All Things Boeing

Boeing Orders Lifted by 737 Max Agreements

Boeing secured agreements for 30 737 Max jets in July, attributed to unidentified customers, while the overall order total for the month was boosted by the formal recognition of 33 other aircraft in the backlog. Boeing also recorded a single 787 order, offset by the cancellation of an Iraqi Airways 787, resulting in a net of 63 jets for July orders.

Boeing delivered 48 aircraft over the course of July, including eight 787s, one of the theme 787-10 for Korean Air, the 1,200th of the twinjet type to be handed over. It delivered 37 737 Max jets, along with two 777 freighters and a 767 freighter. These brought overall deliveries to 328 for the first seven months of the year. Among these were 45 787s and 22 777s, plus 246 737s.

Boeing’s gross order figure for the period reached 699, while its net total aircraft, which applies tighter criteria for backlog recognition, now stands at 739.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

Boeing Scrapped the Earlier 737 Max Engine Anti-ice System

Boeing’s earlier plan for redesigning the 737 Max’s engine anti-ice system ended up not working out. That is why company engineers missed Boeing’s initial goal of having the design changes finalized in January of this year. That is also why Boeing, on 29 July, pushed to 2026 its expectation for when the 737 Max 7 and Max 10 will achieve certification. FlightGlobal reported on 25 July that Boeing had not yet finalized a 737 Max engine anti-ice system redesign intended to address an overheating problem, citing an internal Boeing newsletter.

In July, Boeing chief executive Kelly Ortberg expounded just a bit, saying the company ditched an earlier redesign plan. “We found some issues with the design implementation we had, so we’re going to have to back up and make some additional design changes to get through that deicing requirement,” Ortberg said, speaking during Boeing’s second-quarter earnings call. “Basically, the engineering designs have not yielded in the timeframe we are anticipating…We just haven’t closed the design.”

As a result, the company must redesign the system before prior to achieving the 737 Max 7 and MAX 10’s certification. “This is a very delicate area that we are dealing with around the inlet of the engines”, Ortberg says, noting engineers must understand how changing the engine anti-ice system might cause any perturbation to the airflow into the engine.

Source: Boeing, FlightGlobal

High-five: Fifth 77-9 Takes Flight

On Tuesday, the 5th of August, the fifth 777 9 took flight from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, a sign of progress for the company’s widebody program as the team works to deliver the first airplane in 2026.

*  The flight marked the first time in five years that the team built, prepared, and flew a 777 9 airplane on its first flight.  Capt. Ted Grady, 777X chief pilot, and Capt. Mark Brown, 777-9 project pilot, completed the 2-hour, 27-minute flight profile to validate the airplane’s handling and performance.

• During the flight, Grady and Brown navigated a route over Washington, reaching an altitude of 39,000 feet (11,887 meters) and an airspeed of Mach .84 (511 knots), which is typical for a first flight.

• Zach Lewis and Joel Conard, systems operators, and Cody Bruinsma and Mike Deutsch, flight analysts, accompanied them. The plane retired as planned to Paine Field at 1:30 p.m.

“The 777-9 flies beautifully, and this airplane performed just as we expected,” Grady said. “We appreciate the hard work of our coworkers who designed, built, and prepared this airplane for flight. Together, we are going to get the 777-9 certified and in our customers’ fleets.”

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

Lessor Avolon Discloses Orders for Up to 130 More Airbus Jets

Irish-based lessor disclosed an order for up to 130 Airbus jets, comprising A330neos and A321neos.  Fifteen A330neos and 75 A321neos make up the firm part of the agreement, with options and purchase rights covering a further 15 A330neos and 25 A321neos. Avolon says the deliveries will run to 2033.

No engine selection has been given for the single-aisle jets. All A330neos are fitted with Rolls-Royce Trent 7000s.

Avolon is a strong customer for the A330-900. “This order demonstrates our strong confidence in the long-term demand for new aircraft,” says Avolon chief Andy Cronin. Airbus says the additional order brings Avolon’s total to 79 A330neos and 264 A321neos.

Source: Avolon, Airbus, Picture Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Gulfstream Delivers Milestone 300th G280

Gulfstream has delivered its 300th super-midsize G280. The company handed over its first twinjets in 2012, and its in-service fleet has tallied more than 575,000 flight hours and nearly 358,000 landings since. The type is the smallest in Gulfstream’s product range and has earned a dispatch reliability rate of 99.98% and has achieved 87 city-pair speed records.

With multiple seat options, the G280 can carry up to 10 passengers. Its Honeywell HTF7250G engines give it a range of 3,600 nm at a long-range cruise speed of Mach 0.80. Gulfstream continues to invest in the G280 platform, developing new features that enhance passenger comfort and increase safety while improving crew efficiency.

Source: GulfStream, Picture Gulfstream

Porter to Sell and Lease-Back Four E195-E2s

Canadian carrier Porter Airlines has secured a sale-leaseback deal involving four Embraer E195-E2 jets to be delivered later this year. Porter’s E195-E2 fleet has been integral to its transcontinental network expansion.

Debt financing is being provided to both Fortress and GOAL by Ashland Place Finance to execute the transactions. Porter holds existing finance-lease agreements with GOAL covering three De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s used for regional flying in Eastern Canada and the Northeast USA. The Companies have also collaborated on the sale-leaseback of E195-E-2s.

Cristian Schloemann, managing director of GOAL, says the latest sale-leaseback agreement “ underscores the trust Porter places in our team and our tailored leasing solutions”. “As Porter Airlines accelerates its growth with the advanced Embraer E195-E2, we remain committed to supporting their strategic vision and operational excellence across North America,” he says.

Porter has been aggressively acquiring E95-E2s to enable the formerly regional-focused carrier’s expansion across North America and into the Caribbean. It now operates 46 of the type, with 29 more on order and 25 covered by purchase options. Since introducing E195-E2s to its fleet in 2023, Porter has become the largest global operator of the twinjet.

Source: Porter Airlines                                                                       

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Southwest Airlines to Equip Entire Boeing 737 Fleet with Honeywell’s Runway Safety Technology

Southwest Airlines is in the process of activating its entire Boeing Co. Boeing 737 aircraft fleet with Honeywell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding software designed to increase runway safety. This capability is enabled via the Honeywell Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) already on Southwest aircraft, and more than 700 aircraft have been activated to date. HoneyWell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding runway safety technology to enhance pilot situational awareness during taxi, takeoff, and landing and promotes stabilized approaches.

SmartRunway and SmartLanding are certified for most Airbus and Boeing aircraft and numerous business aviation platforms. Honeywell also announced it is currently testing its next-generation runway safety technology, Surface Alerts(SURF_A), with an expected certification for commercial aircraft in 2026, pending regulatory approval. The company said in a press release that this agreement furthers Honeywell’s long-standing partnership with Southwest, the world’s largest 737 platform operator.

Source: Honeywell, Southwest Airlines

VietJet Begins Construction for New MRO Facility

VietJet has broken ground for its new MRO facility at the in-development Long Thanh international airport. “In addition to supporting the maintenance needs of Vietjet’s expanding fleet, the facility is also positioned to serve both domestic and international airlines, enhancing Vietnam’s aviation capabilities and supporting future operations and supporting future operations at Long Thanh,” VietJet states.

The airline had in 2023 indicated its intention to build its own MRO facility, which will be able to service its fleet of narrowbody and widebody aircraft, as well as third-party airline customers. Long Thanh International Airport is located near Ho Chi Minh City and is intended to be the city’s second and the country’s largest airport. It is expected to be operational by 2026.

Source: VietJet, picture VietJet.

Rolls-Royce Retires  Its 747-200 Testbed 

Rolls-Royce North America has retired its iconic Boeing 747-267B testbed, N787RR(c/n 21966), after nearly 20 years of groundbreaking flight trials. These tests have included flying on 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and in-flight engine development and certification, such as the Trent 1000.

The Tucson International Airport-based airliner had originally been delivered to Cathay Pacific in 1980 as VR-HIA. It later served with Air Atlanta Icelandic before joining Rolls-Royce North America in June 2005, where it was stripped of its passenger cabin and equipped with instrumentation, recording stations, and a custom mounting configuration to support up to five engines simultaneously. 

Source: Rolls-Royce, Picture Rolls-Royce.        

In Brief

Air Algérie has signed on the dotted line for 16 new ATR 72-600 aircraft.

Greek Carrier Aegean has placed an order for a pair of Airbus A321XLR.

Condor has ordered four Airbus A330-900s with options on four more.

Uzbekistan Airways is set to take delivery of two more Airbus A321neo in 2026.

Panama’s Copa Airlines may not convert options it holds for more than a dozen 737 Max 10s into orders in favor of Max 8 and 9s.

Korean Airlines ordered eight all-new 777-8 freighter aircraft from Boeing to support long-term growth and fleet modernization.

Air Cargo News

Initial A350 F Fuselage sections Arrive At Toulouse Final Assembly

Airbus has received the initial fuselage sections for its A350 freighter, MSN700, at its final assembly line. Airbus supplies these sections through its Airbus Atlantic Aerostructures division. The Monitor-de-Bretagne site assembles and equips all center and forward A350 fuselages. According to Airbus Atlantic, the initial A350F sections have been delivered to Toulouse, the final assembly line for the cargo twinjet. It describes the delivery as a “ major milestone” for the program, which highlights the “industrial excellence” and “strength of collaboration” across the division’s various facilities. Airbus’s UK plant at Broughton completed the first wing set for the A350F earlier this year.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus

UK’s One Air to Take First 777F Under Operating Lease

UK-based cargo carrier One Air is introducing its initial Boeing 777 freighter, one of a pair being purchased by a division of Air One International Holdings. It will take the twinjet registered G-ONEG, and painted in One Air’s livery under an operating lease. One Air has been operating commercial flights for two years, having commenced services in July 2023, and has newly disclosed plans to open its first scheduled routes.

The airline has been using Boeing 747-400 freighters since starting upland has three of the type. One Air is one of three partners—along with Moldovian-registered Aero TransCargo and Romania’s RomCargo Airlines associated with Air One International Holdings. The three operators offer freight capacity on a combined fleet of 11 cargo 747-400s.

One Air had previously indicated that it was planning to expand into 777F services and recently initiated a recruitment drive for crews. Acquisition of the 777F offers “new and exciting opportunities”, says One Air chief technical officer David Tattersall. It received the new 777F during a ceremony at Boeing’s production center in Everett, Washington. Air One International Holdings says a second 777F is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year.

Source: Air One Holding, Picture Boeing

OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Boeing Moves Final Stored 737 Max Out of Moses Lake Site

Boeing recently flew out of Moses Lake the last 737 Max among a specific group of 450 jets it started accumulating upon the type’s 2019 grounding, marking another milestone along the narrowbody aircraft program’s recovery.

“Teammates gathered to watch the final storage 737 Max depart Moses Lake, Washington, in mid-August, closing a key capture in the 737’s history and showing the single-aisle airplane program’s progress,” says a 25 August internal company report from Boeing News Now. “With this departure, all 737 Max airplanes stored beginning in 2019 have been reactivated for delivery, marking the beginning of the end for 737 Max storage operations’ six-year effort involving more than 450 737 Max airplanes,” it adds. The last aircraft to leave that site has line number 7813.

The Max 8 first flew in November 2019 and is scheduled for delivery this year to Air China, according to fleet data provider Cirium.  A shadow factory is what Boeing calls a facility at which it completes rework. “The Moses Lake team will now turn to other projects, including preparing 737-7s and 737-10s for delivery once they are certified, as well as serving additional capacity for the 737 program,” it says. Boeing recently said it expects the FAA will certify the Max 7 and Max 10 in 2016, following years of delays.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

Researched and Compiled by : 

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor  

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian  

 

ALL THINGS BOEING

Boeing 777-8 Freighter Started Work On the Wing Spar

On the 22nd of July, Boeing started on the initial 777-8 Freighter test aircraft by drilling the first hole into the wing spar as it works towards delivery of the lead aircraft in 2028.  About 100 teammates were at Boeing’s 777X Composite Spar Shop at its Everett complex in Washington state for the milestone occasion.  Operator Case McDowell, who was at the controls of the drill, says: “You don’t forget these moments; having our team together as we got underway on this airplane was special.”

Earlier in July, the aircraft manufacturer said it had built the first 33m(108ft)-long spar for the 777-7778F’s wing; each spar weighs 565kg(1,250lb).  Originally anticipated to come to market in 2027, Boeing in October 2024 announced it would delay the twinjet freighter’s arrival until 2028.  Customers have ordered 59 777 -8Fs since Boeing announced the program in 2022 with launch customer Qatar Airways.

Source: Boeing, Picture Boeing

UK’s First Wedgetail Makes Public Debut With RIAT Appearance

The UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) first Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft had made its public debut, appearing at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) on 19 July.

One of three examples ordered by the UK, a heavily adapted 737NG performed a flypast at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire flanked by the RE Arrows aerobatic display team, before making a second pass on its own; with 10 conducting a touch and go landing.

First flown in modified guise in September 2024, the adapted narrowbody with service registration WT001 was making its fifth flight, with Boeing and RAF test pilots at the controls.  Two other aircraft on order for the UK have already had their Northrop Grumman MESA surveillance radars installed, with the RAF due to declare initial operational capability with the new type in 2026.

Source: FlightGlobal

US Air Force to Purchase Dozens More KC-46 Tankers

The US Air Force plans to significantly expand its fleet of Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial-refuellers, purchasing dozens more of the 767-based jets.  The Air Force confirms it has approved an acquisition strategy for the KC-46 to include up to 75 additional aircraft. The service has also expanded its existing procurement contract from 179 jets to 188 to the maximum possible figure under that 2011 deal with Boeing.  Those changes make for a total potential fleet of 263 KC-46s in USAF service.  “This KC-46 production extension program will maintain uninterrupted tanker recapitalization are final delivery under the current contract,” the Air Force says.

The decision ends years of uncertainty about the USAF’s medium-term plans for modernizing its tanker force, which is primarily composed of aged Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers.  There are more than 370 KC-135s in service with the USAF, with an average age of 64-years, according to fleet’s data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. The oldest Stratotankers were delivered nearly 70 years ago.  There are currently just 93 KC-46s flying for the USAF, Cirium says.  The air force’s decision earlier resolved the bridge tanker saga to obtain a derivative of the Airbus 330 based Multi Roll Tanker Transport; and stick with the KC-46.

The outcome is a huge win for Boeing, with a billion in new potential revenue.  Fiscal year 2026 budget documents indicate the airfare will pay just south of $2.8 billion for the KC-46 examples in the coming period.  That works out to roughly $186 million per aircraft.

Source: FlightGlobal, US Air Force        

ALL THINGS AIRBUS

First A350F Stabiliser Completed at Airbus’s Spanish Plants

Airbus’s Spanish facilities in Cadiz and Getafe have produced the first horizontal stabilizer for the A350 freighter.  The structure will be transferred to the Toulouse final assembly line in the next few weeks.   Airbus is producing a pair of A350s for the flight-testing and certification program.

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-powered freighter is scheduled to enter service in the second half of 2027.  Airbus’s Cadiz operation manufactured the stabiliser’s components while the Getafe plant carried out assembly as well as outfitting.  The structure is built on the same line as stabilizers for passenger A350s.  “Spain plays a key role in this program,” says the president of Airbus’s Spanish aircraft activity, Ricardo Rojas.

The airframe’s facilities in Spain, which also include IIIescas plant, produce the rear fuselage structure and lower wing covers for the A350F.  Spain will also build the main-deck cargo door for the freighter.

Source: Airbus, Picture Airbus

REGIONAL/BUSINESS JETS

Royal Jordanian Takes Spare Engines For Embraer E2 Fleet

Royal Jordanian has acquired a pair of spare engines for its Embraer E2-family

regional jet fleet, supported by a loan agreement.  The carrier is taking up to 10 aircraft, a mix of E190-E2s and E195-Es introduced five of the jets over 2024.  It expects to bring in three more during 2025-26.  Its Jordan Airline Training and Simulation arm has introduced an E2 simulator to its facilities.

Royal Jordanian says the Pratt&Whiney GTF engine is “Cornerstone” of its fleet-modernization plan, with the PW1100G having been selected by the carrier for 20 Airbus A320neos.  The PW1900G version of the GTF is the sole power plant for the E2.

Royal Jordanian has acquired two spare PW1900Gs under a newly agreed loan with joint-venture HALO AirFrance.  “Acquisition of these spare engines will significantly boost our operational readiness and reliability,” says ROYAL Jordanian chief Samer Majali.  “This collaboration reflects Royal Jordanian’s commitment to sustainable growth and maintaining our position as a leading carrier in the region,” says Majali.  Royal Jordanian’s fleet modernisation also includes introducing Boeing  787-9s from next year.

Source: Royal Jordanian, Picture Embraer                                                      

OTHER AVIATION NEWS

Vueling to Become IAG’s First Boeing 737 Max Operator

IAG has announced that Vueling will take the 50 Boeing 737 jets the group has on firm order, marking the low-cost carrier’s and group’s shift away from an all Airbus narrow body fleet.  “We have allocated the 50 Boeing 737s that we have ordered to Vueling”, said IAG chief Executive Luis Gallego during a second-quarter earnings call on 1 August.  The aircraft are due for delivery beginning in late 2026″, Gallego states.  The three examples are expected by the end of that year and will be based in Barcelona.

The intention is for Vueling to eventually become an all Boeing operator, but that is contingent on the carrier performing to plan, Gallego says. In the meantime, it has plans to mitigate the inefficiencies that may result from operating a mixed fleet.  IAG’s 737 Max order is split equally between 25 high-density MAX 8-200s-the Variant operated by Ryanair-and 25 Max 10s.  The latter variant is still to be certified, with reports suggesting that it could possibly happen later this year.  Vueling operates a fleet of around 140 Airbus narrowbodies, more than 100 of which are older generation variants.

Source: IAG, picture Vueling

Rolls-Royce Remains On Track With Durability Package

Rolls-Royce says it remains on track to deliver a 30% time-on-wing improvement for the Trent 1000 and Trent 7000 engines by the end of this year.  The manufacturer has been engaged in various initiatives to archive an average 80% enhancement of time-on-wing across its modern Trent family by 2027.  Rolls-Royce says it has “either delivered or secured” more than half of this improvement target.

The company disclosed in a half-year briefing that it achieved certification, in June, of its high-pressure blade for the Trent 1000 TEN engine that powers the Boeing 787.  Both engines are also set to undergo a second phase of durability improvement Rolls-Royce says it will provide a further 30% increase in time-on-wing, along with what was achieved by the first phase.  Rolls-Royce delivered fewer Trent 1000 and Trent 7000 engines over the first half, a combined total of 53 compared with 61 in the same period last year.

Source: Rolls-Royce, Picture Rolls-Royce.            

LATEST NEWS

• Allegiant Air continues taking deliveries of Boeing 737Max 8s in a more timely manner than anticipated, representing a positive sign for Boeing’s recovery as a steady supplier.

• Boeing-Built X-37B SpacePlane is set for no earlier than August 21 from Florida Space Coast, this will be its eighth mission.

• UK Cargo  Operator One Air is branching into scheduled services with its Boeing 747-400 freighter fleet, opening flights connecting Europe with the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions.

• Alaska Airlines is planning to launch flights to London and Reykjavik, Iceland in the spring of 2026 as part of its ambitious expansion from Seattle.  The carrier also revealed a new paint scheme for its expanding fleet of Boeing 787-9s.

• Cathay Pacific  The Hong Kong-based carrier on August 6th, announced in Hong Kong is ordering 14 more 777-9 passenger jets, bringing its order book to 35 of the world’s largest twin-engine airplanes.

• Air France-KLM Group has reduced its order for Airbus A350-1000s, opting to convert most of them to the smaller-900 variant.

Source: Boeing, Cathay Pacific, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airlines

AIR CARGO

Air Lease Confirms Canceled Order For Airbus A350 Freighter

Air Lease Corp has canceled its order with Airbus for seven A350 next-generation freighter jets, the company’s top executive said on Monday’s earnings call with analysts.  Airbus quietly revealed that Air Lease had backed out of the order when its monthly orders and delivery report on July 9 indicated seven fewer orders for the new widebody cargo aircraft. Air lease officials at the time refused to comment on the change.  Chief Executive Officer John Plueger confirmed that Air Lease canceled the Airbus, saying development delays and the proliferation of tariffs contributed to the decision.

Source: Air Lease, Picture Airbus

Asiana Airlines Finalizes Cargo Business Divestment to Air Incheon.

South Korea’s Asiana Airlines has completed the sale its cargo business to compatriot Air Incheon, making the latter the country’s second largest cargo operator.  The sale, valued at $340 million comes nearly two years after Asiana directors approved the divestment part of the airline’s ongoing merger with Korean Air.  As part of the deal, Asiana has transferred 10 Boeing 747 freighters and a sole 767 Freighter, in addition to employees in its cargo business, to Air Incheon.  The divestment was a crucial prerequisite to gaining European regulatory approval for the merger between Asiana and Korean Air.

The European Commission conditionally approved the merger in February 2024, on the basis that parts of Korean Air’s passenger network to Europe, along with Asiana’s cargo business, would be given up.  Following its acquisition of Asiana’s cargo business, Air Inchon, which currently operates a fleet of four 737-800Fs, has rebranded itself as Air Z.

Source: Asiana

ANA Holdings Completes Takeover of Nippon Cargo Airlines

ANA Holdings has completed its acquisition of compatriot Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA), a move it believes will beef up its ”resilience” against Market volatility.  The acquisition was completed on 1 August, following a simplified share exchange with Japanese logistics firm Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, which previously owned NCA.  The deal, which was first floated in 2023, has been pushed back on several occasions, owing to regulatory hurdles.  The addition of NCA to ANA Holdings will “elevate” the group to the world’s 14th largest airline group based on cargo transport weight .

“The ANA Group’s Profitability is expected to increase with NCA’s inclusion, the strengthened cargo business will improve its resilience against market volatility and changes,” states ANA Holdings.

Tokyo Narita-based NCA operates a fleet of Boeing 747 freighters, comprising eight-8F’s as well as seven -400Fs operated on wet-lease arrangements.  ANA’s cargo fleet comprises six 767Fs, as well as a pair of 777Fs.

Source: ANA, NCA, Picture ANA Holdings

       

                 

Researched and Compiled by :

Ed Kaplanian    Commercial Aviation Advisor 

Contact – ekaplanian@yahoo.com

Editor:   Lee Kaplanian