiary Jetstar is also set to take XLRs, with 12 of the type on order.

Source: Airbus, Qantas, picture Airbus          

 REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Bombardier Secures 50-Strong Executive Jet Order

Canadian business jet manufacturer Bombardier has landed a firm order for 50 Challenger-and Global-family jets from an anonymous first-time customer.  Bombardier says the deal is valued at $1.7 billion, with deliveries set to begin in 2027.

Included in the contract are options for further 70 aircraft, which, if exercised, would escalate its value to an estimated $ 4 billion, as well as a services agreement as the first of its kind between an OEM and operator.

“The Customer has elected to remain anonymous before unveiling their offering in the marketplace,” Bombardier says.  Eric Martel,  Bombardier’s chief executive, says the order “underscores the competitive advantage Bombardier’s full scope of products and services brings to customers, throughout the entire aircraft cycle, from design to delivery, then throughout the in-service journey”.  The customer’s identity may be revealed ahead of or during the NBAA show in Las Vegas later this year.

Source: Bombardier, Picture Bombardier.

Mexicana Takes First E195-E2 Delivery from Embraer

State-owned carrier Mexicana has taken delivery of its first Embraer E195-E2.  São Paulo-based Embraer says that Mexicana’s first example of the latest generation narrowbody jet departed its headquarters in the morning on 30 June.  Mexicana is due to take delivery of a further nine E195-E2s and 10 190-E2s.

Embraer is counting on the E190-E2 of family twinsets as the flagship of its commercial program.  It says the first delivery to Mexicana is a ”milestone” that boosts the E2’s “growing presence in Latin America”.

Mexicana, meanwhile, is undergoing a fleet modernization effort.  It currently operates Boeing 737s and Embraer ERJ145s.  Leobardo Bojorquez, chief executive of Mexicana, says the E2 delivery “marks a new chapter” for the airline, which was rebooted in 2023 following a more than decade-long operational shutdown.

Source: Mexicana, Embraer, Picture Embraer                                                               

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

China Airlines Taps GE Aerospace for GE9X MRO Services

China Airlines has signed a multi-year agreement with GE Aerospace for MRO services of the latter’s GE 9X engines.  The engines will power the Taiwanese carrier’s fleet of 14 Boeing 777X aircraft.  Ordered in March, China Airlines will take 10 777-9 passenger aircraft, and four 777 8 freighters.

The SKYTeam carrier is an existing operator of other GE Aerospace engines, including the GE90 on the 777-300ERS and the CF6-80C2s and its 747-400 Freighters.

GE Aerospace commercial engines and services president Russell Stokes adds: “We continue to work closely with China Airlines to support the GE9X’s entry into service and service and smooth operation of their 777X fleet.”

Source: GE Aerospace, picture Boeing

Air Lease Activity For the Second Quarter of 2025

Air Lease announced an update on aircraft investments, sales, and other activities occurring in the second quarter of 2025.  As of June 30, 2025, AL’s fleet was comprised of 495 owned aircraft and 53 managed aircraft, with 241 new aircraft on order from Airbus and Boeing set to deliver through 2031.

Delivered 12 new aircraft from AL’s order book, including six Airbus A220s, one  A321neo, two Boeing 737 Max 8s, one Boeing 787-9, and two Boeing 787-10s.  Aircraft investments totaled approximately $890 million, with the majority occurring in the second half of the quarter.  Sold 4 aircraft to third-party buyers.

Aircraft sales proceeds for the quarter totaled approximately $126 million.  Air Lease is a leading global aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California. Air Lease and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing new commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions.  The company routinely posts information that may be important in the “Investors”  section of its website at www.airleasecorp.com.

Source: businesswire

South Korea Commences P-8A Operations

South Korea’s navy has commenced operations with the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The main focus of the aircraft will be detecting underwater threats posed by North Korea, according to naval officials quoted by the official news agency Yonhap.

The aircraft first arrived in South Korea, with the air and maintenance crew undergoing training locally.  Before this, they trained with US Navy (USN) colleagues in the USA.  Seoul ordered six P-8As in 2020 through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales process.  South Korea is the fourth Asia-Pacific nation to operate the 737-derivative, following Australia, India, and New Zealand.

When the first three aircraft arrived at South Korea’s Pohang air base in June, the navy said in addition to the type’s anti-submarine role, the aircraft’s X-band radar “ can detect sea targets to hundreds of kilometers away”

Source: FlightGlobal, Picture Boeing

LATEST NEWS

• Boeing will acquire Spirit AeroSystems’ Belfast site as part of its planned acquisition of Spirit.  That is according to Wichita-based Spirit, which says it has found no other buyer for the Short Brothers site in Belfast, Northern Ireland, meaning it will land with Boeing.

   

  

• ANA Holding has firmed orders for 27 Airbus narrow bodies, including first A321XLRs, along with 15 Embraer 190-E2s and 28 Boeing aircraft, 18 787-9s and 10 737 Max 8s.

   

• AIR Lease said all seven Airbus A350 freighters ordered at the Dubai air show in 2021 have been removed from Launch customer Air Lease’s backlog.

   

• AerFin, an aviation asset specialist that buys, sells, leases, and repairs aircraft, engines, and parts, is collaborating with a Middle Eastern investor on the acquisition of four A320neo aircraft.  By dismantling these A320neo aircraft, AerFin is significantly expanding its inventory, addressing the increasing demand for Used Serviceable Material(USM) as airlines seek efficient, lower-cost alternatives to new Parts.
  
  
• Emirates Middle Eastern Carrier Emirates has agreed to purchase, by the end of this year, another four Airbus A380s, which it currently operates under lease.  Emirates is to purchase the four aircraft from August to November, as their leases expire.

   

• Alaska Air Group has gained US Department of Transportation (DOT) approval for the transfer of Hawaiian to Alaska Airlines’ operating certificate, a milestone in the tie-up process that began with Alaska’s September 2024 acquisition of the  Honolulu-based carrier.
  
  

AIR CARGO

Cargolux Fleet Update

Cargolux is one of the airlines that has placed an order for the new Boeing 777-8 Freighter aircraft as it looks to replace its aging Boeing 747-400 aircraft.  In total, Cargolux ordered 10 777-8Fs with options for six more.  The project has faced delays; however, CargoLux president and chief executive Richard Forson is not concerned by the delays and says that Cargolux has some flexibility with its existing fleet.

“The delays don’t really impact us to any great extent because we had already anticipated deliveries in 2027 and 2028”, Forson explains.  “So when we placed the orders, we had certain buffers built in.”  “Also, we have been working very closely with Boeing, and I believe, the 777 9 certification program is going well, which gives people confidence for the -8F.  I think they seem to be turning the corner now”.

Cargolux’s current fleet is made up of 30 Boeing 747s-14 747-8Fs and 16 747-400s.  Forson says the -400Fs are expected to retire over the coming three to five years, but adds that despite their age, they continue to offer high levels of utilization, with some even matching levels achieved by the – 8Fs.

Source: Cargolux

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian:  Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian