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