For 2005 Orders & Commitments: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=166166

Happy New Years everyone! Time for a new order thread, the other was getting too big. So I'll start it by repeating the only news posted thus far in January:

Airbus Wins $1 Bln Bangkok Airways Order For 6 A350s

Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Airbus SAS, the world's biggest maker of commercial aircraft, won an order from Bangkok Airways Co. Ltd. for six A350 airliners, valued at about $1 billion at list prices, as the Thai carrier adds routes to Europe.

The contract brings Airbus's total orders and commitments for the planned 257- to 297-seat airliner to 170 planes for 13 customers, the Toulouse, France-based planemaker said in a faxed statement. Bangkok Airways, which operates Thailand's second- biggest fleet of airliners, will choose a 258-seat configuration and take delivery of the planes starting in 2012, Airbus said.

Bangkok Airways said in November that it was choosing between the A350 and Boeing Co.'s 787 for a 24 billion baht ($582 million) order for six fuel-efficient long-range planes. Winning that competition probably won't keep Airbus from being overtaken by Chicago-based Boeing in orders this year for the first time since 2000. As of Nov. 30, Boeing had 800 orders and Airbus had 687.

Boeing is counting on the 787, which it says will use 20 percent less fuel than current models, to regain market share from Airbus by 2008. Airbus took the top spot in airliner deliveries in 2003.

The A350 is scheduled to go into commercial service in 2010 and lists from about $160 million to $167 million apiece. Catalogue prices don't take into account discounts that airlines receive when buying multiple planes. Airbus's statement today didn't give a price for the Bangkok Airways order.

200-Order Target

Airbus had been targeting 200 orders for the A350 by the end of 2005 after the planemaker's two owners, European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. and BAE Systems Plc, approved the project in October.

Contracts for the model have included a 20-plane order in November from US Airways Group Inc., the A350's first order from a U.S. carrier, and a 12-airliner purchase by American International Group Inc.'s International Lease Finance Corp. plane-leasing division last month.

Boeing's order book for the 787 as of the end of November was 241 planes for 20 customers. The model, with a range of about 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 kilometers), is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2008. Its catalogue price range is between $132 million and $150.5 million, depending on the version.

Mike Bair, head of the 787 program, said Dec. 22 that Boeing may develop a stretched version of the 787 with 300 seats, compared with an original design of seating for between 250 and 290 passengers.

Shares of European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co., the 80 percent owner of Airbus, fell 67 cents, or 2.1 percent, to 31.90 euros in Paris. Boeing fell 94 cents to $70.24 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.

Why Airbus vs Boeing? Boeing vs. Airbus sounds many better..

^ Maybe because "A" comes before "B"? ;)

ya. It will be intersting so see if SQ picks 787 or a350

ya. It will be intersting so see if SQ picks 787 or a350
I like Airbus a lot more than Boeing, but even I'm for certain Singapore Airlines will be buying 787s. :)

Some recent news about that order:

Singapore Airlines Not Ready To Pull Trigger On Boeing Order

Geoffrey Thomas - ATW Online - 26/12/05

Singapore Airlines hosed down media speculation that it is about to order 80 aircraft from Boeing made up of 777-200LRs, 787s and 747-8Fs. SIA has issued three RFPs--one for 19-hr. nonstop capability, one for A350/787 regional capability and the third for high capacity in the A380/747-8 range.

The A350/787 battle has been the most intense and a decision had been expected on all three RFPs by mid-December. However, CEO Chew Choon Seng told ATWOnline in November that it had been delayed until late January at the earliest as new data on the Trent-powered A350 was considered.

An SIA spokesperson told this website last Friday that a February timeline is more likely. ATWOnline understands that Boeing and Airbus have left Singapore after presenting the latest sets of figures and that negotiations are ongoing, with key airline executives now on leave.

good to see that the world's biggest airplane company still kicks ass!!

Airbus won an order from Air Deccan for 30 more A320 (total: 62 firm orders from Air Deccan for A320's).

Hamburg International Poised To Buy A319s

Flight International - 3/1/06

German charter specialist Hamburg International is poised to order 14 Airbus A319s and place options on six more, signalling a switch from its Boeing 737-700 fleet.

Hamburg International is preparing to announce a complete fleet-renewal programme in January and will replace its Boeing fleet with A319s, say industry sources. The new Airbus aircraft are due to enter the fleet from 2008.

Ten A319s are set for Hamburg International operations, while four are bound for use by a joint venture initiative with a tour operator partner outside Europe. The airline and Airbus decline to comment.

Aeroflot Leans Towards Boeing 787 Selection

Flight International - 3/1/06

Russia’s Aeroflot has selected the Boeing 787 over the Airbus A350 to renew its long-haul fleet and is working towards striking a deal with the US airframer.

Business newspaper Kommersant is reporting Aeroflot and the US manufacturer are already discussing the delivery schedule for a batch of 22 to 28 787s.

“Overall, this option looks preferable to the offer made by Airbus,” says a source at Aeroflot management, which reportedly wants to reach agreement with Boeing as soon as possible in order to begin taking aircraft deliveries in 2010.

Deputy director for strategic development Sergei Kharitonov would not disclose the carrier’s choice but expects a contract with the winning bidder to be signed in March.

“This will be tantamount to our official announcement which we won’t make until then,” he says.

Apart from six Ilyushin Il-96-300s, Aeroflot currently operates nine 767s on long-haul routes. The carrier also operates 18 A320s on short-to-medium haul routes and in October the board of directors approved a plan to beef up medium-range capacity by taking leases on seven A321s.

The Russian Government is understood to have the final say over a type selection by state-controlled Aeroflot.

“Choosing Boeing aircraft for the long-haul segment will preserve a balance in Aeroflot’s foreign-built fleet,” says a senior official at the government’s industry and energy ministry. “Besides, the 787 appears to have a bit of an edge over the rival as a more advanced product.”

EADS’ Russian division chief Vadim Vlasov, however, says the Airbus parent company is firmly standing behind its offer to Aeroflot. “We believe our proposal is no worse than that of Boeing and are prepared to prove it at any level,” he says.

good to see that the world's biggest airplane company still kicks ass!!

Boeing is several times larger than EADS, let alone Airbus, which is just a branch.

Funny to see Airbus now comes before Boeing in the title, and the first articles are all Airbus :D

So, Bangkok Airways are going to start fly long-haul?
Nice.

Boeing is several times larger than EADS, let alone Airbus, which is just a branch.

lol,someone seems to be jealous...

Go Airbus... lol :)

Funny to see Airbus now comes before Boeing in the title, and the first articles are all Airbus :D
Hmm well the title I switched around, because in 2005, "B vs A" worked better because Boeing was the underdog and they were competing against Airbus. Now the tables have turned. ;)

Well Airbus did have the first news of the year for an order announcement. I'll try to keep my news posts neutral. :D

Ooooooh here's some good ol' fashioned competitiveness: ;)

Composite Claims Infuriate Boeing

Flight International - 3/1/06

Boeing is reassuring airlines over the use of composite material for the primary structure of the 787 following claims by Airbus that the new Boeing twinjet could be grounded “because of a scratch in the paint”.

The claims, made at a recent safety conference in the USA, refer to Boeing’s decision to certificate the 787 for inspections for visible damage only without the need for non-destructive tests and represent “misinformation from the other side”, says 787 chief mechanic Justin Hale. “We all know composites can hide damage and so right up front we decided we’d certify for visible damage only,” he says.

Boeing says the basic design criterion for the 787 is founded on two key properties of the solid laminate composite; the non-propagation of cracks from undetected damage; and the inherent capability of the composite material to maintain structural integrity – even with small amounts of undetected damage.

The result, says the company, is that small areas of damage are acceptable for the life of the aircraft because they will never grow into a bigger, and potentially dangerous structural issue. “We have to demonstrate we’re good for these sorts of damage to the ultimate load for the life of the aircraft.

That’s why it makes me cringe when I hear them say undetected external damage could result in catastrophic failure, because there is so much margin being built into the structure,” says Hale.

“We’ve always tried to keep safety out of the discussions between Airbus and ourselves. We think Airbus builds a pretty safe aircraft, and it was pretty startling for us to hear Airbus roll out in a safety conference that accelerated damage is the biggest hurdle we have to overcome.” Hale adds that even though a series of bonded repair methods have been developed, and will be available to the airlines, “in general all of the repairs will most likely be bolted. Airlines may decide in the heavy check to pull off the bolted repair and clean it up with a bonded repair at that point.”

In the meantime, the airlines appear to be expressing concern over the issues raised by Airbus. “We’ve put a request to our development group for more chunks of (composite) barrel to counter what appears to be misinformation from the other side,” he says.

Airbus stresses the advantages of aluminium lithium for the fuselage skin panels of the A350 in terms of resistance to accidental damage, and its ability to undergo standard repair procedures.

^lol, cool sdtuff, :)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/254371_air04.html

Wednesday, January 4, 2006
Aerospace Notebook: Attention now turns to building the 787
By JAMES WALLACE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

The Boeing Co. closed out a record-setting jetliner order year in 2005, with the company's 787 Dreamliner off to one of the best starts ever for a new airplane program.

Boeing won more than 200 firm orders in 2005 for the 787, bringing to nearly 400 the total number of orders and commitments it has received for the plane since the program was formally launched in late 2003.

In the last days of 2005, Boeing was able to sign a firm contract with Air India that had been pending for 20 787s, sources said Tuesday. That deal, which also includes 15 777s, means Boeing likely won firm orders for around 1,000 jets last year. Boeing will release its final 2005 order tally Thursday.

Orders for the 787 should continue to be strong in 2006, company executives say.

With the Dreamliner looking like a best seller, Boeing and its partners are now preparing to take a giant step in the life of a new airplane program -- manufacturing.

Some smaller parts for the 787 already are starting to flow through the supply chain, said Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. Boeing's partners will begin building major 787 structures toward the end of 2006, he said. The first flight is planned for 2007.

The 787 will be the first large commercial jetliner with a mostly composite airframe, and Boeing and its partners spent 2005 learning how to make these large, carbon-fiber fuselage barrels, which will be required for final assembly of the plane.

No one had ever made composite structure vessels of this size before.

Seven fuselage barrels were produced in 2005, and the last were of "flight worthy quality" and could have gone into an airplane if that had been the plan, according to Bair. Five of those barrels were made at Boeing's Developmental Center in Seattle. Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kan., formerly Boeing's commercial operations there, made two barrels -- both 787 nose sections.

Wichita will supply the forward fuselage, known as Section 41, which includes the nose and cockpit.

Section 41 will be the largest of the 787 fuselage barrels -- about 43 feet long. The two nose sections that were made in Wichita last year were about half that long, but included the highly contoured cockpit section, which represents a more difficult manufacturing challenge.

A bigger autoclave will be needed in Wichita before the full-length Section 41 can be produced later this year.

"It has become a fairly routine process," Bair said of the barrel-making work in Wichita and in Seattle.

Two of the five test barrels made at the developmental center near Boeing Field in 2005 were joined together to prove out production methods, Bair said.

Boeing and its partners also built a full-scale 787 wing box in 2005 to demonstrate both the manufacturing techniques and to support structural testing that must be done to build a database for certification of the 787, Bair said.

Unlike a labor-intensive aluminum fuselage section of an airplane, which requires several large pieces held together by thousands of rivets, a composite fuselage barrel can be made as one big piece that does not need rivets. A computer-controlled robot applies layers of carbon fiber on a huge mold, which is then baked in an enormous oven, or autoclave, until cured.

"We have sucked up the world's capacity to do that," Bair said.

Boeing's partners don't yet have the big autoclaves needed to make the fuselage sections, wings and horizontal stabilizer of the 787. But they are in the process of getting them, Bair said.

Manufacturing plants to support the 787 are going up in Japan, Italy and South Carolina.

The three Japanese "heavies" will supply about 35 percent of the 787 airframe, including the composite wings. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will supply the 787 wing box, Fuji Heavy Industries will supply the center wing box, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries will supply wing parts and a small fuselage section forward of the wing.

The companies are all building new facilities in and around the city of Nagoya, home Toyota Corp. The new Mitsubishi wing plant is on Nagoya Bay, on land where Mitsubishi Motors once assembled cars.

Completed wings of the 787 will be floated by barge from the Mitsubishi plant to the new Central Japanese Airport, or Centrair, which was created on an artificial island in Nagoya Bay. The wings, nearly 100 feet long, will then be flown to Everett on a modified 747 freighter for final assembly.

"It's breathtaking to see what some of these people are putting up," Bair said, referring to Boeing's 787 partners.

Manufacturing plants for the 787 also are going up in Italy and in South Carolina. Alenia, an Italian company, and Texas-based Vought Aircraft are responsible for the horizontal stabilizer, center fuselage and aft fuselage of the 787.

Vought will produce its 787 fuselage barrels at a new plant under construction at the Charleston, S.C., airport. The Vought section will be joined, in a separate assembly plant under construction nearby, with a fuselage section made by Alenia. The completed structure will be flown to Everett in those modified 747s.

"They have webcams set up all over the place so we can watch in real time," Bair said of the two 787 plants being built in Charleston.

"There is great progress in bringing the airplane into existence," Bair said.

But there are also many dangers ahead in such a complex undertaking. The manufacturing challenges are daunting, given that the 787 represents a huge technological leap over existing jets.

The last thing Boeing needs are the kinds of problems that have plagued Airbus and its A380 superjumbo.

That airplane, world's biggest jetliner, is at least six months late. Singapore Airlines won't get the first one until probably December.

All Nippon Airways of Japan is schedule to take delivery of the first Boeing Dreamliner, in early summer of 2008.

That's more than two years away. But Section 41 from Wichita is scheduled to arrive in Everett for final assembly of the first plane in April 2007.

And that's just 15 months away and counting down.

Thanks for posting here Bond James Bond. :)

I'm hoping this thread will lead to the closure of Isan's, as it has become nothing more than Isan posting old news articles that others put up before him.

:cheers:

Jagson To Launch National Airline With 19 Airbus Planes

NewKerala - 5/1/06

New Delhi: Jagson Airlines, the country's first private carrier, today announced plans to invest Rs 1,500 crore in the next three years and expand its existing feeder route network to national operations by 2006-end.

Currently, it operates on short routes in Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Rajasthan.

''Jagson will now fly as a national airline covering nine cities by this year-end with inaugural flight between New Delhi and Bangalore in April or May,'' said its newly-appointed Uttam Kumar Bose who recently quit the Subrata Roy-led Sahara group.

Mr Bose said Jagson will acquire 19 Airbus aircraft [A321s] and follow the low cost business model. ''We'll be targetting the existing economy class travellers and frequent fliers of legacy airlines with premium service at competitive prices.'' After the government opened up civil aviation sector for private investments, Jagson was the first to get its registration in 1992.

It will now have to convert its non-scheduled operator licence to that of a scheduled operator and increase the paid up capital from current Rs 1.06 crore to Rs 50 crore.

It's now official: Boeing had it's best year, 2005!!! = 1002 orders!!!!!!

Order Total:
Boeing 717 = 0
Boeing 737 = 569 (The best year for the 737 series).
Boeing 747 = 43 (much more than te A380 had in 2005).
Boeing 767 = 15
Boeing 777 = 154 (The best year for the 777 series).
Boeing 787 = 235 (New successor)

http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/index.cfm

Source: http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q1/060105a_nr.html

Boeing Ends 2005 with New Records for Airplane Orders
* 1,002 net orders (1,029 gross) surpasses 877 net orders reached in 1988
* Record order totals posted for 737, 777 and 787 programs
* New program launches also key 2005 highlight


Notable highlights for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in 2005:
* Launching the 747-8 Intercontinental, 777 Freighter, 737-900ER, and the 767-300 Boeing Converted Freighter -- and offering customers a larger Boeing Business Jet, the BBJ 3.
* Achieving firm configuration on the 787 Dreamliner and reaching several other major program milestones, including building the first composite fuselage sections and unveiling the 787 flight deck.
* Establishing a new world record with the 777-200LR Worldliner for distance traveled nonstop by a commercial airplane, demonstrating that this airplane can connect nonstop virtually any two cities in the world.
* Producing outstanding results in Commercial Aviation Services, which completed and delivered the first 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter, and won new customers for the Electronic Flight Bag, Airplane Health
Management and Maintenance Performance Toolbox. CAS also responded to increasing customer demand for around-the-clock support by opening its first integrated operations center.
* Continuing efforts to dramatically improve the quality and productivity of the Boeing production system, including completing the sales of the Wichita/Tulsa and Arnprior operations, which are now valued partners to Boeing and suppliers to the entire industry.
* Delivering the final 757, marking a successful 23-year passenger airplane program that sold more than 1,000 airplanes.
* Deciding to conclude production of the 717 while celebrating its legacy of introducing moving production lines to Commercial Airplanes.

SEATTLE, Jan. 05, 2006 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] recorded 1,002 net commercial airplane orders during 2005, setting a new Boeing record for total orders in a single year.

The 2005 total surpasses the previous Boeing record of 877 net orders in 1988, which includes both Boeing and then-McDonnell Douglas totals; the companies merged in 1997. Boeing posted 272 net orders for commercial airplanes in 2004. Gross orders in 2005, which exclude cancellations and conversions, totaled 1,029.

Three airplane programs - the 737, 777 and 787 programs -- also achieved individual records with net orders of 569 for 737s, 154 for 777s and 235 for 787s. Previous record totals for these programs were 438 737s in 1996, 116 777s in 2000, and 56 787s in 2004. The 747 and 767 programs also had a very successful sales year with 43 and 15 net new orders, respectively.

Boeing has posted its year-end orders information on its Orders and Deliveries Web site http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/index.cfm.

Orders finalized since the Dec 20, 2005 update include 68 737, 777 and 787 airplanes for Air India, 20 737s for China Southern Airlines, 10 737s for dba (formerly Deutsche BA), 6 737s for Hainan Airlines, 5 737s for Shanghai Airlines, 4 737s for China Eastern Airlines, 5 737s for Shenzhen Airlines, 4 737s for WestJet, 2 737s for Turkmenistan, 8 787s for Lcal and 2 787s for Continental Airlines.

In total, more than 72 different customers ordered Boeing airplanes in 2005, including passenger airlines, cargo carriers, leasing companies and private customers. The 2005 totals include 28 aircraft from customers who wish to remain unidentified as of Jan. 4, 2006.

"Clearly, 2005 was an incredible year for our customers and for Boeing," said Alan Mulally, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer. "We continued to stay focused on bringing efficiency and value to the airlines of the world through world-class services and airplanes that fly passengers how they want to fly -- point-to-point, non-stop, with more frequencies and more choices."

"We also solidified the transformation of our product line, and the market validated our strategy with every order during the year," said Mulally. "Our new portfolio of airplanes from 100 to 450 seats, combined with our global support services, put us in a great position for the long term."

"We look forward to 2006 and continuing to meet our commitments to our customers," Mulally said.

2005 Boeing orders: 1002
Wide Bodies: 446 (Wow, what a number)
Single Aisles: 569 (pretty good for one aircraft family)

2005 has been a wonderful year for the aviation sector, hope the same will happen this year.

Airbus and Boeing order race goes to the wire


Boeing has had its most successful year ever in 2005 in terms of orders, but Airbus could still beat its rival later this month if it firms a series of crucial commitments.

The US airframer released its year-end figures today (5 January) showing record gross orders of 1,029 for the year, with a net figure of 1,002, beating its 1988 previous best of 877 net orders. With the last official Airbus order total standing at 687 at the end of November, many are assuming Boeing will regain the net order supremacy it lost in 2001.

However, if the European manufacturer manages to finalise several very large orders, it could still squeak past Boeing, reaching as many as 1,084 gross orders. Data supplied by Flight International sister company AvSoft estimates the airframer had around 800 confirmed firm orders by the end of last year, but this tally could be bolstered with a further 280-odd orders from as-yet incomplete deals.

For example, there is uncertainty over a "general terms agreement " signed with Chinese state-owned import & export group CASGC for 150 aircraft destined for Chinese carriers, announced during a visit to Paris by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao in early December. There are also question marks over whether a letter of intent for 70 A320s from aircraft lessor AerCap (formerly Debis AirFinance) has been firmed up. Similar uncertainty faces announcements for 60 A350s from Qatar Airways announced in June but yet to be made firm; and commitments from Finnair to acquire nine A350s and three A340s.

Lack of clarity over the orders makes Airbus's formal announcement of 2005 order totals, to take place on 17 January in Paris, a nail-biter. Only if Airbus manages to close the majority of the deals will it beat Boeing.

Boeing says it is happy with its figures, with 2005 marking a record year for the 737, 777 and 787 types. The order totals for the types were 569 for the 737, 154 for the 777 and 235 for the 787. Previous record totals for these programmes were 438 737s in 1996, 116 777s in 2000, and 56 787s in 2004. "Clearly, 2005 was an incredible year for our customers and for Boeing," says Alan Mulally, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive.

The gross order total for the year, before cancellations and order exchange deals are taken into acount, reached 1,029 gross, with 1,002 ending up as firm orders by the end of the year. The 2005 total surpasses the previous Boeing record in 1988, which included both Boeing and then-McDonnell Douglas totals. Full details are available from the Boeing website.

JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON

Wow this is madness! Either way, both companies won big this year. They'll be fighting back and forth for at least the next decade. :cheers:

Now how will boeing fullful these orders where theres so many orders?

lol,someone seems to be jealous...

What I said is true; when you count its military division and space, Boeing is the largest aerospace company on Earth. Lockheed comes in second, and it doesn't even make commercial planes!

Hey now wait a minute . . .

If Airbus finalizes some orders in 2006, how does that count for their orders for 2005?? :?

^^ :P Yea, that's what I was thinking.

I was wondering the same thing too. I thought if the order wasn't signed by December 31, that was it. ;)

Besides... Those 150 A320s to China could help give Airbus a big boost starting off 2006! :D

I think they're trying to cheat!!! :bleep:

:banana: Airbus.

"Hey now wait a minute . . .

If Airbus finalizes some orders in 2006, how does that count for their orders for 2005??


It'll be to do with which much they are accounted for in the companies books - if they invoiced the airlines for the deposits in December then the orders are 2005 orders - Airbus ia always a couple of weeks behind in updating it's order pages.

It's a difficult one for Boeing this - do they try and ramp up production and risk leaving themselves with massive factories half empty in 4/5 years time or do they take it steady and then risk Airbus pinching customers who can't wait 5 or 6 years for a plane?

If I understand you, the 2005-2010 years could be the "song of the sign" for Boeing? ;)

Airbus ia always a couple of weeks behind in updating it's order pages.
So far I know, that is true.

risk Airbus pinching customers who can't wait 5 or 6 years for a plane?
This is an issue itself. Airbus is offering a good deal with A330 options while A350 is arriving. I make an example of Air Europa.

Forgeard: Airbus Beats 200-Order Target For A350

Flight International - 9/1/06

Airbus has beaten its target for more than 200 A350 "orders and commitments" in 2005 by at least 10%, EADS co-chief executive Noël Forgeard said today.

Forgeard did not specify how many would be officially classed as firm orders when the Toulouse manufacturer reveals its year-end figures on 17 January.

Airbus is chasing Boeing's year-end gross order total of 1,029 commercial aircraft and the number of A350 "commitments" it converts to declared orders is crucial to which manufacturer wins the orders race.

Speaking to the press at a New Year lunch in Paris, Forgeard (pictured left) said the contest would be "very close". He adds: "We will have to wait until the seventeenth to see if one did better than the other slightly."
Forgeard also hints he is still keen to pursue a merger with Thales. Referring to quotes he made to the media early last year, he says: "I cannot comment on public companies but ... I don't usually change my mind." All EADS managers, he said, had been instructed not to comment on the matter.

He says too that the price of fuel would be the main factor in determining how fast industry moves to developing an aircraft overwhelmingly built using composites. "If fuel is very expensive, you need an ultra-light aircraft, even if the cost of manufacture is higher," he says.
Airbus will spend €450 million ($540 million) in 2007-08 in developing composite technology. "Low cost industrial composites are the big challenge," he says. "But we will be ready to react."

EADS is to aim for annual sales of around €40 billion euros in the next five years, compared with sales of more than €33 billion for last year, Forgeard says.

after first saying they "missed" by 10-15% now they "beat it" by 10% for 2005. How? orders firmed up now dont count for 2005

China 'In Rush' To Launch Own Aircraft Industry

Ambrose Evans-Pritchard - Telegraph.co.uk - 9/1/06

China is launching a direct challenge to Boeing and Airbus for dominance of the global aircraft industry, aiming to build its first mid-size passenger jet within a decade.

Moving rapidly up the technology ladder, Beijing is eyeing a 175-seat mid-range jet to meet voracious demand for air travel in the region.

The Chinese-designed plane would rival the popular Boeing 737 workhorse and the Airbus A319, A320, and A321 models. Beijing's defence and technology commission COSTIND said it planned to spend £3billion on a five-year development project starting in 2010.

China is the third-biggest air travel market in the world after the US and Europe, clocking up 120m passengers in 2004.

A senior Chinese aviation official said the country was in a "rush" to build its own aircraft before demand peaked during the next 20 years.

The new jet is being designed for 600-mile hops linking the country's three biggest growth and industry hot spots: the Hong Kong-Canton region; the Yangtse Delta around Shanghai; and the northeast area of Bohai.

China is already snapping up a sixth of all new aircraft production but there is a three-year backlog of orders.

While the aircraft project makes commercial sense, it is hard to separate from global power politics and may cause nervousness in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

COSTIND's main job is to manage technology for the Chinese armed forces, which have become increasingly assertive in the region.

China is moving into aircraft production on several fronts. The state-owned China Aviation Industry Corporation is building a turbofan ERJ145 in a joint venture with Brazil's Embraer in the northern city of Harbin.

But it is also drawing up detailed blueprints for an entirely Chinese-designed ARJ21 short-haul commuter aircraft, scheduled for as early as 2008.

At the same time, Airbus is committed to plans for a Chinese assembly plant that could entail a major transfer of sensitive technology.

The agreement, in principle, was extracted by Beijing last month as the quid pro quo for a €9billion purchase of 150 mid-range A320 jets by five Chinese firms, the biggest ever bloc sale of Airbus jets.

Shaanxi province is emerging as the hub of a flourishing 130,000-strong aerospace sector, the latest evidence of the country's rapid move beyond the low-tech industries in textile and simple electronics.

Boeing And JAL Turn 747-400BCF Options To Firm Orders

PR Newswire - 9/1/06

Boeing and Tokyo-based Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd. (JAL) today announced that JAL is increasing the number of 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighters it has on order to eight, with an additional four options.

JAL first ordered the 747-400 BCF in October 2004, signing up for three firm modifications and four options. With today's announcement, the four options became firm orders and JAL also added one more firm order and four more options. The value of the order agreement will not be released.

The first JAL 747-400 BCF entered modification at Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering Co. (TAECO) in Xiamen, China, in December 2005. It will be delivered back to the airline in May.

This agreement brings the total number of 747-400 BCF orders to 37 with 29 options since the program's launch in January 2004.

"Japan Airlines has already demonstrated its commitment to Boeing's 747-400 conversion program, and this additional order is an affirmation of the many benefits this airplane offers," said Dan da Silva, vice president of sales and marketing for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "We are thrilled to see such a valuable customer -- a respected, trend-setting industry player -- recognizing the additional value they can gain by adding to an already significant order."

Boeing offers the industry's most complete line of commercial freighter airplanes, including the recently launched 747-8 Freighter, the 747-400 factory-built freighter, the 777 Freighter, the 767 Freighter and the 737-700C convertible freighter. The 747 freighter family provides more than half of the world's dedicated freighter capacity, and Boeing freighters, in all, provide more than 90 percent of global freighter capacity.

Boeing Commercial Aviation Services offers customers reliable conversion-based engineering and certification expertise. Customers may choose and incorporate support packages during freighter conversions, including avionics and flight-deck upgrades, customized maintenance programs and integration of technical manuals.

As of June, 2005, JAL serves some 206 airports in 34 countries with approximately 270 airplanes, including Boeing 747, 777, 767 and 737 models. JAL ordered 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, four 767-300 Freighters and 30 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes last year.

Air India Boosts Size Of Boeing Order

Flight International - 9/1/06

Air India has increased the size of its now-finalised deal for Boeing widebody and narrowbody aircraft to 68 firm orders from 53 as originally planned.

Boeing revealed the increase in the size of the deal yesterday when it detailed all of the more than 1,000 firm aircraft orders it booked in 2005. The manufacturer shows on its website that in the final days of the year Air India signed for 23 777s, 27 787s and 18 737-800s. A public signing ceremony is scheduled for next week in Mumbai, although the deal is already considered binding.

The state-owned airline originally planned to place firm orders for 10 777-300ERs, five 777-200LRs and 20 787s, all powered by General Electric engines, as well as 18 737-800s. It said it would also take options on three 777-200LRs, five 777-300ERs and seven 787s.

Deliveries of the 737-800s, which are intended for low-cost subsidiary Air India Express, are due to begin later this year while the first 777s will be delivered early next year. Deliveries will continue until 2012.

Air India has not ordered new aircraft in more than a decade and has instead been relying heavily on leasing to increase the size of its fleet. In April it started seeking government approval to place the major Boeing order and recently began seeking financing for pre-delivery payments.

The airline confirms from that final government approval was recently secured to increase the size of the firm order as demand for air travel to and from India has been growing much faster than originally anticipated. "The market has been so bullish since this order was first mooted so you could take these as all firm orders,” it says. "They may not even be enough. We may need to go back for another order,” the company adds.

Air India currently has 12 Boeing 747-400s, one 747-400 Combi, two 747-300 Combis, two 747-200s, 20 Airbus A310-300s and four 777-200ERs, the majority of which are leased, while Air India Express has three leased 737-800s. Bhargava says the group fleet should amount to 74 owned aircraft by 2012 as it will be phasing out all its existing aircraft apart from six 747-400s that it owns.

Its eight 777-200LRs and 15 777-300ERs will have three-class configurations while its 27 787s will have two-class configurations. Its 18 737-800s will have single-class configurations.

looks like India is booming, very good news indeed!

Airbus To Launch New Generation Of Planes

Xinhua - 9/1/06

Noel Forgeard, co-chief executive of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), parent company of Airbus, announced Monday here that European aircraft maker Airbus plans to launch a new generation of planes.

The new planes will be built with light, composite materials to help increase fuel efficiency and to replace the small, medium-range and single-aisle A320 family, he said at a news conference.

"If kerosene is very expensive, what is important is to have an ultra-light plane, even if the cost of production is higher," he said.

"Today we are actively preparing the launch -- at a date I'm not going to reveal -- of new generations of medium-range aircraft with fuselages that are mostly made out of composite materials with very low-cost production," he said.

The main challenge for 2008-09 would be to produce these low-cost composite materials, he said.

The European company received 579 orders for the A320 for the 11 months to end-November 2005, while Boeing recorded 569 orders for its rival model, the Boeing 737, over the whole of last year.

Forgeard said that Airbus' budget for research on new technologies has been doubled to 450 million euros per year from 2006 and in 2007-08.

Airbus is 80-percent owned by EADS and 20-percent by British BAE-system.

^ This comes just days after Airbus publicly cast doubt on Boeing's use of composite materials on the B787! What hypocrisy!! :laugh:

Tokyo-based Japan Airlines International Co. Ltd. placed firm orders Monday for four 747-400 Boeing Co. freighters.

The deal for the four jets brings to eight the number of such aircraft that JAL has ordered from the Chicago-based aerospace company, Boeing said.

JAL first ordered the 747-400 BCF in October 2004, signing up for three firm modifications and four options. With Monday`s announcement, the four options became firm orders and JAL also added one more firm order and four additional options. The value of the latest orders was not released.

The first JAL 747-400 BCF entered modification at Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft

Engineering Co. in Xiamen, China, in December 2005. It will be delivered back to the airline in May.

This agreement brings the total number of 747-400 BCF orders to 37 with 29 options since the program`s launch in January 2004.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

^ This comes just days after Airbus publicly cast doubt on Boeing's use of composite materials on the B787! What hypocrisy!! :laugh:

That's possible Boeing has some problem with composite materials. Maybe they hope too much for the 787.

But what is hard or impossible to build today could be easy later. That's how I see the Airbus' reactions.

^ This comes just days after Airbus publicly cast doubt on Boeing's use of composite materials on the B787! What hypocrisy!! :laugh:
Airbus used a lot of composite materials for the A380 as well.

Plus - Boeing stated that the "future airline industry" was about smaller fuel efficient planes routed between smaller hubs, when Airbus announced it's A380. Now, Boeing has announced the 747-800 - hypocracy, anyone?

This is business, nothing else... :)

I think that if it wasn't for airbus computerized cockpit, Boeing would still use analog instruments like old times.

I think that if it wasn't for airbus computerized cockpit, Boeing would still use analog instruments like old times.

That's only better. licuid cristal displays can fall-out. analog not.

:ohno:

Boeing stated that the "future airline industry" was about smaller fuel efficient planes routed between smaller hubs, when Airbus announced it's A380. Now, Boeing has announced the 747-800 - hypocracy, anyone?
The 747 has always been a good freighter with its nose bay door. Boeing probably figured they could make a few bucks off cargo airlines by re-engineing their aircraft and making it a little bigger with lighter materials. I don't think this 747-8 was designed to last them another 30 years, and I don't think they ever expected to sell a passenger version either.

I think that if it wasn't for airbus computerized cockpit, Boeing would still use analog instruments like old times.
Airbus prides itself on innovation and cutting-edge technology. It's what sold their planes for them before they were even a real company and could price competitively. I think they feel burned by the 787, and they've learned their lesson. ;)

That's only better. licuid cristal displays can fall-out. analog not.

:ohno:

I guess you do have a computer from late 60's and no mobile phone otherwise your statement has no sense at all

Air One to Order 30 Airbus A320 Planes to Replace Boeing 737s

Jan. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Air One, Italy's second-largest airline, plans to buy 30 Airbus SAS airplanes worth about $1.8 billion at list prices to expand and to replace older and smaller Boeing Co. aircraft.

``Air One will buy 30 A320s that will gradually replace the 30 Boeing Co. 737 it now operates,'' Air One spokeswoman Antonella Covello said today in an interview. The carrier is buying new planes ``to expand,'' Covello said.

Air One Chairman Carlo Toto owns the Rome-based carrier as well as a construction and engineering company, Toto Costruzioni Generali SpA. Toto bought Aliadratica in 1988 and changed the carrier's name to Air One in 1995. The airline flies to 23 destinations in Italy, including the Rome-Milan route, Italy's most profitable, and carried 5.8 million passengers last year.

The airline runs 1,200 flights a week and has a partnership with Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Germany's biggest airline, that allows Air One passengers to participate in Lufthansa's frequent flyer program.

Air One's current fleet includes Boeing 737-200 and 737-300 aircraft which seat 120 to 136 passengers. The new Airbus planes will each seat 150 passengers. The Airbus order will be announced at a press conference in Rome on Jan. 12.

The 747 has always been a good freighter with its nose bay door. Boeing probably figured they could make a few bucks off cargo airlines by re-engineing their aircraft and making it a little bigger with lighter materials. I don't think this 747-8 was designed to last them another 30 years, and I don't think they ever expected to sell a passenger version either.


Airbus prides itself on innovation and cutting-edge technology. It's what sold their planes for them before they were even a real company and could price competitively. I think they feel burned by the 787, and they've learned their lesson. ;)

The 748 is just filler until Y3, I doubt itll get many pax sales at all.

The 748 is just filler until Y3, I doubt itll get many pax sales at all.
I'm looking forward to Y3, another Super Jumbo... :drool: :cheers:

I doubt itll be "super" though, probably only 1 main deck (itll most likely have the upper deck crew rests like 777). I rather expect it to be a very wide-body twin, either like 11 across or even triple aisle! (like 2 4 4 2 in Eco). that would be awesome

I rather expect it to be a very wide-body twin, either like 11 across or even triple aisle! (like 2 4 4 2 in Eco). that would be awesome
Twin-engined? Does Boeing have GE working on a bigger engine than the 90-115B? :D

not yet, but who knows by the time Y3 comes around. Itll probably be composite crazy too to make it lighter

soory for my stupidity but whats the y-3

Stupidity? Nonsense! No such thing as a stupid question, [unless you go to the Burj Dubai thread and ask "how tall is it gonna be?"] :D

I had to look it up myself one day, here's what Wikipedia says on the topic:


Yellowstone is a Boeing Commercial Airplanes project to replace its entire civil aircraft portfolio with advanced technology aircraft. New technologies to be introduced include composite aerostructures, more electrical systems, and more fuel-efficient turbofan engines (such as the GEnx and Trent 1000). The term "Yellowstone" refers to the technologies, while "Y1" through "Y3" refer to the actual aircraft.

Yellowstone is divided into three projects:

- Y1, to replace the 717, 737, and 757-200 product lines. Y1 will cover the 100 to 200-passenger space.

- Y2, to replace the 757-300 and 767 product lines. It may also replace the 777-200. Y2, which initially referred to the Sonic Cruiser is now in development as the 787. Y2 will cover the 200 to 300-passenger space.

- Y3, to replace the 777-300 and 747 product lines. Y3 will cover 300 passengers and beyond.

:cheers:

hmm. Thats states that Y2 aka 787 will take over 772. It certiainly wont take over 772LR (at least for a while) and will only take over the regular and er versions if EK has their say and boeing builds the 787-10.

Stupidity? Nonsense! No such thing as a stupid question, [unless you go to the Burj Dubai thread and ask "how tall is it gonna be?"] :D
<snip>


:lol: I laughed.

:ohno:

I guess you do have a computer from late 60's and no mobile phone otherwise your statement has no sense at all

Yes, i've it all.

But, as there is a problem in the cockpit with the computers or the powers fall-down, and the battary is empty, then wins analog instruments it of digital.

Everybody knows that everyday, an Airbus plane fall down because of empty battery. :yes:

Anyway maybe that's what Boeing said in the 90's to explain why their cockpits looked like so old fashioned.

We're lucky guys! The competition between these 2 giants give us soo much fun! :lol:

Airbus Jets For Italy And Mexico

BBC News - 12/1/06

Air One, a carrier with 25% of the Italian market, ordered 30 Airbus A320 and announced options to buy a further 60 of the 159-seater planes.

Mexican start-up airline Volaris will buy 16 of the slightly smaller Airbus A319, with 40 options for A320 planes.

The deals give Airbus an early edge over Boeing, which last year sold more planes than its European rival.

Air One, founded 10 years ago, will use the Airbus A320 to replace its current fleet of 30 Boeing 737s.

The deal is worth about $1.8bn (£1bn).

Company president Carlo Toto said he had opted for the A320 as "the most efficient and comfortable aircraft available".

In a swipe at troubled rival Alitalia, the Italian flagship carrier, he said Air One had "never weighed on the state budget".

Mr Toto said Air One would exercise 10 of its options for additional A320s as early as this year.

Airbus managers, who last year narrowly failed to beat US rival Boeing in the number of aircraft ordered, were quick to point out that Air One was the 44th company to switch from Boeing to Airbus.

Volaris takes off

Mexican start-up airline Volaris meanwhile plans to take off with smaller Airbus A319 aeroplanes, which can seat 144 people in a single-class set-up.

The airline plans to fly from its home base at Toluca airport near Mexico City to domestic destinations like Monterrey and Tijuana.

Until its 16 Airbus are delivered, the company will start operations with four leased Airbus A319.

Volaris has ambitious expansion plans, with options for 40 of the larger A320 aircraft.

The company is owned jointly by Mexican bank Inbursa, investment bank Protego-Discovery, television group Televisa and Taca, a leading Latin-American airline formed 25 years ago after a merger of five national airlines.

Airbus is a joint venture between European aerospace giant EADS, which controls 80% of the company, and British firm BAE Systems, which owns the rest.

Boeing Begins Building The 5,000th 737

Boeing Press Release - 12/1/06

Boeing today begins final assembly of the 5,000th 737 in the Boeing manufacturing facility in Renton, Wash. The airplane, a 737-700 destined for Southwest Airlines, will be delivered next month.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/737.jpg

The wings and landing gear shown here are being joined to the 737-700 fuselage. Last-stage assembly and interiors installation will begin once the airplane joins the moving assembly line. In December 2005, sales for the 737 surpassed 6,000. To date, 231 customers have ordered 6,099 of the single-aisle passenger jet, which Boeing has manufactured since 1967.

BA Grapples With 747 Succession

Max Kingsley Jones @ Flight International - 17/1/06

British Airways has given the clearest indication yet that it will order ultra-large aircraft to replace its Boeing 747-400s, but does not expect to begin serious negotiations with Airbus and Boeing until next year.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/BA747.jpg

The UK carrier has traditionally been lukewarm about ultra-large aircraft, showing no enthusiasm to be an early customer for the Airbus A380 as it pursued its strategy of expanding its Boeing 777 fleet rather than adding 747-400s.

Despite this, BA has the world’s largest fleet of passenger 747-400s, with 57 aircraft in service, and now acknowledges that ultra-large aircraft like the A380, or the recently launched 747-8, will have a role in its future. “The reality is that not all our 747-400s are going to be replaced by a smaller widebodies,” says BA director of planning Robert Boyle.

“As there isn’t really the option to replace them with the same-sized aircraft, we’ll look at larger ones like the A380 and 747-8,” he adds.

Boyle is not specific about the timing for such an order, saying that it is dependent on the replacement timing for BA’s 747-400s, the oldest of which are 17 years old. “We’ll be getting in to the ‘zone’ to decide on a replacement in the next year or so,” he says, ruling out placing an order for both types.

The 747 replacement evaluation, which is one of several campaigns that the airline is poised to begin in the near term for short- and long-haul aircraft, will also include the Airbus A340-600 and 777-300/300ER, says Boyle.

He cautions, however, that BA must resolve its pension deficit issue with staff before any fleet-renewal plans can be implemented.

Meanwhile, Boyle says the airline is studying the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 as replacements for its 757/767 fleet, and that an A320 versus 737 competition is on the horizon to replace the ageing fleet of 737 Classics based at London Gatwick.

“We operate 19 737-400s that are owned, along with 14 -300/500s for which we have just extended the leases out until 2008-9,” he says. “We should be in a position to decide on a replacement by the end of 2007.”

Although BA operates 70 A320 family aircraft and still has some options remaining from its huge 1998 deal with Airbus for 188 aircraft, Boyle says that the airline will compete the order between both manufacturers to maximise the competitiveness of the bids.

Knowing BA, I think they will go with Boeing widebodies, split between 773ERs and 748. I would be surprised to see them orders a380s

Airbus Sells 25 Jets To UAE Buyer

UPI - 16/1/06

Oasis International Leasing Co. is spending about $900 million for passenger aircraft from Europe's Airbus SA.

The 25 planes, including single- and double-aisled aircraft, will more than double the size of the Oasis fleet, Khaleej Times said Monday. The purchase is the firm's largest investment to date.

Planes being acquired include A318, A319, A320, A321, A330 and A340 jetliners.

The transaction was facilitated by the UAE Offsets Group through financing from a syndicate of international defense contractors, AFS and a debt syndicate led by Barclays Capital.

Knowing BA, I think they will go with Boeing widebodies, split between 773ERs and 748. I would be surprised to see them orders a380s
Yes. :)

Airbus Facing Pressure To Update A340

Reuters - 16/1/06

European plane maker Airbus is expected to announce record sales and aircraft output for 2005 on Tuesday but could be forced to update the four-engine A340 to fight U.S. rival's Boeing's 777, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The three versions of the Airbus A340 won only 15 orders in the 11 months to November, according to the most recent figures Airbus published, the paper said.

The two-engine A330-300 also won 15 orders.

But Boeing's competing 777 models won 154 orders last year.

Airlines say that the 777 is beating the A340 because it is newer and less expensive to fuel and maintain, it said.

According to aviation executives, modifying a plane like the A340 could cost $1 billion.

Airbus could not be immediately reached for comment.

MyTravel Looks At A350/787

Flight International - 17/1/06

MyTravel Airways has begun assessing the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 as it looks again at its requirements following last year’s successful ? nancial restructuring, writes Kieran Daly.

The UK leisure carrier was forced to slash its ?eet by one-third as it battled to avoid collapse, but is now looking to add capacity and has seen its business evolve increasingly into a medium-haul model.Director of ? ight operations Steve Solomon indicates that early availability is likely to be important, but says: “If the 787 does what they say it will, then it will be a very good aircraft.”

The evaluation would cover the requirements of MyTravel’s UK and Scandinavian divisions,which currently operate A330 widebodies.

From the article:
The 747 replacement evaluation, which is one of several campaigns that the airline is poised to begin in the near term for short- and long-haul aircraft, will also include the Airbus A340-600 and 777-300/300ER, says Boyle.
Im saying theyll split between 773ER and 748. They may also go 772LR, but seeing how Qantas has said that they cant economically run nonstop LHR-SYD BA might be careful about this.

Second Chance

Max Kingsley-Jones @ Flight International - 17/1/06

It is more than a year since Airbus showed its hand in the battle for the mid-size widebody market, unveiling the A350 as a major derivative of the A330 – then powered solely by General Electric GEnx engines – to compete against the all-new Boeing 787. Over the past 12 months, the new Airbus has undergone several significant design refinements. In its latest guise – shown to customers in November – the twinjet shares little more than 5% commonality with its predecessor.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/A350.jpg

Dougie Hunter, A350 chief engineer, says the design process has been evolutionary. Between December 2004 – when the aircraft was unveiled – and April last year, the A350 programme saw weight and range increases, structural material selections, aerodynamic improvements, a slight stretch (for the larger -900 model) and cabin revisions.

Since then improvements have resulted in a “November 2005” specification. The improvements include aerodynamic changes, enabling cruise speed to increase slightly; cabin enhancements; simplification of the structure and fuel system; and an all-new, deeper nose design to accommodate the new underfloor flightcrew rest compartment (FCRC). The A350 has also gained a second engine option – the Rolls-Royce Trent 1700 – and a new “face”, through the revision of the cockpit window layout. The latter, although ostensibly performed to improve aerodynamics, will set the new aircraft apart visually from all the previous Airbus widebody models.

Definition Freeze
“The next major step will be ‘Milestone 5’ – the definition freeze – due at the end of the first quarter of 2006,” says Hunter.

While Airbus has adopted the so-called “787 technology” engines for the A350, it has baulked at following Boeing all the way down the composites route, the material accounting for around 60% of the 787’s structure. However, Airbus boasts that “60% of the A350’s structure is made of advanced materials, enabling us to achieve the equivalent of an 8t weight reduction,” says Hunter [see graphic].

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/A350a.jpg

Despite Airbus’s more conservative approach to the use of composites, the material accounts for two-thirds of these “advanced materials”, with carbonfibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) being employed in the wing and empennage, where Airbus says that high fatigue resistance was the selection driver. However, aluminium lithium – rather than composites on the 787 – has been adopted for the fuselage skin. The driver for this was the need to cope with accidental damage, and the alloy represents around a fifth of the A350’s advanced materials, says Hunter. “Aluminium lithium allows for easy damage assessment and standard procedures for repair,” he adds.

One key change in the latest design iteration is the increased cruise speed, which closes the gap to the Mach 0.85-capable 787 family. The A350 is now capable of Mach 0.83-0.84 – to the approval of International Lease Finance, which had been unhappy with the A350’s lack of speed.

Although superficially based on the A330, the A350’s wing is of largely composite construction and has undergone revisions over the past 12 months to net further performance improvements. “Using the latest computational fluid dynamics [CFD] technology, which we’ve verified in the windtunnel, we’ve reprofiled the mid-section of the upper surface of the wing,” says Hunter. “We’ve also reshaped the flap-track fairings and reduced their length using CFD analysis,” he adds.

Hunter says these changes “delay the onset of drag rise and push long-range cruise speed up from Mach 0.82 to 0.83, and economic cruise speed to Mach 0.84”.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/A350b.jpg

The A350 wing has borrowed the A380’s “droop nose” inboard leading-edge device (essentially a sealed number one slat) since early in its conception, which gives improved low-speed efficiency. Airbus has now incorporated a leading-edge extension to reduce approach speeds.

Ongoing CFD and windtunnel analysis has allowed Airbus to optimise the wing/engine interface for the GEnx-powered version, and a similar effort with the belly fairing shape has reduced drag and helped to improve the cruise-speed performance after it was discovered that the original design caused airflow to interact with the A350’s larger-diameter engines. The wing also features larger winglets, which are 50% taller and 33% larger in area than the existing design.

The adoption of CFRP fore and aft spars for the outer wing (outboard of the composite centre wingbox) has enabled Airbus to delete the centre spar and revise the design of the metallic ribs, providing further weight reductions.

The revamped wing also incorporates a simplified fuel system, with one large centre fuel tank extending into the outer wing flanked by a main wing tank each side, further reducing weight and improving operating efficiency. The tailplane trim tank has also been expanded, which improves centre-of-gravity management during flight.

Smaller Fin
Another weight and drag saving comes from adopting a smaller fin for the stretched A350-900 variant, as it benefits from a longer moment arm. The existing A330-200 (on which the A350-800 is based) has a larger fin than the A330-300 due to its shorter moment arm.

The most significant visual change in the latest specification is the revamped nose section, driven by the need to increase the size of the planned lower-deck crew rest area. Airbus decided last year to relocate the FCRC from behind the cockpit to what was the avionics bay under the cockpit to free more space in the passenger cabin. After tests with a mock-up, the manufacturer realised it needed more height, so the A350 now sports a deeper nose section providing 1.75m (5.7ft) of stand-up height in the compartment – around 150mm more than the configuration with the existing fuselage shape.

As part of the changes Airbus has simplified the flightdeck window arrangement, says Hunter. “We’ve gone from four lateral windows to two – aerodynamics were the driver as it nets a 0.25% drag reduction.”

The reprofiling has enabled Airbus to simplify the nose section’s structure, and to drop earlier plans to fit a longer nose-gear leg. “We had adopted the longer leg to give the A350 a level standing position on the ground, but the reprofiling enables us to have a lower attachment point to achieve the level attitude with existing leg length, although the gear will be new,” says Hunter.

Incumbent supplier Messier-Dowty has been selected to build the A350’s all-new main landing gear (MLG), while the supplier of the new nose gear is yet to be finalised. Choice of supplier for the auxiliary power unit, the remaining major system selection, is expected to be made by February.

As well as being strengthened for the A350’s higher design weights compared with the A330, the new main gear is simplified as it finally breaks away from the A330/A340 design, which was conceived to rely upon an additional central landing gear unit for the heavier A340-200/300 variants. “By eliminating the A330/A340 centre landing-gear bay, we have more room to stow the MLG, which allows us to delete the mechanism that shortens the gear on retraction, which reduces maintenance and improves reliability,” explains Hunter. “We can also accommodate larger wheels and tyres should we need to in the future for higher weights,” he adds.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/A350c.jpg

Nacelle Work
Goodrich is to build the engine nacelle for the A350’s GEnx engine, with Airbus supplying the composite inlet, which incorporates a “zero splice” acoustic inner barrel to provide a new level of fan-noise reduction.

Arrangements for the Trent 1700 nacelle have not been finalised. Unlike the 787 and 747-8 nacelles, the A350 unit does not incorporate noise-reducing chevrons. “We didn’t get a noise advantage from chevrons, and there is a specific fuel consumption penalty, so we’ve not adopted them,” says Hunter.

Airbus is working with designers on an all-new cabin for the A350, with a mock-up expected to be unveiled in Toulouse later this year. The manufacturer is looking at incorporating innovations from the A380, as well as new ideas.

It is a little over four years until the A350 is due to enter service – in mid-2010 – around 24 months after its US rival. Airbus engineers know they must keep pushing to ensure that they can turn its later arrival into an advantage and wring the maximum out of the A350’s specification.

Im saying theyll split between 773ER and 748.
Ah, I gotcha. ;) And I agree. I've never heard an airline bash a brand new aircraft like BA has the A380. You'd think they have Boeing PR men working in the front office. :D

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8F6HM50D.htm?campaign_id=apn_home_down&chan=db

Airbus remains No. 1 on Dec. sales surge

JAN. 17 11:27 A.M. ET A December sales surge kept Airbus on top of the global passenger jet market in 2005, the company said Tuesday -- bettering Boeing Co.'s orders and deliveries.

But Airbus conceded it had lost ground to Boeing in the market for larger, more profitable planes and said it plans to review its A340 jet in the wake of disappointing sales.

Airbus announced 1,055 net orders for 2005, beating its U.S. rival's 1,002, and delivered 378 airliners to Boeing's 290. Excluding cancellations, the Airbus tally came to 1,111 orders, the largest number ever booked either side of the Atlantic.

The Airbus figures defied predictions that the European plane maker would lose the lead in orders it took from Boeing in 2001, two years before pulling ahead on deliveries. In the 11 months to Nov. 30, Airbus had reported 687 firm orders.
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Ah, I gotcha. ;) And I agree. I've never heard an airline bash a brand new aircraft like BA has the A380. You'd think they have Boeing PR men working in the front office. :DI think you're wrong Kai Tak. I think BA will order the A380 - however they may wait for the A380-900 version. I think very few airlines will choose the 747-8 for passenger service. We shall see. :)

European aircraft maker Airbus says a record year saw it sell and deliver more jets than US rival Boeing, maintaining its market dominance.
Airbus said it had captured a 51% share of new orders during 2005, with 1,055 compared with Boeing's tally of 1,002.
The manufacturer said it had also delivered more planes last year - 378 compared with Boeing's 290.
The figures surprised many analysts, who had expected Airbus to lose its lead in new plane orders.

Profit margins up
Both Airbus and Boeing benefited from a buoyant air travel market in 2005, with air passenger numbers rising by 7.7% in the first 11 months of the year, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Together with rising fuel prices, the increase in traffic encouraged airlines to invest in more new fuel-efficient aircraft.
Airbus admitted that it had lost ground to Boeing in the market for larger, wide-bodied planes, where the US manufacturer sold 455 planes to its 193.
Bosses indicated that the company might review its A340 model, which only sold 15 models as of 30 November, compared with Boeing's rival, the 777, which took 154 orders.
As a result, Boeing won the larger proportion of the passenger jet market in terms of value, with a 55% share.
"This is not a major crisis... but we can do better in this area," said chief executive Gustav Humbert.
He said that Airbus revenues had hit a record of 22.3bn euros (£15.3bn), a 12% increase on 2004.
Profit margins were also up, at about 10%, compared with 9% in 2004.
Humbert said that one of the priorities for 2006 would be to keep improving profitability.
"We are not aiming at market share for market share's sake. One percent extra profit means much more than 1% extra market share."

Record order book
Airbus' backlog of orders now stands at a record level of 2,177 aircraft, giving it a 55% market share by volume and 53% by value.
Airbus took 172 orders for the A380 in 2005
The company is ramping up production schedules to tackle its order book, having already boosted deliveries by 18% to a new record of 378 aircraft last year.
Mr Humbert said Airbus was now producing eight large, wide-bodied jets and 30 single-aisle jets each month.
The company said it was currently on target to meet its production schedule for the new A380 super-jumbo.
The first aircraft would be delivered to Singapore Airlines before the end of 2006, with Qantas and Emirates taking delivery in spring 2007.
Airbus is 80% owned by aerospace group EADS, with the rest owned by BAE Systems.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41073000/jpg/_41073823_350-787-203getty.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40998000/jpg/_40998720_boeing777_ap203b.jpg

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41017000/jpg/_41017999_airbusprototyeb203.jpg

Airbus took 172 orders for the A380 in 2005Bad journalism!

Yeah, I knew it! Airbus is number one after all! :)
:cheers:

Bad journalism!
lol it's from your BBC :D ;)

Boeing’s decision finally to launch its first major 747 derivatives in nearly 20 years sets the scene for a battle at the high-value top end of the commercial airliner market and throws down the gauntlet to arch-rival Airbus to deliver on its promise that the all-new A380 will dominate the sector.
http://www.flightinternational.com/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=10458
The US manufacturer expects the arrival of its stretched updated passenger and freighter 747 models to constrain sales of the 555-seat A380 to fewer than 500 over the next two decades. This would be achieved by taking more than half of what Boeing projects will be a 900-unit market for aircraft able to accommodate more than 400 passengers in three classes, of which around 40% will be freighters. Airbus has always insisted that it expected competition in this sector and, in contrast to Boeing, predicts a potential market of more than 1,600 aircraft over the next 20 years.
Spearheading Boeing’s attack on the A380 is the 747-8 Freighter, for which Cargolux Airlines will be launch operator, taking delivery of the first of 10 aircraft on firm order in September 2009. Japan’s Nippon Cargo Airlines has made a firm commitment to take eight. Including the options, the pair have signed for a total of up to 34 aircraft, worth $5 billion at list prices. The -8F will be 5.6m (18.3ft) longer than the -400F and provide 16% more cargo volume and a payload capacity of 140t.
The passenger version, stretched by only 3.6m and dubbed the “Intercontinental”, will follow but has yet to attract a launch operator, a situation that Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive Alan Mulally expects to be rectified “next year”. It will accommodate around 34 more passengers in a typical three-class layout and fly around 1,570km (850nm) further than today’s -400.
Mulally says the improvements being introduced to the 747 design – principally the use of state-of-the-art engines being developed to power the new-generation 787 and A350 twinjets – take “the performance of the 747 to the next level”. The manufacturer says the -8 designation was selected to “show the technology connection between the 787 and the new 747”.
Announcing the launch of the project in London last week, Mulally blamed the previous non-availability of such capable engines for the string of failed attempts to get a stretched 747 off the ground. The problem was that the airframe and aerodynamic changes that would have been needed to deliver the requisite performance improvements without the new powerplants could not be made economically viable, he said.
Designed to accommodate around 450 passengers in three classes, the 747-8 will provide about 20% more capacity than the 777-300 twinjet, but 20% less than the A380-800. “It’s right in the sweet spot of what we think the airlines will want,” says Mulally. He claims that the –8 will offer 8% lower seat-kilometre costs than the 747-400 and 6% lower than those of the A380, but with trip costs “25-30% less than the A380”, principally because the Boeing aircraft will weigh 13% less per seat.
http://www.flightinternational.com/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=10605
The freighter will boast “15% better” tonne-kilometre costs than the 747-400 and “23% better than the A380”, Mulally claims. “The primary market will be Europe and Asia because it’s just expanding so fast in freight,” he adds. The two 747-8 variants will be exclusively powered by General Electric GEnx turbofans.
Production of the 747-400, which currently has an order backlog of 47, will cease following the entry into service of the -8 in 2009. List price of the -8 Intercontinental is $250-265 million and the -8F $265-275 million, compared with $205-237 million and $210-236 million for the -400ER and -400ERF, respectively.

Holy cow! So the 748 is longer than the A388! Impressive. ;-)

Bad journalism!
Here's an article that gets it right. ;-)

2005: Airbus Continues To Lead

Airbus - Reposted By Seattle-PI - 18/1/06

2005 was a record year for Airbus in all terms, be it for deliveries, order intake and profitability. In terms of orders Airbus continued to outsell its competitor for the fifth consecutive year, while continuing to lead in terms of deliveries for the third year in a row. Airbus also achieved a profitability margin above its target of 10 per cent.

In 2005, Airbus delivered 378 airliners, bringing the Airbus turnover to approx. € 22.3 billion. With this, Airbus total deliveries now stand at 4,130. The 2005 deliveries comprise 289 Single Aisle Family aircraft and 89 wide-body long range airliners (essentially A330s and A340s). This reflects the steady increase in production rates to cope with the increasing demand, up from 305 in 2003 and well above the former record of 325 in 2001.

With 1,111 new gross orders, valued at USD 95.9 billion, and 1,055 net orders, Airbus maintained its lead for the fifth year in a row. These orders, which make up for 52 per cent of the market, comprise 918 Single Aisles, 166 A330s, A340s and A350s, and 20 A380s, as well as seven A300 Freighters. 2005 was therefore even stronger than 1998, Airbus' previous record year in which it booked 556 new orders. Also, the order intake for both the Single Aisle Family and the A330/A340/A350 were the highest ever for those product series.

At the end of 2005, Airbus had a backlog of 2,177 aircraft valued at USD 220.3 billion. It is also the highest ever in its entire history and in the history of aviation. Moreover, this is higher than that of the competition for the sixth year in a row, and comprises the highest ever backlog for both the A330/A340/A350 (346 aircraft) and the A320 Family (1,652 aircraft).

"2005 was a record year for the whole industry and for Airbus in particular", said Airbus President and CEO, Gustav Humbert, when announcing the results. "Airlines have never ever placed so many orders, a sign that they are very optimistic about the future of air transportation, with also a lot of new carriers emerging and bringing cheap air travel to an increasing number of consumers. But it also reflects the need for more modern equipment to face the rising fuel prices. We are pleased to have maintained our lead in terms of market share. But, more importantly, we continue to increase our production output, based on a backlog never seen in history, which secures work for the next four to five years at very high production rates. On behalf of all the Airbus employees, I wish to thank our customers for their confidence, and want to assure them that their "satisfaction" is our key driver. This is where we really want to become the best and be fully recognised as "the leader".

2005 was also a landmark year in terms of programmes, with the industrial launch of the new 250 -- 300 seat long range A350 on 7th October, and the first flight of the A380 on 27th April. Flight test of the all new double-decker continues to progress well, with the three aircraft now flying having achieved 800 flight hours and 220 flights. Certification is planned in time for the delivery to the first operator, Singapore Airlines, which is planned for the end of this year.

Airbus is a joint EADS company with BAE Systems.

Etihad Airways Signs Deal For Five Boeing 777-300ER Aircraft

Khaleej Times Online - 19/1/06

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has concluded financing arrangements worth US$450 with leading UAE banks and HSBC Bank Middle East Limited for five new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

The Etihad agreement, which covers an operating lease for a 12-year term was made with National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, First Gulf Bank and HSBC Bank Middle East as the mandated lead arrangers, and with Abu Dhabi Investment Company as lead arranger.

"This ground-breaking deal demonstrates Etihad's continued growth in fleet size and our deepening relationship with the domestic and international banking sector. Strengthening our ties with these banks will help us finance a number of Etihad's future aircraft deliveries and continue to develop our global presence," said Robert Strodel, CEO, Etihad Airways, who signed the agreement on behalf of Etihad Airways.

The agreement for the five Etihad Boeing 777-300ER was signed by Etihad Airways and the lending banks at the Emirates Palace Hotel recently. "National Bank of Abu Dhabi is proud to have been invited to play a major role in this maiden transaction for Etihad, and to be associated with the first aircraft purchases by our national airline. We are grateful for the support of the other banks who have worked with us to provide the financing, and I am sure that I speak for them all when I say how much we look forward to assisting Etihad with its substantial investment programme," said Michael Ladenburg, Head of Corporate Banking at National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

The first of these new state-of-the-art aircraft is due to arrive later in January.

This was confirmed as ILFC on 8/2/06, who had previously ordered 12 A350s at the Dubai Airshow.

Airbus Wins Oorder For 4 A350 Planes From Unspecified Leasing Company

AFX News Limited - 17/1/06

EADS unit Airbus has received an order for four A350 planes from a leasing company, commercial director John Leahy told a press conference.

The name of the company was not disclosed, nor was the value of the order.

Airbus is owned 80 pct by European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company NV (EADS) and 20 pct by BAE Systems PLC.

Airbus may have gotten more orders, but their almost all for a320 variants. I see boeing as winner for 2005 because of all their wide-body sales, where they killed airbus. And which leasing company would not want to specify who they are?

Airbus may have gotten more orders, but their almost all for a320 variants. I see boeing as winner for 2005 because of all their wide-body sales, where they killed airbus.
Agreed. I'm an Airbus fan, but I admit we were pummled by Boeing in the widebody market. We're using the A320 as a crutch until the A380 and A350 can get rolling. ;)

It'll be interesting to see what comes of the A340. It's a neat aircraft, but its being dragged down by weight and fuel economy. I'm wondering if it's possible if Airbus can throw in an A350 variant that will replace the A340's seating and range class. The A330 and A340 were designed using a similar wing, thus allowing to launch two new aircraft for close to the cost of one. Perhaps they can do it again? :cheers:

Airbus may have gotten more orders, but their almost all for a320 variants. I see boeing as winner for 2005 because of all their wide-body sales, where they killed airbus. And which leasing company would not want to specify who they are?It still should be noticed that the A350 had just been announced this year when the B787 was better known. You may think the B787 is a better plane but that doesn't change much about Airbus usual clients which were awaiting more informations on the A350 before ordering it. Furthermore the announce of that plane has played against A330 and A340 orders, as it has rushed the carreers of those planes to their endings.

In the meantime, the A380 is in period of testing, and now potential clients prefer to wait to see it in service to get a better idea of what is his potential before ordering it.

Now that's being said, it's clear that in 2005 Boeing has proved it was back again in the game. And that's what counts the most for Boeing.

Agreed. I'm an Airbus fan, but I admit we were pummled by Boeing in the widebody market. We're using the A320 as a crutch until the A380 and A350 can get rolling. ;)

It'll be interesting to see what comes of the A340. It's a neat aircraft, but its being dragged down by weight and fuel economy. I'm wondering if it's possible if Airbus can throw in an A350 variant that will replace the A340's seating and range class. The A330 and A340 were designed using a similar wing, thus allowing to launch two new aircraft for close to the cost of one. Perhaps they can do it again? :cheers:Fuel efficiency becomes such an issue today that I doubt we'll see other 4-engine planes than superjumbos in the years to come.

Fuel efficiency becomes such an issue today that I doubt we'll see other 4-engine planes than superjumbos in the years to come.
True, but what Airbus can do in the short-term is throw some composites into the A340 and use next-gen engines, and it can match the 777 in fuel economy. Which I believe is what they're planning to do. ;)

But yes, eventually the A340 replacement will be a twinjet. When the A330/A340 programs were launched, the GE90 didn't exist, so they had no choice but to use four engines on the larger variant. It was just a matter of timing that, today, is killing them with regards to widebody orders. :)

Aer Lingus €330m Deal With Airbus Set For Takeoff

Brian Carey @ The Sunday Times - 22/1/06

Aer Lingus is to sign a $400m (€330m) deal for the delivery of four Airbus A330 aircraft — the first stage of chief executive Dermot Mannion’s eagerly awaited long-haul expansion. The deal also represents a significant coup for the European plane maker in its tussle with Boeing.

The first aircraft will be delivered in the final quarter of this year, with the remainder scheduled for 2007. Final details have yet to be concluded, however it is expected that the deal will put Airbus in prime position to conclude a much larger deal with Aer Lingus on its new generation A350 at a later date.

The airline said that it would be “premature” to say an order has been placed and added that the airline was still negotiating with both Boeing and Airbus on its future fleet requirements.

Aer Lingus has seven long-haul aircraft, but Mannion has indicated that the airline is planning a “significant expansion” of the fleet as part of a €2 billion aircraft-buying programme.

The Airbus deal will represent a coup for Mannion. The recovery in the airline industry has led to a scarcity of aircraft for lease or purchase.

Mannion is expected to insist on an option to upgrade the fleet to the more expensive but more efficient A350 aircraft at a later date. The double-decker A350 is the European manufacturer’s answer to the highly successful Boeing 787. The long-haul wide-bodied aircraft is the new battleground for the two world premier manufacturers.

Airbus has 172 orders and commitments for the wide-body A350 from 13 customers, but it still trails Boeing, which has chalked up more than 200 orders for its 787 Dreamliner.

The A350 is expected to render the A330 obsolete. However, the new aircraft will not roll off the ramp until 2010 at the earliest. The upcoming deal will be seen therefore as an interim arrangement, but will almost certainly tie Aer Lingus to Airbus for the medium term.

The delivery of the first aircraft will coincide with the relaxation of the current restrictions on transatlantic services. The airline is expected to announce three new routes across the Atlantic in November this year.

Knowing BA, I think they will go with Boeing widebodies, split between 773ERs and 748. I would be surprised to see them orders a380s

British Airways would maybe like a plane able to offer a lot of services compared to low-cost companies, advertisings would be easier with lot of services, A380 can offer this !

Aer Lingus €330m Deal With Airbus Set For Takeoff

Brian Carey @ The Sunday Times - 22/1/06

Aer Lingus is to sign a $400m (€330m) deal for the delivery of four Airbus A330 aircraft — the first stage of chief executive Dermot Mannion’s eagerly awaited long-haul expansion. The deal also represents a significant coup for the European plane maker in its tussle with Boeing.

The first aircraft will be delivered in the final quarter of this year, with the remainder scheduled for 2007. Final details have yet to be concluded, however it is expected that the deal will put Airbus in prime position to conclude a much larger deal with Aer Lingus on its new generation A350 at a later date.

The airline said that it would be “premature” to say an order has been placed and added that the airline was still negotiating with both Boeing and Airbus on its future fleet requirements.

Aer Lingus has seven long-haul aircraft, but Mannion has indicated that the airline is planning a “significant expansion” of the fleet as part of a €2 billion aircraft-buying programme.

The Airbus deal will represent a coup for Mannion. The recovery in the airline industry has led to a scarcity of aircraft for lease or purchase.

Mannion is expected to insist on an option to upgrade the fleet to the more expensive but more efficient A350 aircraft at a later date. The double-decker A350 is the European manufacturer’s answer to the highly successful Boeing 787. The long-haul wide-bodied aircraft is the new battleground for the two world premier manufacturers.

Airbus has 172 orders and commitments for the wide-body A350 from 13 customers, but it still trails Boeing, which has chalked up more than 200 orders for its 787 Dreamliner.

The A350 is expected to render the A330 obsolete. However, the new aircraft will not roll off the ramp until 2010 at the earliest. The upcoming deal will be seen therefore as an interim arrangement, but will almost certainly tie Aer Lingus to Airbus for the medium term.

The delivery of the first aircraft will coincide with the relaxation of the current restrictions on transatlantic services. The airline is expected to announce three new routes across the Atlantic in November this year.


Although I'm a Boeing 787 fan it would be cool to see Aer Lingus pick up the A350. Some airlines look better in Airbus and others look better on Boeing. Probably weird but that's just me.

Air Europa To Confirm Airbus A350 Order
Spanish airline Air Europa said on Monday it would confirm an order for 10 Airbus A350 planes this Wednesday, over a year after announcing it would be the first airline to order the 245-seater jet.
"Air Europa and aircraft maker Airbus will announce next Wednesday (January 25)... the confirmation of the order for 10 Airbus A350-800s and two options to buy the same model," Air Europa-parent Globalia said in a statement.
An industry source confirmed these were the same A350 aircraft in which Air Europa expressed an interest back in December 2004.
Airbus, which is controlled by European aerospace group EADS, declined to comment.

Although I'm a Boeing 787 fan it would be cool to see Aer Lingus pick up the A350. Some airlines look better in Airbus and others look better on Boeing. Probably weird but that's just me.
I'm assuming Airbus went with the A350 for fleet commonality, as they have an all-Airbus fleet consisting mostly of A320s. ;)

Boeing Pledges $3Bln in Deals with RUSSIA

Boeing will sign $3 billion worth of contracts in Russia in the next five years, increasing its consumption of titanium and investing into engineering services, a visiting senior executive of the company said in Moscow on Monday.
The statement came as Boeing and its rival Airbus seek to gain pole position in the contest for new orders from Russian airlines and cooperation with the country's aviation industry.
"Boeing has done more than $2.5 billion worth of business in Russia in the last five years and looks forward to doing $3 billion in the next five years," Boeing senior vice president for airplane programs Michael Cave said at a briefing.
Much of that money, Cave said, will be Boeing's investment "in the capability of the Russian aerospace industry" that Russia can further use to its own advantage.
Most contracts will cover engineering services, information technology and international certification of Russian titanium technologies that Boeing uses for its airplanes.
Boeing's business in Russia already includes an engineering center in Moscow that employs 1,200 people, contracts for Russian titanium, consultation on the Sukhoi-led project for a regional airliner and cooperation on the international space station.
Cave said he was in Russia to meet with officials from the Industry and Energy Ministry and aerospace executives, among them Mikhail Pogosyan, head of Sukhoi, and Valery Bezverkhny, head of Unified Aviation Corp., to discuss further areas of joint business.
Although most foreign jets that Russian airlines fly are currently Boeings, the U.S. giant is trailing Airbus in orders for new jets.
Out of 97 foreign jets currently operated in Russia, 74 are Boeings.
Airbus has sold 18 new A320s to Aeroflot, and last year it contracted 12 more jets to be delivered in 2006 and 2007.
Yet Boeing is hoping its 787 Dreamliner will win an Aeroflot tender for 22 long-haul jets worth $2.5 billion.
Last month, Russian media reported that industry sources were saying that Aeroflot had selected the Dreamliner, which will enter service two years before Airbus' answer, the A350. Aeroflot, however, said it was not ready to announce a winner.
Airbus' parent company, European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co., has said the extent of its cooperation with Russia's aviation industry depends on its winning the Aeroflot order.
Last year, Airbus proposed that Russian companies take part in the production of A350s and the development of a next-generation airplane.
As part of its bid, Airbus last week offered to make Russia a competence center for conversion of A320 passenger airliners into cargo planes, a source familiar with the negotiations said. The work could generate $400 million in revenues for Russian plants over the next 20 years.
Sergei Kravchenko, Boeing president for Russia and the CIS, said that hiS company's cooperation was not dependent on the number of jets it sold in Russia, but the fact that it is already designing almost one-third of the 787 in Russia should score in its favor.
"We've competed against the A350 all around the world for a year now, and we've won a remarkable share. I like our chances with Aeroflot," Cave said.
In global orders, the Dreamliner so far leads the A350 by 235 jets to 87.

British Airways would maybe like a plane able to offer a lot of services compared to low-cost companies, advertisings would be easier with lot of services, A380 can offer this !No the A380 is aimed at the high capacity long-haul market. The low cost airlines use small planes over short-haul distances. You couldn't be more wrong!

Airbus to offer cash back on A340 as 777 stretches lead

http://www.flightinternational.com/assets/getAsset.aspx?ItemID=11187

Airbus executives say they will not be “panicked” into a rash decision to reinvigorate the A340-500/600 family and believe they can compensate for the higher operating costs of the four-engined aircraft over the rival Boeing 777 twinjet by offering cashback deals to potential customers rather than investing in a costly redesign.
Flight International revealed in November that Airbus is secretly studying an “enhanced” derivative of the A340-600, which would feature some weight savings introduced on the A350, as well as Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-technology engines in place of Trent 500s. However, at last week’s annual press briefing in Paris, Airbus chief executive Gustav Humbert played down the likelihood of such a development: “There is no plan imminent to change anything [on the A340]. Once we might make a decision, which is not a given, then we will let you know,” he said.
Referring to poor sales of the A340-500/600 in 2005, when just 12 were sold compared to 154 777-200LR/300ERs, Humbert said: “We are not happy about this situation and therefore we will examine why this happened. But we should not panic – one year does not make a trend and we should not draw premature conclusions.”
While Airbus chief operating officer customers John Leahy concedes that the A340-600’s four-engined configuration means it has a “single-digit fuel burn penalty” over the 777-300ER, he says this can be “traded off” through financial compensation to operators.
“Is it a good investment [for Airbus] to spend a couple of billion dollars to get a better aircraft when you can solve the fuel burn problem with money?” asks Leahy.
The A340-600 and 777 have “comparable ranges and seat counts and Rolls-Royce guarantees that maintenance costs for four engines are the same as the twin,” says Leahy. “I can agree a figure with a customer that reflects the fuel burn delta and run that out over 12 years and pay it to them,” he adds. “But if the 777’s fuel burn advantage was to give it greater range, then we’d have to look at [improving the A340].”

Referring to poor sales of the A340-500/600 in 2005, when just 12 were sold compared to 154 777-200LR/300ERs, Humbert said: “We are not happy about this situation and therefore we will examine why this happened. But we should not panic – one year does not make a trend and we should not draw premature conclusions.”
That sounds like Humbert trying to smooth things over with investors. Behind the scenes though... They're panicking. ;)

This has probably been asked before but won't the A350 make the A340 an obsolete aircraft? For example I've heard that the proposed 787-10 would make the 777-200 aircraft obsolete.

It would be cool to see a re-engineered A340-700 with composites and more efficient engines because the A340-600 just looks cool.

This has probably been asked before but won't the A350 make the A340 an obsolete aircraft? For example I've heard that the proposed 787-10 would make the 777-200 aircraft obsolete.

It would be cool to see a re-engineered A340-700 with composites and more efficient engines because the A340-600 just looks cool.
The A350 is going to replace the A330, not the A340. The A330/A350 seats around 250-300 people, whereas the A340 is more around 300-350 people.

It kinda goes like this:

A350-8 = B787-9
A350-9 = B777-2 [Not -LR] = Proposed 787-10
A340-X = B777-3

Yes, the 787-10 will cannibalize the 777-2's market if built, minus the new 777-2LR.

:)

^^

Cool, thanks for the clarification. Is there a possiblity of "efficient" engines being worked on for the A340-500/600? It seems like the only new engines we'll see for the time being is being made for the A380, A350, 787 and 747-8. If I'm not mistaken the 777-LR has a brand new set of engines.

Cool, thanks for the clarification. Is there a possiblity of "efficient" engines being worked on for the A340-500/600? It seems like the only new engines we'll see for the time being is being made for the A380, A350, 787 and 747-8. If I'm not mistaken the 777-LR has a brand new set of engines.
I had posted this article a couple months ago, and I'm assuming most people didn't see it, as it was quickly buried under a score of hkskyline & Isan news threads. ;)

EXCLUSIVE: Enhanced A340 To Take On 777

Max Kingsley-Jones & Guy Norris @ Flight International - 29/11/05

Airbus aims to reassert itself in the long-range widebody battle with Boeing by introducing a new version of the A340-500/600 incorporating certain improvements from the A350 twin and new Rolls-Royce “Trent 1500” engines.

The study focuses on major improvements to the high gross weight, 380t maximum take-off weight A340-600 which made its first flight this month, say industry sources. The new model is dubbed “A340-600 Enhanced” and could enter service in 2011.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/A340E.jpg

The -600E would be powered by an engine developed from the Trent 1000/1700 family under development for the Boeing 787 and A350, and would incorporate some weight-saving elements of the A350 such as its aluminium-lithium fuselage structure. However, Flight International understands that as currently proposed, the new model would not feature the composite centre and outer wingbox used on the A350. It will have the A350’s new cabin, and a version equipped with the General Electric GEnx has also been considered. The improvements would also be introduced on the shorter, ultra-long-range A340-500.

Airbus chief operating officer customers John Leahy confirms the study, but declines to provide details. “Some airlines have asked us about it, but we are not making any public announcements.”

Sources say the combination of weight-savings and new-generation engines should enable the A340-600E to offer significantly better operating cost and range performance than the 777-200LR/300ER – which is now regarded as the benchmark, long-range airliner family in the 300-400 seat sector. Industry estimates suggest the 777-300ER has an 8-9% fuel burn advantage over the A340-600, and the Enhanced’s upgraded engines alone should erode this by 6-7%.

R-R declines to comment about any studies, saying only that it is “continually in dialogue with airframers and suppliers about potential future developments”.

However, Flight International understands the manufacturer has dubbed the proposed engine the “Trent 1500”, which would be a Trent 1000/1700 derivative. It will retain the same 2.47m (97.4in) fan diameter of the current A340-500/600’s Trent 500 engine, as well as the same nacelle, but the entire core will be changed to include the smaller, more advanced Trent 1000/1700-style high and intermediate pressure (IP) technology. The radical changes in the IP outlet also indicate that the Trent 1500 will require a revised low-pressure turbine section to work with the altered dimensions of the newer, high-pressure/IP section.

The smaller core in the casing means the bypass ratio will be increased beyond the current 7.5-7.6:1, towards the 9.5:1 of the Trent 1700 in development for the A350.

If I'm not mistaken the 777-LR has a brand new set of engines.
The Boeing 777-2LR features the world's largest turbofans, the GE90-110B and -115B, rated at 110,000lbf and 115,000lbf, respectively.

These are the only two engines offered for this aircraft type. Rolls-Royce plc had developed the Trent 8104 for the -2LR, but Boeing required engine manufacturers to assume a risk-sharing role in the aircraft. So they said no, and that's why GE's the only one. ;)

Report: Boeing Co and new Viva Macau airline close to deal for 12 B787-800 planes
24 January 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Boeing Co. and new Macau-based budget carrier Viva Macau are close to agreeing to a US$1.75 billion (euro1.42 billion) deal for 12 B787-800 jets, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.

The South China Morning Post, citing unidentified industry sources, said the deal is expected to be announced next week.

The B787-800, which can fly as many as 250 passengers up to 15,000 kilometers (9,300 miles), is well suited to the budget carrier's plans for flights throughout Asia and to Europe, the report said.

Thursday, January 26, 2006
Larger 787 might land Boeing order from Emirates
By Bloomberg News

Boeing may beat Airbus for a 50-plane order worth up to $7.5 billion from Arab carrier Emirates if it is willing to develop a larger version of the 787 it already has on offer.

Emirates, the largest Arab airline, is talking to Boeing and Airbus about the purchase of long-range planes seating 300 passengers.

The carrier may lean toward Boeing if it agrees to develop a 300-passenger version of the 787, Emirates' Group Managing Director Maurice Flanagan said.

"An absolute commitment from Boeing might encourage us," said Flanagan, one of more than 1,500 global business and political leaders gathering for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"It could swing us that way."

Mike Bair, head of Boeing's 787 program, said in December that Boeing would consider building a bigger version of its 787, the 787-10X.

Boeing has three models in the works. The initial version, the 787-8, will have 210 to 250 seats and fly 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles. The 787-9, seating 250 to 290 and flying up to 8,800 miles, is scheduled to enter service in 2012. The 787-3 will carry up to 330 people over shorter distances.

The list price for the 787-8 is "$145 million, plus or minus $5 million," Bair said then. A 787-10X, if built, would probably be more expensive.

Bair said in December that several customers had expressed interest in the 787-10X and that it seemed "very likely," though the model wouldn't enter service before 2012, he said.

Emirates wants a version of the 787 that carries at least 300 passengers over more than 8,800 nautical miles, Flanagan said.

He said having to wait until 2012 or 2013, rather than 2010, when Airbus' A350s will be ready, isn't a concern.

Flanagan said he expected to choose between Boeing and Airbus long-range midsize models by April or May.

Aeroflot To Announce Winner Of $2.5-Billion Tender In March

RIA Novosti - 26/1/06

Aeroflot, Russia's largest commercial aircraft carrier, announced Thursday that it would announce the winner of a tender for long-haul aircraft in mid-March.

General Director Valery Akulov said the company had finished reviewing bids, and intended to announce the results and sign the contacts simultaneously.

Aeroflot had previously announced the tender to upgrade its fleet from 2009. Worth more than $2.5 billion, France's Airbus with its A-350 aircraft, and America's Boeing with the 787 Dreamliner are competing for the deal.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director Mikhail Poluboyarinov said that the Russian company was expecting a fall in net profits for 2005, adding final last year's corporate results would be discussed by the board in mid-February.

Boeing: Shr Of 06 Widebodied Plane Orders Seen Lagging 05
26 January 2006

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Boeing Co. (BA) will likely see a reduced share of the market for new wide-bodied airplanes during 2006 compared to the 70% secured in 2005, marketing vice president Randy Baseler said at a news conference Thursday.

"Probably not," he said when asked if the U.S. aerospace giant could get a 70% share of new orders again this year to Airbus' (ABI.YY) 30%, but added he didn't expect the proportion to reverse. Airbus' availability of production slots this year and the strong ramp up of Boeing's 787 plane program last year are two reasons why Boeing's market share may fall, Baseler said.

While Airbus took slightly more net orders last year than Boeing across all airplane categories, Boeing's widebodied models the 787, 767, 777 and 747 combined far outsold Airbus models the A350, A330, A340 and A380. [ 26-01-06 1335GMT ]

Boeing's order book in 2005 was helped by strong demand for its new fuel-efficient 787 airplane. So far, the company has secured firm orders for 291 of the jets from 23 customers.

Baseler said the company is holding preliminary talks with several airlines about developing a stretched version of the 787-9 model aircraft known as the 787-10. The 787-9 is designed to carry between 250 and 290 people with a range of 8,600-8,800 nautical miles, while the stretched version would carry just over 300, Baseler said.

He said that with existing engines, the stretched version would only have a maximum range of about 7,300 nautical miles but potential customers have indicated they would prefer more range. This would require significant changes on engines used on the current 787s, he said.

Baseler said he wasn't sure when a decision would be taken on whether to launch the 787-10. He didn't rule out a decision this year.

Interesting, so the 787-10 idea appears to be stuck on whether GE and Rolls-Royce are willing to make a bigger engine for the job. This is starting to sound a lot like the 777-2LR project. :)

Airbus Confirms All Nippon Airways Has Ordered 5 A320 Planes, To Lease 2 More

AFX News Limited - 27/1/06

EADS unit Airbus has confirmed that All Nippon Airways ordered five A320 planes last year.

The order, for which financial details were not disclosed, was not announced at the time although sources close to the matter said in October that ANA was planning to place it without specifying when.

The A320 has an average list price of 65 mln eur, but is typically sold at a discount.

Airbus said ANA also will use two additional A320s under lease, but did not say if it was the lessor.

According to the source who spoke last October, ANA wanted the Airbus planes while awaiting delivery of the 45 Boeing 737s, but the order would not represent a change of ANA's strategy to focus its fleet on Boeings.

Industry estimates suggest the 777-300ER has an 8-9% fuel burn advantage over the A340-600, and the Enhanced’s upgraded engines alone should erode this by 6-7%.
An 8-9% is too much. Iy is possible 773ER is better in economics with a better fuel performance ...but an 8-9% fuel burn advantage is pretty excessive.


The Boeing 777-2LR features the world's largest turbofans, the GE90-110B and -115B, rated at 110,000lbf and 115,000lbf, respectively GE90-115B is solely an engine for the 777-300ER

Airbus Confirms All Nippon Airways Has Ordered 5 A320 Planes, To Lease 2 More

AFX News Limited - 27/1/06

EADS unit Airbus has confirmed that All Nippon Airways ordered five A320 planes last year.

The order, for which financial details were not disclosed, was not announced at the time although sources close to the matter said in October that ANA was planning to place it without specifying when.

The A320 has an average list price of 65 mln eur, but is typically sold at a discount.

Airbus said ANA also will use two additional A320s under lease, but did not say if it was the lessor.

According to the source who spoke last October, ANA wanted the Airbus planes while awaiting delivery of the 45 Boeing 737s, but the order would not represent a change of ANA's strategy to focus its fleet on Boeings.



Interesting to see that the A320 is a temporary option.

Interesting to see that the A320 is a temporary option.
Only in Japan. :D Where Boeing threatens to take away their business if they don't buy their product. ;)

Boeing Launches Longest-Range 737 (-700ER) With ANA

Boeing Press Release - 31/1/06

The Boeing Company today launched the 737-700ER (Extended Range), following an order conversion from ANA (All Nippon Airways) for two airplanes. The 737-700ER has the longest range capability of any 737 commercial family member, and is able to serve new nonstop, point-to-point routes profitably. ANA exercised rights to substitute 737-700s with 737-700ERs. The two 737-700ERs are part of a larger order announced June 23, 2003, for 45 737-700s.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/737ER.jpg

"The value of the Next-Generation 737 family continues to grow with the 737-700ER, and we are delighted to have ANA as the launch customer," said Alan Mulally, chief executive officer and president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "This new 737 derivative is a great example of how Boeing helps our customers succeed by responding to new emerging airline business requirements."

Boeing is scheduled to deliver the first airplane to ANA in early 2007.

"This special airplane will bring new possibilities for ANA in terms of the routes we fly," said ANA President and CEO Mineo Yamamoto. "It will allow us to explore destinations that could hitherto only be reached with larger aircraft, and further provide greater choice and convenience to our customers."

The 737-700ER is a Boeing Business Jet-inspired airplane, designed for long-range commercial applications. The airplane features the fuselage of the commercial 737-700 and the wings and landing gear of the larger 737-800. The high-performance derivative can fly up to 2,145 nautical miles farther than the current 737-700. With up to nine optional auxiliary fuel tanks and optional Blended Winglets, the 737-700ER is capable of flying up to 5,510 nautical miles.

Sharing the same industry-leading reliability and low operating and maintenance costs of other models in the 737 family, the 737-700ER allows carriers to compete in relatively new markets such as the long-range all-premium class market, or is particularly well suited for low-cost carriers seeking to operate on longer routes. The Next-Generation 737s are 10 years newer and fly higher, faster, farther, and more quietly than competing models. To date, 95 airlines have placed orders for more than 2,960 Next-Generation 737s. More than 1,130 737s are on order, worth about $69 billion at current list prices.

Are we talking 737 transatlantic flights now?

it could, but its not really economical enough for that unless its an all-premium cabin

it could, but its not really economical enough for that unless its an all-premium cabin
There are allready B737 between continental Europe and Iceland. Why not using them between Iceland and Canada ? But would it be economically good ?

Russia Jet Deal Remains In Play

Bryan Corliss @ HeraldNet - 1/2/06

The Boeing Co. will announce its 2005 year-end profits this morning, and after a year of record sales, they should be good.

But while the look in the review mirror should be pleasant to shareholders, what's the outlook for the year ahead? The smart money says Boeing won't match that sales performance in 2006, but there are still some significant orders out there to be won.

There's been some news out of Russia since the first of the year suggesting that Boeing and Airbus are grappling for an order from Aeroflot, which is in the market for about two dozen long-range, midsized jets - either 787s or A350s.

Right after Christmas, Russian news agencies reported that Aeroflot had decided to buy 22 787s, but would wait until March to place the order.

A few weeks later, however, came news from France that Aeroflot had changed its mind and was ordering A350s. French industry magazine Air et Cosmos reported that Aeroflot officials had "suddenly remembered" all the A350 engineering contracts Airbus had sent to Russia, and were now poised to honor that by buying the Airbus planes.

According to the report, that Aeroflot deal was supposed to be the one that pushed Airbus over its goal of 200 orders for the A350 in 2005.

Well, Aeroflot didn't order A350s (and Airbus didn't hit its target at 200, either). So the Aeroflot deal, it would seem, is still in play.

Last week, Russian newspapers reported that Boeing had signed industrial agreements with Russian companies worth a total of $3 billion. The Moscow News reported that Boeing is buying titanium from Russia, while the Moscow Times said Boeing also plans to hire more Russian engineers.

And Aeroflot's chief executive followed that news days later by announcing that his airline had indeed decided between the A350 and 787, but was in intensive talks over pricing so it wouldn't announce its decision until it signs the papers in March.

What does that mean? It might be too early to say, but if Aeroflot does order 22 787s in March, don't be shocked.

Meanwhile, in the southern Pacific, there are rumors that Qantas may be back to buy more Boeing jets.

The Australian airline's order for 65 787s in December was a bit of a surprise. Prior to the deal's announcement, most observers had expected that Qantas was also going to order super long-haul jets - most likely Boeing 777-200LRs Worldliners. At the time it seemed that the 777 order was a lock for Boeing, while the 787 order was less clear-cut.

But Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the 777s didn't quite have the legs to fly the airline's Sydney to-London route nonstop with enough passengers to be profitable. So, the 777 order didn't happen.

Last week, however, Air Transport World reported that Qantas was back talking to Boeing about the Worldliner.

"Qantas CFO Peter Gregg (said) that the 777-200LR is 'definitely under serious evaluation,' although he was coy on the finer details of the operational options under examination," the trade magazine reported on its Web site. "Analysts expect it to order between 10 and 15 777-200LRs."

Boeing flying high as profits soar

CHICAGO, Feb 1, 2006 (AFP) - US aviation giant Boeing Company announced Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profits more than doubled as it forecast strong growth in the next two years.

Boeing said in a statement that its net income soared 147 percent to 460 million dollars, or 58 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, up from 186 million dollars, or 23 cents a share, for the same period a year ago.

Wall Street analysts had forecast earnings per share of 44 cents in the fourth quarter. Boeing shares rose 5.3 percent in morning trade to 71.93 dollars on the stronger-than-expected results.

Annual income rose 37 percent to 2.6 billion dollars, or 3.20 dollars a share, in 2005, the Chicago-based company said.

"Our results and improved outlook reflect a strong commitment to growth, expanding margins and improving how we do business every day," Boeing chief executive officer Jim McNerney said in a statement.

Boeing upped its profits forecast for 2006 to between 3.25 and 3.45 dollars a share from 3.10 to 3.30 dollars a share due to better operating performance. The company also forecast strong growth in 2007, with earnings expected to be between 4.10 and 4.30 dollars a share.

Boeing's backlog at year-end was a record 202 billion dollars, up 33 percent for the year. The growth was attributed to the 1,029 commercial airplane orders received during the year.

"The commercial airplane business is set to grow robustly over the next few years, driven by significant demand for airplanes in key growth markets around the world," McNerney said in a conference call with analysts.

Boeing expects to be completely sold out in 2006 with the delivery of about 395 commercial airplanes, a 36 percent increase from the 290 planes delivered in 2005. Deliveries are forecast at between 440 and 445 commercial airplanes in 2007, which is 92 percent sold out.

The defense business, which provides a majority of Boeing's sales, faces budget pressure, McNerney warned, although the company still expects two-to-five percent revenue growth and operating margins of about 10.5 percent.

"Our defense business had a record year in '05, and we still see a great opportunity for sustained outstanding margin performance in that business, though we do expect defense growth to moderate due to a tightening budget environment," he said.

Prudential analyst Byron Callan, who previously forecast 2007 aircraft deliveries at 413, reiterated an overweight rating on Boeing's shares. He said the shares' "recent price weakness could be erased on Q4 results and the company's 2006-07 guidance.

"The beat of consensus and positive guidance is likely to cause the stock to rise today, in our opinion," wrote Banc of America Securities analyst Nick Fothergill in a research note after the results.

"However, we remain neutral on BA since the orders' slow-down is still likely to pan out this year, also we remain concerned about the ability of BA's suppliers to meet the ongoing plans for production increases and also the delayed effects of raw material price hikes," he wrote, referring to Boeing's "BA" stock symbol.

AeroMexico Orders Six Boeing 737s

AP - 1/2/06

Boeing Co. said Wednesday that AeroMexico had ordered six single-aisle 737s, to be delivered in 2007.

The deal for three 737-700s and three 737-800s is worth $372 million at list prices, although airlines typically negotiate steep discounts.

AeroMexico, which is Mexico's largest airline, said the deal is part of plans to modernize its fleet. The airline also plans to take delivery of eight previously ordered 737s this year.

I was wondering when someone would mention those. Boeing has 39 orders for this year so far, all of them 737s

I was wondering when someone would mention those. Boeing has 39 orders for this year so far, all of them 737s
Really? How strange... Boeing's supposed to be the dominant widebody company! :D

Airbus Took 19 Orders In Jan 06, Delivered 29 Planes
8 February 2006

LONDON (Dow Jones)--France-based Airbus (ABI.YY) said Wednesday that it delivered 29 airliners during January and took orders for 19 planes. [ 08-02-06 1436GMT ]

Airbus is the world's leading maker of commercial airplanes, ahead of arch rival Boeing Co. (BA) of the U.S. During January, Boeing took a net of 39 orders and delivered 22 planes, according to its Web site.

Last year, Airbus delivered 378 planes to Boeing's 290 and took 1,055 net orders to Boeing's 1,002.

Boeing however last year outsold Airbus when it came to more complex and expensive widebodied planes. These models typically carry higher profit margins than single-aisle jets.

Airbus has forecast it will deliver more than 400 planes this year but hasn't predicted how many orders it will receive. Among its key deals for January, Airbus received an order for 14 single-aisle A320 family planes from an unnamed customer.

Airbus is jointly owned by European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. NV (5730.FR) and BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN).

I'm getting impatient waiting for this Air Singapore deal which has been talked about for months. *taps foot, folds arms*

China Shandong Air Plans To Acquire 8 Boeing B737s

Reuters - 13/2/06

China's Shandong Airlines Co. Ltd. plans to acquire eight Boeing Co. B737 planes over the next five years to expand in the China market, the company said in a statement.

Shandong Airlines, a small local carrier based in the eastern city of Jinan, said on Friday it would buy six planes from Boeing Co. to be delivered in 2007 and 2008, adding it aimed to rent another two planes of the same type this year. The statement did not say how much would be paid for the planes.

China, the world's fastest-expanding major aviation market, is a pivotal battleground between Boeing and Airbus -- a subsidiary of European aerospace firm EADS.

Air China To Purchase 10 Boeing Aircraft For 655.2 Mln USD

AFX News Limited - 12/2/06

Air China Ltd said it has entered into an agreement with Boeing Co to purchase 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft for 655.2 mln usd.

The company is expected to take delivery of Boeing aircraft in stages from end-2007 to end-2008.

Air China said the new orders will expand the fleet capacity of the company and will reinforce Beijing's position as a transportation hub and increase frequency of flights, departing originally from Beijing, of a number of key domestic flight courses.

German Airline Hamburg Intl Orders 14 Airbus A319 Planes With Option For 6 More

AFX News Limited - 13/2/06

German charter airline Hamburg International ordered 14 Airbus A319 short-medium haul planes in December, with an option for six more, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co (EADS) unit Airbus said.

The order, worth 845 mln usd according to the catalogue price, has already been included in Airbus' full year results for 2005, but the buyer was not identified until now.

Airbus is owned 80 pct by EADS and 20 pct by BAE Systems PLC.

India's Go Air Looks At Airbus For Big Order

Aero-News Network - 14/2/06

It's almost become tradition, to expect a big order from India to be announced at an airshow. That trend will likely continue later this month, as India's Go Air is expected to announce a big fleet deal at the biennial Asian Aerospace Show in Singapore. Word on the street also says that fleet will be built by Airbus.

Go Air is playing the deal close to the vest... but says there will definitely be news of a major acquisition at the Singapore show.

"The plan is to make an acquisition, keeping in mind the airline’s long-term expansion plans," Go Air’s managing director Jeh Wadia told India's Economic Times.

As Aero-News reported, the influx of orders from Indian carriers began in earnest at last year's Paris Air Show, when upstart low-cost carrier IndiGo placed an order for 100 Airbus A320, in a deal valued at $13 billion list. Kingfisher Airlines also ordered several A380s and A320s in Paris.

It is expected the Go Air order will continue that trend, in both number of orders and the lucky manufacturer they're awarded to.

Airbus, understandably, is thrilled.

"India is one of the world’s most promising markets and it is predicted that 100 m(illion) new urban middle-class consumers will become potential air travellers by 2010," Airbus said in a prepared statement.

I'm getting impatient waiting for this Air Singapore deal which has been talked about for months. *taps foot, folds arms*


Hopefully some "Emirates" 787-10's and more A380's.


You are talking about Singapore Airlines right? I've never heard of Air Singapore.

Hawaiian To Buy More Jets, Expand Service

Pacific Business News - 14/2/06

Hawaiian Airlines has signed letters of intent to acquire four more wide-body jets for expanding trans-Pacific service.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian announced Tuesday that the acquisitions will bring its long-haul fleet of Boeing 767-300s from 14 to 18.

The company said it expects to introduce these aircraft into service after necessary modification work has been completed, and referred to "additional service" the airline will launch when it gets the jets.

"This expansion is great news for our company, our employees -- especially those we will be able to recall from furlough -- and for Hawaii tourism," CEO Mark Dunkerley said.

The planes have been flown by Delta Air Lines, which has rejected its leases on them in its current Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Each will be overhauled and outfitted in Hawaiian's standard interior configuration: 18 seats in first class, 242 seats in coach.

Asiana Considers Both Airbus A380 And Boeing 787 Orders, Rejects A350
South Korean carrier aims to place orders later this year as it eyes more routes to China, Europe and North America

Leithen Francis @ Flight International - 14/2/06

Asiana is preparing to go on a buying spree later this year with the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 in its sights as it eyes new long haul routes.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/AsianaA330.jpg
Despite a growing A330 fleet, Asiana does not plan to evaluate A350. © AIRBUS

The South Korean carrier says it has yet to issue a formal request for proposals (RFP) with regard to the A380 and 787, but it is considering these aircraft types. “As of yet, we do not have any detailed plan for purchasing the two [aircraft types], but we are thinking in a positive manner of considering the two airliner types in case we would need to purchase these aircraft in the future,” says the airline.

At this stage the carrier’s president Kang Joo-an has only said the carrier will consider the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 and that a decision would be made at the end of this year.

But any decision to purchase new widebody aircraft would partly depend on whether Asiana secures new international traffic rights, it says. If Asiana were to secure traffic rights to Paris and other cities in Europe then it may facilitate the need for A380s, and if it won more traffic rights to North America then it may provide the impetus to get 787s.

The Star Alliance carrier operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft and is mid-way through the introduction of a new fleet of A330-300s – a type which is in a similar size category to the 787 and forms the basis of Airbus’s newly developed 787 rival, the A350. However Asiana says it is currently not intending to include the new Airbus in the evaluation with the 787.

Although Asiana is a major 747-400 operator and is listed by Boeing as a “candidate customer” for the 747-8 stretch, the airline has also shown no indication that it will run a competition between the new Boeing and the A380.

Asiana later this year is hoping to launch a four times weekly passenger service from Seoul Incheon to Paris using a 777. But this depends on the outcome imminent of air services talks between South Korea and France. The carrier also hopes to launch new services to China.

Qatar Reopens Widebody Contest
Carrier re-evaluates A340-500/600 despite selection last year of 777-200LR/300ER for 20-aircraft order

Mark Pilling @ Flight International - 14/2/06

Despite announcing at last year’s Paris air show that it had selected the Boeing 777 for its new large widebody fleet, Qatar Airways has reopened the evaluation to include the Airbus A340-500/600 for an order for around 20 aircraft. The airline is also poised to firm up its commitments for 60 A350s.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/QatarA350.jpg
The deal for A350's (pictured) is safe, but Qatar is rethinking its 777 order. © AIRBUS

The airline’s chief executive Akbar Al Baker, speaking during a cover interview for the March issue of sister publication Airline Business, said talks are under way with both manufacturers. “We did not have a letter of intent with Boeing [for the 777], although we were very close to it. Now there is the competition between the two. Both Airbus and Boeing are able to deliver these aircraft in the timeframe we want – by the end of next year,” says Al Baker.

Despite being the launch customer for the A340-600 high gross weight (HGW) variant with an order for two aircraft plus eight options placed in 2003, Qatar Airways announced at Paris last year that it would order 20 777-200LR/300ERs and Freighters for delivery between 2007 and 2010.

The announcement was part of the airline’s long-haul expansion effort, which also included the commitment for 60 A350s.

Although at that time the airline is thought to have selected the Boeing twinjet in favour of ordering more A340-600HGWs, it is believed to now be evaluating the enhanced version of the A340-600 being proposed by Airbus.

This new model, which Boeing says Airbus pitched unsuccessfully against the 777 in Cathay Pacific’s recent widebody competition, incorporates various improvements including Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-technology engines.
Meanwhile Qatar Airways is ready to firm up its commitments for 60 A350s, but is waiting for the manufacturer to finalise several aspects of the aircraft’s design and performance.

“We have not signed a purchase agreement with Airbus because it has not crystallised the specification of the aircraft and also we have some requirements for the performance which they have to come back to us with,” says Al Baker. “The aircraft is still changing, but we expect Airbus to come up with the solution soon.”

Hopefully some "Emirates" 787-10's and more A380's.


You are talking about Singapore Airlines right? I've never heard of Air Singapore.
Air Singapore, Singapore Airlines - whatever. ;)

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/A380Sale.jpg
Image by MosNews

Airbus Offers Russia’s Aeroflot $100M Discount On $3Bln Aircraft Contract

MosNews - 16/2/06

European aircraft giant Airbus has offered Russia’s state airline Aeroflot a $100 million discount as it competes with U.S. Boeing for a $3 billion contract to deliver 22 new long-haul planes, Russian business daily Vedomosti reported on Thursday, Feb. 16.

The paper quoted a source close to Airbus as saying that the firm had offered the discount on its Airbus A350 aircraft, which up against Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner for the deal.

Quoting sources at the Russian carrier, Vedomosti said that Aeroflot, which tendered for the long-haul aircraft last year, wants to buy 22 planes worth $3 billion and that it might sign an option to buy a further 12. Aeroflot and Airbus officials declined comment.

Russian media have speculated that Aeroflot may opt for Boeing’s long-haul jets instead of Airbus’.

Aeroflot Deputy General Director Lev Koshlyakov has said that the company hopes to sign the contract by end-March.
State-controlled Aeroflot is updating its fleet. It recently approved the lease of five Airbus A320 airliners, and has said it would also acquire seven A321 aircraft.

Airbus is 80 percent owned by EADS with the balance held by BAE Systems Plc. Boeing aircraft make up 81 percent of the foreign jet fleet of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States, including 76 percent of Russia’s 97 foreign-made jets.

the image doesnt really work though, aeroflot wont be ordering the a380 anytime soon...

Indian Airlines Signs Contract For 43 Airbus A320 Aircraft
20 February 2006
Dow Jones

Indian Airlines Ltd (IAIR.YY) has signed a contract to buy 43 A320 family airplanes from Airbus (ABI.YY), the aircraft maker said Monday in a statement.

The deal was signed by the Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Airlines Ltd, Dr. Vishwapati Trivedi, and Airbus Executive Vice President Dr. Kiran Rao in the presence of French President Jacques Chirac and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Indian has ordered 43 Airbus A320 Family aircraft - comprising 20 A319s, four A320s and 19 A321s. The deal marks the first time that an Indian carrier has selected the Airbus A321.

All of the Airbus aircraft will feature two-class cabin layouts and be powered by CFM International CFM56-5 engines.

Indian Airlines was one of the first carriers to recognise and benefit from the Airbus A320 Family, of which it currently operates 50.

With a large pool of pilots, engineers and cabin crew that are already trained and experienced in operating the Airbus A320, it is well placed to add other family members to its fleet.

Featuring modern aerodynamics, structures and systems, the Airbus A320 Family delivers more - such as fuel-saving wingtip fences, extensive use of weight-saving alloys and composites in its airframe, and fly-by-wire controls that are now the industry standard for new airliners.

Over 4,200 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been sold since deliveries began less than 20 years ago, making them the airliner industry's best-sellers.

More than 2,600 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been delivered so far, and there are now more than 200 customers and operators of them around the world.

Airbus is an European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (5730.FR) joint company with BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN).

China Planning To Buy Additional 80 Boeing 737s

AFX News Limited - 21/2/06

China is firming up an oral agreement to buy 80 additional Boeing B-737s, three months after making a written commitment for 70 of the aircraft during President George W Bush's visit to China, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a senior Boeing executive.

Completion of the combined 150-jet deal, which could come during Chinese President Hu Jintao's planned visit to the US in April, would make it the biggest batch of Boeing planes to be sold in China, the report said.

At list prices, the sale is valued at 8.6 bln usd - though buyers usually get substantial discounts, especially for large orders.

Chinese aviation authorities have signed contracts and paid deposits for the initial 70 single-aisle 737s that they committed to buy during Bush's November trip, said Larry Dickenson, senior vice president for Boeing's commercial-aircraft unit in the Asia-Pacific region.

That sale, at list prices, is valued at about 4 bln usd.

'We're working currently, and I would expect within the next three months to book sales for the remaining 80,' Dickenson said in an interview on the sidelines of an aviation-industry exhibition in Singapore.

He said the Chinese might complete an order for some or all of these remaining 80 planes during Hu's trip this spring.

Dickenson acknowledged that allaying unease in Congress about the widening US trade deficit with China is often a factor in Chinese decisions to buy big-ticket US goods. :D

Boeing Snags 1st Big Order At Asia Show

The Associated Press - 21/2/06

Chicago-based Boeing Co. snagged the first big deal at Asia's biggest air show today, an order for 10 jets from Indian budget carrier Spicejet, as aviation companies tried to coax regional customers to splurge on superjumbos and sophisticated jet technology.

The order, which exercises an existing option, is for five 737-800 series planes and five 737-900ER series planes, the two companies said at a press conference.

The aircraft, which have a list price of around $70 million each, is designed to carry more passengers and fly farther than existing models of the single-aisle plane.

Airlines Cramming More Seats Into Boeing's Dreamliner

Reuters - 21/2/06

Airlines are choosing to cram more seats into Boeing's hot-selling new 787 Dreamliner than the company expected, giving the plane a potentially decisive advantage over its Airbus rival.

Senior Boeing sales executive Randy Baseler said typical seating in the 787-9 version of the aircraft would rise to about 280 from 259 if airlines switched to having nine seats per row in economy class rather than eight as Boeing had expected.

Two-thirds of 787 buyers have decided to fit nine seats in each row in economy, executives from the Chicago-based manufacturer said at the Singapore air show on Tuesday.

In doing so, they have improved the ratio that is the Holy Grail of aircraft economics: the cost per seat on each flight.

"When we initially started to bring the 787 to the market we felt the market would be for eight abreast and more comfort" than earlier planes, Boeing's sales manager for the project, Marty Bentrott, told reporters.

"But 65% of our customers are going for nine abreast, and we think that (ratio) will probably go up."

The 787 is due to enter service in 2008 and is competing against the A350, which Airbus launched in response.

While the narrower seats will disappoint travelers who had hoped the 787 would take another step towards giving economy travelers a little more room — at eight abreast, the seats will be 48 cm (19 inches) wide, compared with 44 cm (17.2 inches) in the 1960s-designed 747 — the greater seating gives Boeing a big lift in its battle against the A350.

The A350 is constrained by its narrower fuselage, which is based on a 1960s design, although a little extra width has been found by thinning the walls. Its predecessor, the A330, is rarely fitted with nine-abreast seats.

"The surprising popularity of nine-abreast seating in the 787 could turn out to be decisive," said Gerard Frawley, editor of industry monthly Australian Aviation.

Aircraft and aero-engine makers struggle for every tenth of a percent of aircraft efficiency, but Boeing's figures suggest costs per seat could fall by a whopping 7.5% if airlines opt for the tighter seating format.

Baseler said that while Boeing had originally expected the roomier seating arrangement to be popular, the 787 cabin had been sized precisely to fit nine 747-size economy seats.

^^ So much for "greater passenger comfort" on the 787, sad to see it thrown out just after the design stage. PATHETIC! :no:

Proof once more that Boeing doesn't have any engineers working for them, just a bunch of sleezy businessmen who realized if they could "hint" at putting those narrow torture 747 seats in, airliners would go for it! This is low, and I can't blame cash-strapped airlines for it. This one's on Boeing...

How wide are seats on planes like an American MD80 or a Southwest 737-700? All I know is that it sucks to sit in the back of a Continental 737-700 because the seats seem to be narrower back there.

In my ignorance I thought that all economy seats were the same size. :o

According to SeatGuru.com - Seat Widths:

American Airlines MD-80: 17.5"
Northwest Airlines A320: 17.2"
United Boeing 747-400: 17.0"

For most people, that extra half inch really makes a difference! ;)

Most people don't even know the 747 was originally designed with nine-abreast seating in economy. The tenth seat was squeezed in there sacrificing aisle width and everyone else's seat width, for the sake of saving a little money. :no:

^^

Seatguru? Haha, I'm gonna use that next time I fly. Like I said before I thought all economy seats were the same but now I have Seatguru to help me figure things out.

As for the 787 hopefully they'll sacrifice aisle space for seat space. Bigger seats vs smaller aisles are better than smaller seats and larger aisles in my opinion.


Thanks again for telling me about SeatGuru, what a great site. :cheers:

According to SeatGuru.com - Seat Widths:

American Airlines MD-80: 17.5"
Northwest Airlines A320: 17.2"
United Boeing 747-400: 17.0"

For most people, that extra half inch really makes a difference! ;)

Most people don't even know the 747 was originally designed with nine-abreast seating in economy. The tenth seat was squeezed in there sacrificing aisle width and everyone else's seat width, for the sake of saving a little money. :no:
I have a feeling this is going to happen to the a380. 18.5" (i believe) is nice and all, but I think airlines (EK comes to mind in particular with their 10 across 777) will do 3-5-3 with 747-style widths

I have a feeling this is going to happen to the a380. 18.5" (i believe) is nice and all, but I think airlines (EK comes to mind in particular with their 10 across 777) will do 3-5-3 with 747-style widths
It's possible, but over the last year or so it seems like whenever cabin specs are being leaked by airlines ordering the A380, they're all with fewer seats than the 555 three-class baseline configuration. Whereas the 787 is now being ordered with more seats than baseline. ;)

GoAir To Buy 20 Airbus-320 For $1.2bn

The Economic Times - 22/2/06

Wadia family-promoted budget carrier GoAir on Wednesday said it has placed an order worth $1.2 billion with Toulouse-based Airbus Industrie to buy 20 Airbus 320 aircraft as part of the airline's fleet expansion programme.

The deal was finalised during the Singapore Airshow, a company release said.

The additional aircraft will be used for connectivity in North Indian and Metro-to-Metro flight routes, Go Air Managing Director Jeh Wadia said.

The A-320 family aircraft would have a single-class economy layout with 180 seats.

Launched in November last year, GoAir presently has a fleet of three A-320 aircraft and operates 24 flights covering 11 cities.

Frontier Airlines orders six A320 aircraft

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Frontier Airlines on Wednesday said it made a firm order for six new Airbus A320 aircraft and an exchange of eight existing A319 aircraft orders for four A318 and four A320 orders.

The Denver-based carrier said the order introduces the A320 to Frontier's existing fleet plan and extends its growth plan into fiscal year 2011 from its previous last delivery date of March 2008.

At the end of 2011, Frontier's fleet will have 11 A318 aircraft, 49 A319s and 10 A320s.

According to SeatGuru.com - Seat Widths:

American Airlines MD-80: 17.5"
Northwest Airlines A320: 17.2"
United Boeing 747-400: 17.0"

For most people, that extra half inch really makes a difference! ;)

Most people don't even know the 747 was originally designed with nine-abreast seating in economy. The tenth seat was squeezed in there sacrificing aisle width and everyone else's seat width, for the sake of saving a little money. :no:

Actually, disagree here. That half inch is more often than not overlooked. To most travelers, width is a second though to pitch. And you can't blaim boeing simply because they made a smart decision to use a fuselage that can be configured either in the interests of the passengers or airline accountants. If the versatitility wins orders over the a350, then the option is a good one.

Adam Air orders 30 Airbus A320s

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Indonesia's Adam Air said it has ordered 30 Airbus A320 aircraft, worth US$2.1 billion, to modernize its fleet and is in talks with strategic investors to sell 20 percent of the company.

The A320 fleet will comprise both leased and outrightly-owned aircraft, and will replace the existing fleet of Boeing 737 planes, the company said Thursday at Asian Aerospace 2006 in Singapore.

The A320 has a list price $70 million.

The new aircraft will be deployed on Adam Air's domestic and international network covering 30 destinations in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Family-owned Adam Air intends to add Kuala Lumpur as a destination this year and plans to fly to Perth, Australia and Phnom Penh, Cambodia next year, president Adam Adhitya Suherman said on the sidelines of the airshow.

He reiterated plans to list Adam Air in Singapore, with possibly 20 percent of the company to be sold in an initial public offering, but said the airline is now aiming for a listing in 2008 rather than 2007.

The company is also talking to strategic investors on taking up to a 20 percent stake in Adam Air.

Suherman didn't identify the investors. (**)

and you dont stop.......

Jagson airlines to acquire 20 planes (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1426136.cms)

Low cost carrier Jagson Airlines, which has announced plans to launch domestic operations covering nine cities from April-May, on Thursday said it had firmed up plans to purchase 20 Airbus A-321s at an estimated price of 1.3 billion dollars.

He said the airline would be placing firm orders for 14 of these aircraft and keep an option for six more. Besides public sector Indian, Jagson is so far the only Indian airline to place orders for A-321s.

AdamAir would have looked much better with some Boeing 737NG's. They already have 737's so why are they now switiching to A320's? Maybe Boeing insn't pitching their 737 too well in southern Asia since even former 737 operator AirAsia switched to A320's.

^^ So much for "greater passenger comfort" on the 787, sad to see it thrown out just after the design stage. PATHETIC! :no:

Proof once more that Boeing doesn't have any engineers working for them, just a bunch of sleezy businessmen who realized if they could "hint" at putting those narrow torture 747 seats in, airliners would go for it! This is low, and I can't blame cash-strapped airlines for it. This one's on Boeing...

This has nothing to do with Boeing. Neither Boeing no Airbus decide the seat configurations of their new airliners, the airlines do.

This has nothing to do with Boeing. Neither Boeing no Airbus decide the seat configurations of their new airliners, the airlines do.
It has everything to do with the aircraft's creator. You can design an aircraft to have a fuselage width that essentially gives airlines no choice but to put in seats that are comfortably wide, or you can make the aircraft just wide enough to slip in another seat across at the expense of everyone's comfort. The latter is an excellent business strategy, which is why Boeing did it.

It has everything to do with the aircraft's creator. You can design an aircraft to have a fuselage width that essentially gives airlines no choice but to put in seats that are comfortably wide, or you can make the aircraft just wide enough to slip in another seat across at the expense of everyone's comfort. The latter is an excellent business strategy, which is why Boeing did it.
Youre making boeing look evil, when in fact what they did was just intelligent

It has everything to do with the aircraft's creator. You can design an aircraft to have a fuselage width that essentially gives airlines no choice but to put in seats that are comfortably wide, or you can make the aircraft just wide enough to slip in another seat across at the expense of everyone's comfort. The latter is an excellent business strategy, which is why Boeing did it.

Aircrafts are designed with a lot of input from airlines these days. There have been many instances where seating configurations have been changed at the last moment - well after the aircraft's design has been frozen.

Airlines add, remove, and change seating all the time. It is called adapting to the marketplace and maximizing profits.

Youre making boeing look evil, when in fact what they did was just intelligent
Aircrafts are designed with a lot of input from airlines these days. There have been many instances where seating configurations have been changed at the last moment - well after the aircraft's design has been frozen.

Airlines add, remove, and change seating all the time. It is called adapting to the marketplace and maximizing profits.
... I don't understand what you're both getting at here. I agree with everything you've said above. Where we differ is, you're looking at this as pure business, and I'm looking at it as an economy-class passenger. ;)

... I don't understand what you're both getting at here. I agree with everything you've said above. Where we differ is, you're looking at this as pure business, and I'm looking at it as an economy-class passenger. ;)

You are blaming Boeing for changing seat configs when they are just giving the airlines what they want. Blame the airlines, not Boeing.

You are blaming Boeing for changing seat configs when they are just giving the airlines what they want. Blame the airlines, not Boeing.
I can't blame cash-strapped airlines for cramming more seats in if they can, and that wouldn't be possible if it weren't for Boeing's design.

Airlines Cramming More Seats Into Boeing's Dreamliner

Reuters - 21/2/06

<snip>


I had the idea that the Boeing 787 would be about as wide as the Boeing 767. Continental uses 7 abreast seating on it's 767's. Suprising that you can fit 9-abreast in a 787 like Continental does in it's 777.



I noticed on seatguru that American puts 9-abreat seating on their 777's with 18.5 inch economy. I'm not sure how wide the 787 is but since it's pretty much a 767 replacement it's hard for me to see how they can up in 9-abreast seating. Continental has 7-abreast seating on their 767-200 with 17.9 inch seating.

I had the idea that the Boeing 787 would be about as wide as the Boeing 767. Continental uses 7 abreast seating on it's 767's. Suprising that you can fit 9-abreast in a 787 like Continental does in it's 777.

I noticed on seatguru that American puts 9-abreat seating on their 777's with 18.5 inch economy. I'm not sure how wide the 787 is but since it's pretty much a 767 replacement it's hard for me to see how they can up in 9-abreast seating. Continental has 7-abreast seating on their 767-200 with 17.9 inch seating.
Fuselage Cross-Sections:

Boeing 767: 4.70 m - 7 Across
Boeing 777: 6.19 m - 9 Across
Boeing 787: 5.75 m - 8/9 Across

Airbus A330/A340/A350: 5.64 m - 8/9 Across

:)

The 787 is wider than the A340/A350/A330, let alone the 767.

Fuselage Cross-Sections:

Boeing 767: 4.70 m - 7 Across
Boeing 777: 6.19 m - 9 Across
Boeing 787: 5.75 m - 8/9 Across

Airbus A330/A340/A350: 5.64 m - 8/9 Across

:)
9 across in an a330/a340/a350 would be a real tight fit, I dont think well ever see an airline use that config

... I don't understand what you're both getting at here. I agree with everything you've said above. Where we differ is, you're looking at this as pure business, and I'm looking at it as an economy-class passenger. ;)I'm a very slim economy-class passenger and I hope they do put in more seats as it will bring fares down. :)

9 across in an a330/a340/a350 would be a real tight fit, I dont think well ever see an airline use that config
Yeah that article said that nine abreast in an A330 is "rare" and I've personally never seen it before.

I'm a very slim economy-class passenger and I hope they do put in more seats as it will bring fares down. :)
Yeah I understand, and following the trends of the US airline business, people agree with you they'd rather have less comfort and lower fares. Problem is, when you're a full 2m tall like me... I'd be willing to pay for extra width and legroom, but not business class, that's way to expensive. :)

Fuselage Cross-Sections:
Airbus A330/A340: 5.64 m - 8/9 Across

Wish company use A330/A340 with 9 seats across ?
Big ones use a 2/4/2 configuration in economy class.

http://mobile.seatguru.com/images/air_canada_airbus_a330_a1-1.gifhttp://www.mglff.com/press/images/aircanada.gif
http://mobile.seatguru.com/images/air_canada_airbus_a330_a2-1.gif
http://mobile.seatguru.com/images/air_canada_airbus_a330_a3-1.gif
http://mobile.seatguru.com/images/air_canada_airbus_a330_a4-1.gif

Wish company use A330/A340 with 9 seats across ?
Big ones use a 2/4/2 configuration in economy class.
Yep, that's why I made the "9" as small as I could, because it's rare, and I've never seen it either. :)

Just as seeing 8-across will be rare on the 787, sadly. :no:

Yep, that's why I made the "9" as small as I could, because it's rare, and I've never seen it either. :)

Just as seeing 8-across will be rare on the 787, sadly. :no:
Im pretty sure 9 across on the airbus widebody fuselage is a lot rarer than rare..because I dont think anyone has ever operated a economy config other than 2-4-2

Cockpit Switch Set To Delay Airbus A350 Three Years Behind Boeing 787
Airbus’s move to use A380 flightdeck will push back entry-into-service until 2011 – three years behind Boeing’s 787

Andrew Doyle @ Flight International - 28/2/06

Airbus’s late decision to graft the A380 ultra-large airliner’s cockpit onto its new A350 has contributed to a further slip in the long-range twinjet’s development schedule of at least six months.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c39/KaiTak/A350Cockpit.jpg
Airbus has decided to adopt the A380 flightdeck for its new twinjet. © Airbus / Passion Graphic

The European manufacturer previously stated that the baseline A350-800 was targeted for a mid-2010 entry into service (EIS). However while presenting the new cockpit configuration at last week’s Asian Aerospace show in Singapore, Airbus chief operating officer – customers John Leahy referred to an EIS date of 2011, signalling that the aircraft’s availability has slipped further behind that of its direct competitor, the Boeing 787, which has a scheduled EIS of mid-2008.

Airbus sources said the decision to switch from the previous plan of equipping the A350 with an enhanced version of the A330’s flight deck was not reached for several months due to the complexity of the changes required, including the adoption of the A380’s onboard information system architecture.

The recent decision to re-profile the A350’s nose section to make room for an under-floor crew rest area is believed to have made it more feasible to incorporate the A380’s avionics. Although the hardware is identical to that used on the A380, the A350’s cockpit dimensions are slightly different.

Leahy says the A350 will retain a common type rating with the A330 despite the introduction of the A380 cockpit.

As of yesterday, boeing had 3 "unidentified" widebody sales, 2 747s and a 767, the first of the year for them. This brings this years total to 65 so far. Still waiting for some major orders....

Boeing upbeat in $3 bln Russian contract tender

MOSCOW, March 3 (Reuters) - Aviation giant Boeing said on Friday it hoped to win a $3 billion contract to deliver 22 new long-haul planes to Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot, even if its rival Airbus has offered a discount.

The tender pits Boeing's latest B-787 "Dreamliner" jets against Airbus A-350 aircraft, and Russian media have speculated that Airbus offered Aeroflot a $100 million discount to win the contract.

Senior Airbus officials have called their bid "unique", but declined to say if they really offered a discount.

Craig Jones, a Boeing vice-president in charge of sales in Russia and the CIS, said the U.S. plane maker relied primarily on the "high value" of its B-787, 50 percent made of lighter and more resistant composite materials, to win an edge over Airbus.

"First, when we talk about a $100 million (discount) on 20-plus airplanes, it's not a huge percentage change in pricing," Jones told a presentation.

"The second factor is, maybe they (Airbus) realised the first offer was not good enough, or they just basically confirmed the value of the 787," he said with a smile.

Jones said Boeing's calculations showed the Dreamliner's economical consumption of fuel and other cost-effective factors meant Aeroflot would eventually be saving about $3.5 million per year on each of the B-787.

"This $100 million discount will go away in about 15 months of operation ... You have to add value to the price too," he said. We are partners with Russia, and we have a superior product, so with that combination I think we have very good chances."

Last month President Vladimir Putin ordered to merge all of Russia's airplane makers into one state-run body, called United Aviation Corporation (UAC), to consolidate the moribund sector.

Boeing said it would stay committed to long-term cooperation with Russia's aviation industry, even if it lost the contract with Aeroflot to Airbus.

Some 1,200 Russian engineers have been involved in the B-787 project, and large metal parts of the plane are produced in Russia and delivered to the United States, said Sergei Kravchenko, Boeing head in Russia and the CIS.

"We hope that UAC will become our reliable and long-term partner and that this partnership will be mutually advantageous," Kravchenko said.

Boeing aircraft make up 81 percent of the foreign jet fleet of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States, including 76 percent of Russia's 97 foreign-made jets.

I do admit that Airbus have made nice planes ever since the A340. Even the A320 seems good and the A330-300 seems better (all on PAL = Philippine Airlines). I too can't wait to ride on A380 as well (simply for it being newer than the 747 jumbojet series).

However, for the next-gen planes, I'm in full support of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner series as against to the A350 of Airbus.

Go 787 :)

Yemen carrier plans to buy six Airbus A350s

PARIS, March 6, 2006 (AFP) - Yemen's Yemenia-Yemen Airways has a signed a letter of intent to purchase six A350 long-haul aircraft from the European consortium Airbus, the manufacturer announced Monday.

It said the airline had also taken an option on four additional planes, with deliveries scheduled to start in 2012.

The catalog price for the six planned purchases is 972 million dollars (809 million euros).

^^^right

Yemenia-Yemen Airways to order up to 10 A350
6 March 2006

Yemenia-Yemen Airways, based in Sanaa, has selected the Airbus A350 for its long haul fleet modernization programme and has signed a preliminary agreement with Airbus for the acquisition of six aircraft of the type, with options for another four. The selection of the A350-800 by the airline followed a thorough evaluation of the aircraft type and its competitor.

Deliveries of the A350s for Yemenia will start in 2012, and the aircraft will be configured in a comfortable two-class configuration with seating for 18 passengers in First Class and 265 in Economy. The engine type for Yemenia’s A350s has still to be selected.

For the rest of the article: click here (http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/06_03_06_yemenia_yemen_airways.html)

Kenya Airways to Add Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Tuesday March 7, 12:01 am ET
- Airline Places Firm Order for the Direct Purchase of Six 787-8s
- 787 Further Validated as the Premier Choice for African Carriers' Future Fleet Operations

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kenya Airways today hosted representatives of The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA - News) and the media to celebrate the airline's decision to purchase six 787 Dreamliners. Kenya Airways plans to replace its current 767s with the highly efficient Dreamliners beginning with the delivery of two airplanes in 2010, and four in 2011.

ADVERTISEMENT
Kenya Airways was the first carrier to purchase and operate the Boeing 777 in sub-Saharan Africa, and becomes the third major African airline to order the 787 Dreamliner. The unmatched performance, range and passenger comfort of the 787 will further enhance Kenya Airways' ability to offer service on routes across the globe.

"The 787 Dreamliner fits perfectly into our fleet strategy and offers Kenya Airways the opportunity to reach out across the globe in welcoming people to experience the wide open spaces and friendly charm found here in Africa," said Titus Naikuni, CEO of Kenya Airways.

Kenya Airways has earned a reputation for exemplary service and customer satisfaction and currently operates a 21-plane fleet, which includes Boeing 737s, 767s and 777s. The airline also recently announced a lease agreement with Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprises for three 737-800s to be delivered in 2006.

"Our association with Kenya Airways truly represents a partnership and is based on mutual respect and trust that we work together to ensure the airline's continued success," said Lee Monson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Sales for The Middle East and Africa. "We're proud to have the 787 Dreamliner validated by the extremely competent and thorough assessment team that's been assembled within Kenya Airways."

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has had the most successful program launch in Boeing's history, with the airplane first scheduled to enter commercial service in 2008. Kenya Airways becomes the 28th customer committed to the 787 Dreamliner. Boeing currently has 385 total orders and commitments worldwide.

The 787 is a family of airplanes carrying 200 to 300 passengers on routes between 3,500 and 8,500 nautical miles (6,500 to 16,000 kilometers). The Dreamliner will use 20 percent less fuel than today's airplanes of comparable size and will provide operators with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity. Passengers will enjoy an innovative new interior environment with higher humidity, wider seats and aisles, and larger windows, greatly improving the overall flying experience.

Kenya Airways serves more than 2 million passengers annually and has the largest network into Africa. The carrier is going through an aggressive expansion program and it has added destinations which include Bamako, Dakar, Maputo, Istanbul and Guangzhou in China. The airline plans to soon launch service to Paris, Asmara and Sierra Leone. This complements 17 weekly flights to London and Amsterdam and regular schedules to select destinations in Asia, including Dubai, Mumbai, Hong Kong and Bangkok.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/cladiv/060306b_lg.jpg

Excellent news for Boeing :cheers:

EADS Co-CEO Sees 2007 Airbus Deliveries Up On 2006
8 March 2006

PARIS (Dow Jones)--European plane maker Airbus (ABI.YY) is likely to deliver more planes during 2007 than it does in 2006, Noel Forgeard, joint Chief Executive of main owner European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. NV (5730.FR) said Wednesday.

'I dare say that the growth will continue in 2007,' Forgeard said at a news conference in Paris. EADS said Wednesday that it expects to see 10% growth in Airbus deliveries this year over the 378 it delivered during 2005.

EADS owns 80% of Airbus.

Forgeard added that he's confident that EADS will generate some EUR10 billion in annual revenue from its smaller defense operations by 2007.

Egypt carrier orders four Airbus A320 planes

CAIRO, March 10 (Reuters) - Egyptian low cost carrier Air Cairo will buy four Airbus A320 planes, the state MENA news agency said on Thursday.

European planemaker Airbus and Air Cairo reached an agreement at the Avex aviation trade show in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Emirates urges Airbus to define plans for new A340
By Jason Neely, European Aerospace & Airlines Correspondent

LONDON, March 21 (Reuters) - Dubai-based airline Emirates [EMAIR.UL] wants Airbus to clarify upgrade plans for the slow-selling A340 model before it takes delivery of the latest version on offer, it said on Tuesday.

"Our order for 20 A340-600s still stands. (But) We are waiting for (information on) the enhanced version," Emirates President Tim Clark told Reuters.

Emirates is the launch customer for the A340-600 High Gross Weight (HGW), the latest version of the plane set to begin deliveries this year.

If it defers those deliveries, Airbus would be forced to find other carriers to take delivery slots for the A340-600 HGW, such as rival Qatar Airways, which has also ordered the plane.

SALES SLUMP

Airbus is facing questions about the fate of the A340 model after it was hammered in sales by the rival Boeing 777 model in 2005.

Airbus sold 15 A340s while Boeing sold more than 150 777s as carriers opted for the lower operating costs of a twin-engined model versus one with four engines.

Airlines say Airbus is now fighting back by offering to build an upgraded, more fuel-efficient version with new engines dubbed the A340-600 Enhanced, though the planemaker has remained tight-lipped about the project.

John Leahy, Airbus' chief commercial officer, told Reuters at an air show in Singapore last month that airlines were asking about changes to the A340 but declined to comment about the mooted A340-600 Enhanced.

An Airbus spokesman on Tuesday also declined to comment.

Airline officials say the A340-600 Enhanced would use a variant of the engine being developed by Rolls-Royce for the new, smaller Airbus A350 model due in 2010.

A Rolls-Royce official declined to comment, but noted that consultations with planemakers about new models were a normal part of their business.

When Emirates originally ordered the A340-600s, the A350 project and its engines had not been launched.

New, more fuel-efficient engines have paved the way for upgrades and all-new planes, including the A350 and two models from Boeing -- the mid-sized 787 due in 2008 and a stretched version of the 747 jumbo jet dubbed the 747-8 Intercontinental.

Aeroflot plans to buy 30-35 A-320s in 2008-15

MOSCOW, March 29 (Reuters) - Russian airline Aeroflot plans to buy 30 to 35 Airbus A-320s between 2008 and 2015, the company's deputy general director Lev Koshlyakov told Reuters on Wednesday.

The A-320s will replace Tupolev Tu-154Ms. It was not clear whether they would be new or second-hand.

The decision comes ahead of the result of a $3 billion tender for 22 passenger aircraft, with Boeing's latest B-787 "Dreamliner" passenger jet competing with Airbus's A-350 aircraft.

Both Boeing and Airbus have declined to disclose the details of their bids. Aeroflot is expected to announce the winner of the tender by the end of this month.

GE aircraft leasing unit orders up to 60 737s
29 March 2006

SEATTLE (AP) - GE Commercial Aviation Services said Wednesday that it had placed a firm order for 30 of Boeing Co.'s narrow body 737 airplanes, with the option to buy 30 more.

The deal for all 60 airplanes would be worth $4 billion at list prices, although aircraft buyers typically get big discounts.

In a statement, Boeing said General Electric Co.'s aircraft leasing and financing unit will buy a mix of 737-800s and 737-900ERs. The 737-800 seats up to 189 passengers in a single-class configuration, while the 737-900ER, due to enter service early next year, will seat up to 215 people.

GE Commercial Aviation Services will take delivery of the 30 airplanes it has firm orders for between 2008 and 2010.

The company said it currently has more than 200 of the more modern "next generation" 737s in its fleet, which are being used by more than 30 airlines. The "next-generation" moniker refers to Boeing 737-600s to -900s. Those models received a technology overhaul, new flight deck and other improvements over previous models.

Boeing shares gained $1.57, or 2 percent, to $79.08 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Boeing to build new `stretch' 787

AP , SEATTLE
Wednesday, Mar 29, 2006,Page 10

Boeing Co has committed to building a longer version of its fuel-efficient 787 jet to meet demand from several airlines, the head of the new airplane program said yesterday.

"It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when, and finalizing some details around configuration," Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, said in a conference call with reporters.

The 787-10 will carry approximately 300 passengers, about 50 more than the largest of three models the company had previously said it would build.

While some details of the design have yet to be completed, such as the precise seating capacity and how far the plane will fly, Bair said Boeing expects to begin delivering it in the final quarter of 2012.

Bair said "about a dozen" differnet carriers have expressed serious interest in a stretch version of the 787, but the only one that he mentioned by name was Emirates Airlines, a growing carrier based in the United Arab Emirates.

Initially, Boeing had resisted the call for a larger 787, fearing it might steal sales from an extended-range version of its 777. Then more airlines started clamoring for it.

"Early on, Emirates was pretty much a lone wolf in their interest in the airplane," Bair said. "But as time has marched on, and we've talked to other carriers, it's become pretty clear that the interest is more widespread than just Emirates."

Qantas Airways Ltd of Australia has also said it would be interested in a larger 787 if Boeing built it.

Chicago-based Boeing, which assembles most of its commercial airliners in the Seattle area, has said that its twin-engine 787s will be more fuel-efficient than any other plane flying today, in part because the planes will be made largely from composite materials, which are a lot lighter and far more durable than aluminum.

The 787-8 will be the first model that airlines will fly. It's scheduled to enter service in 2008, followed by the shorter-range version 787-3 the following year.

The largest of those three, the 787-9, will carry about 250 passengers just over 16,000km when it enters service in 2010.

Adding more seats to the 787-10 will mean it won't fly quite as far as the 787-9, but will have as much, if not more, cargo space, Bair said.

Industry analysts have said that it's smart for Boeing to offer a larger 787, since its chief rival, Airbus SAS, is designing its A350-900 to compete with both the 787-9 and the 777-200ER.

European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is the majority shareholder of Airbus, which is based in Toulouse, France.

To date, Boeing has received 298 firm orders and 88 commitments from a total of 28 airlines for 787 models.

GO 787-10!
Emirates will be very happy

If Boeing didn't offer the 787-10 it would leave a gap for the largest A350s which are probably superior to Boeing's 777-200. This way Boeing are superior to Airbus through all the mid-sized and large planes (from the smallest 787 to the 777-300ER). However Airbus have a slightly superior narrow body (ie A320 and brethren) and of course the A380 will dominate the very top for decades to come.

Qantas says likely to buy 50 more Boeing 787 jets
By Adam Tanner

SAN FRANCISCO, March 29 (Reuters) - Qantas Airways is very likely to exercise its option to buy another 50 Boeing Co. 787 Dreamliner jets on top of an existing order of 65 planes, the company's chief financial officer said on Wednesday.

The airline, the world's eighth-biggest passenger airline by market value, also hopes to decide in the coming months on new ultra long-range jets, Qantas Chief Financial Officer Peter Gregg told Reuters in an interview.

In December, the Australian carrier announced it would buy 65 Boeing 787s for more than $10 billion, with the option to purchase another 50, also worth more than $10 billion. Officials met in San Francisco to sign the deal on Wednesday.

"Effectively, there are 65 orders out there in the books straight away and you get the ability to buy another 50 at the prices we have negotiated," Gregg said. "We will want those 50, I am pretty sure of that."

He said Qantas had negotiated a discount from Boeing's list price, but declined to give specific numbers.

Qantas decided on the Boeing jets after also considering the A350 made by Airbus, which is 80 percent owned by European Aerospace Defence & Space Co. and 20 percent by Britain's BAE Systems Plc .

"For a start, the Boeing plane was far more advanced in its development," Gregg said in explaining the decision. "And the lighter weight gave it a greater range and lower fuel consumption, and that's very important for Qantas, where we are based in the world."

"In fact, from the time we started the negotiations to the time we completed the negotiations...Boeing was able to alter the aircraft so that it had approximately about a 2,500 km additional range."

ENGINES STILL UNDER DISCUSSION

Qantas expects to take delivery of its first B787-8 in August 2008 for its Jetstar budget carrier. In 2010, it is slated to receive the slightly larger 787-9, which boasts 20 percent less fuel need other aircraft of its size. Gregg said the airline would use the 787-9s to fly routes including from Melbourne to Los Angeles and eventually to San Francisco.

Qantas is still evaluating which engines should power the B787: Britain's Rolls Royce Group Plc or General Electric Co. . "Both manufacturers are making tweaks to the engines to tell us what they can do," Gregg said.

Engines usually represent more than a fifth of the total aircraft price.

Gregg, who also oversees strategy at Qantas, said the airline was hoping to decide soon on ultra-long range jets.

"We're also calling tenders at the moment for ultra-long range aircraft, that is an aircraft like the 777-200 long-range LR," he said. "I would hope that we would be in a position to make a decision on that in the next three to four months."

If Boeing didn't offer the 787-10 it would leave a gap for the largest A350s which are probably superior to Boeing's 777-200. This way Boeing are superior to Airbus through all the mid-sized and large planes (from the smallest 787 to the 777-300ER). However Airbus have a slightly superior narrow body (ie A320 and brethren) and of course the A380 will dominate the very top for decades to come.
in capacity definitely the A380 is supreme, but only on slot restricted routes are capacity important. I know this is an odd comparison, because the planes arent really in the same class, but I saw an interesting article about this (forget which site). The 787-10 actually has a lower CASM(cost per aircraft seat mile) then the A388, although an extend A389 could beat it. The 787-10 also carries more cargo. So although they are in different classes, the 787-10 in higher frequencies is more favorable on non-slot restricted routes.

Pretty stunning message from the world's two largest customers:

Airplane kingpins tell Airbus: Overhaul A350

By Dominic Gates
Seattle Times aerospace reporter
3/29/06

ORLANDO, Fla. — Two of the world's most powerful airplane buyers yesterday said Airbus should completely rethink the plane it has proposed to compete against Boeing's strong-selling new 787.

Steven Udvar-Hazy, probably the most respected figure in the global business of buying and selling airplanes, predicted the current version of Airbus' A350 would sell poorly and leave Boeing to dominate the lucrative market for midsized wide-bodies.

He stunned a packed audience of some 700 aviation professionals here by calling on Airbus to scrap its existing A350 design and spend many additional billions on a brand-new airplane with a new fuselage and a new wing.

"That's probably an $8 billion to $10 billion decision. Airbus is at a crossroads," said Udvar-Hazy, founder, chairman and chief executive of the second-largest airplane-leasing company, Los Angeles-based International Lease Finance Corp.

Airbus had better make that decision before the Farnborough Air Show in England in July, he said.

His remarks were endorsed by Henry Hubschman, president of the world's No. 1 lessor of airplanes. In an interview, he said he "completely" agreed with Udvar-Hazy's message.

If Airbus sticks with its current design, Udvar-Hazy said, it will wind up with as little as 25 percent market share against the 787.

Sitting in the audience was top Airbus sales executive John Leahy, who earlier had given a confident and rosy presentation of Airbus' competitive position.

In an interview afterward, Udvar-Hazy indicated some Airbus executives are contemplating the extreme step he advocates.

That would be an admission that Airbus' strategy is seriously flawed and needs a radical about-face.

"Airbus will have to deal with this issue or accept a silver medal instead of a gold," Udvar-Hazy said.

The leasing executive spoke at the annual conference of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) at a resort outside Orlando.

He described the current version of the A350 as "a good solid, airplane" with "elements that are leftovers from the early members of the Airbus wide-body family."

The current A350 offering is based on the A330 jet but uses new engines and a lighter airframe, thanks to a composite-plastic wing and a fuselage made from aluminum/lithium alloy.

However, it has the same fuselage cross-section Airbus had 30 years ago, and the wing shape is unchanged.

Udvar-Hazy said Airbus should go for an all-new design to replace not only the current A330 twin-engine jets but also the larger four-engine A340s — "a new family of aircraft that will be the backbone of their wide-body midsize product line for the next 20 to 25 years."

Udvar-Hazy and Hubschman, president of GECAS, the aircraft-finance division of General Electric, lead organizations that are quite simply the rival plane makers' most powerful customers.

In the corridor after the conference session he shared with Udvar-Hazy, Hubschman said he thought that some action at Airbus should come within the next three months.

Udvar-Hazy said in the interview that as a leasing company attuned to an airplane as a long-term financial investment, "we want to have long-term residual value in the A350. ... We're not interested in a Band-aid reaction to the 787."

He said Airbus should develop a new family "that incorporates even more of the new technologies the 787 is doing." It should have a larger diameter fuselage to at least match the dimensions of the 787 interior, and a faster, more swept-back wing to give it the 787's speed.

That would be "a nightmare for Boeing," he said.

But for Airbus, it would be a big gamble. "It's going to cost a lot of money and it's going to cost delay," Udvar-Hazy said.

Analysts at the conference said such a move would delay the Airbus program by at least a year. The A350 is already 2-½ or three years behind the 787.

But Udvar-Hazy believes Airbus has little choice. If it doesn't, he said, Boeing will dominate the entire midsize wide-body segment of the market, with its 787 outselling the A350 and the 777 outgunning the A340.

He said sales of the superjumbo A380 — at best "300 or 400 airplanes," he estimated — cannot compensate for missing out in the much larger midsize wide-body market.

Last year, Boeing opened up a big gap in wide-body sales with big wins selling 787s and 777s to airlines including Air Canada, Korean Air, Qantas, Air India and Emirates.

"It's the marketplace that is going to dictate whether they do this or not do this," said Udvar-Hazy. "They have some big sales campaigns against Boeing. If they continue to lose, if Airbus loses two or three more critical campaigns, what choice do they have? They can't be out of this segment of the business.

"Otherwise, what happens to the A340? Do they make one a month or one every two months? Where is that headed, the whole A340 product line, after say 2008?"

Udvar-Hazy said time is not on Airbus' side because Airbus is already spending on the A350 program, and because airlines may get edgy with uncertainty and decide to go for the 787.

"That's a huge financial decision. It can't be delayed very long," said Udvar-Hazy. "If they are going to make a course correction, it's got to happen I think in the next four or five months."

"Time is an enemy," he said. "They've got to tell the market clearly."

By speaking publicly and in front of John Leahy, Udvar-Hazy is also trying to influence Airbus' decision.

"There are forces within Airbus that like the current approach; it's the lowest investment and lowest risk," he said. "And then there are others that are perhaps more visionary. They're saying let's think this through very carefully. There are alternatives."

Outside, Leahy downplayed the impact of Udvar-Hazy's remarks and pointed out International Lease Finance Corp. has ordered the current version of the A350. "Actions speak louder than words," said Leahy.

Asked if a change of plan was in the works, he responded: "I don't see anything imminent at this juncture."

Udvar-Hazy said his company placed the A350 order because those planes will sell well enough in the short term if priced much less than the 787. It's the jet's long-term future he is concerned about.

Analysts at the conference were doubtful that Airbus can afford to could pull off a complete new aircraft program, even while it struggles to complete the A380 and the military cargo A400M airplane.

"They cannot drop everything and start from scratch," said Adam Pilarski, an analyst with Avitas.

Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group said Udvar-Hazy was asking for "a massive turnaround, a total redirection of Airbus resources."

"No airplane company is good at admitting that everything is wrong and that their whole strategy is so flawed it needs a fundamental rethink," said Aboulafia. "That's tough."

Dominic Gates: 206-464-2963 or dgates@seattletimes.com

Finnair orders nine Airbus A350s, three A340s
30 March 2006

PARIS (AP) - Finnish airline Finnair signed firm orders for nine Airbus A350-900 jets and agreed to buy three Airbus A340-300 wide-bodied jets to serve its Asian routes, the European aircraft maker said in a statement Thursday.

Finnair Oyj had already placed nonbinding orders for the nine A350s, which it is due to receive from 2012 -- two years after the fuel-efficient, twin-engined plane is set to enter service, in competition with U.S. rival Boeing Co.'s 787 "Dreamliner."

Financial terms weren't disclosed. At catalog prices -- usually subject to discounts in practice -- the 12 Finnair orders are worth over US$2 billion (euro1.65 billion)

Airbus has 100 firm orders for the A350 and 89 nonbinding commitments.

Finnair orders nine Airbus A350s, three A340s
30 March 2006

PARIS (AP) - Finnish airline Finnair signed firm orders for nine Airbus A350-900 jets and agreed to buy three Airbus A340-300 wide-bodied jets to serve its Asian routes, the European aircraft maker said in a statement Thursday.

Finnair Oyj had already placed nonbinding orders for the nine A350s, which it is due to receive from 2012 -- two years after the fuel-efficient, twin-engined plane is set to enter service, in competition with U.S. rival Boeing Co.'s 787 "Dreamliner."

Financial terms weren't disclosed. At catalog prices -- usually subject to discounts in practice -- the 12 Finnair orders are worth over US$2 billion (euro1.65 billion)

Airbus has 100 firm orders for the A350 and 89 nonbinding commitments.

Good choice

Boeing to build new `stretch' 787

GO 787-10!
Emirates will be very happy

:down:

Qantas placed an order for 45 Boeing 787 and become the worlds largest 787 operator with 110 on order.

^ I don't doubt that Qantas will make the deal but what is your source for the news? So far there is nothing on either the Boeing or Qantas websites nor on Reuters.

www.boeing.com -> commercial airplane's -> Products -> orders/delivery's. and then you'll see it!

http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/index.cfm

Air Europa Orders 16 Boeing 737-800 Jets
6 April 2006
Dow Jones Newswires

Aircraft maker Boeing Co. (BA) said Thursday Spanish airline Air Europa has converted purchase rights into orders for 16 Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes, with a total list price of about $1 billion.

Air Europa scheduled delivery of the planes between 2010 and 2014 and will fly them on domestic routes within Spain, including the Balearic and Canary islands, as well as on European and North African routes.

Air Europa has 30 737s in its fleet and 34 on order.

Qantas placed an order for 45 Boeing 787 and become the worlds largest 787 operator with 110 on order.


Hate to be picky (or p*ss on your parade) but they've ordered 45, firm optioned 20 and reserved prices for another 50 that's not 110 on order........

Boeing receives order for four 747-400 cargo planes from Icelandic carrier
6 April 2006

SEATTLE (AP) - Boeing Co. said Thursday it received an order for four 747-400 converted freighter aircraft from Avion Aircraft Trading, a unit of Iceland-based Avion Group, which leases passenger and cargo planes.

The freighters will be operated by Avion subsidiary Air Atlanta Icelandic. Delivery of the first freighter is scheduled for August 2007.

The four Boeing aircraft will replace older 747-200 freighters. Air Atlanta Icelandic ordered eight new Boeing 777 freighters last year.

Boeing says it has delivered more than 90 of the 747-700 aircraft since it went into service in 1993.

Hate to be picky (or p*ss on your parade) but they've ordered 45, firm optioned 20 and reserved prices for another 50 that's not 110 on order........

No, they have firmed up an order of 65 airplanes in december '05, and now they have firmed up pruchase rights, which were 45. No they have options for another 50. so a total of 110 on order.

China Eastern buys 16 Boeing 737 aircraft

HONG KONG, April 11 (Reuters) - China Eastern Airlines Corp. Ltd. said on Tuesday it had agreed to buy 16 Boeing 737 NG series aircraft with a catalogue value of US$924 million.

But Boeing had granted Shanghai-based China Eastern significant price concessions on the planes, the airline said in a statement.

The aircraft, to be delivered between March 2009 and September 2010, would serve short and medium-range routes to improve the airline's network coverage and profitability.

China Eastern, one of China's top three airlines, said in January that it aimed to add 40 planes to its fleet in the next two years as part of a plan to expand to 320 aircraft by 2010 from about 200 aircraft currently.

Shares of China Eastern eased 2.42 percent to HK$1.21 on Tuesday morning after the company announced a net loss of 467 million yuan ($58.34 million) in 2005, reversing a gain of 320.69 million yuan profit in 2004. ($1=8.004 yuan)

If they would just redesign the boeing 727 to a larger version, because the engines (Pratt and Whitney) have a excellent record-better than most A320's

Boeing: China Sales To Match Last Yr; Signs Deal
By Jeff Meyer and Bruce Stanley
12 April 2006

SHANGHAI (Dow Jones)--Boeing Co. (BA) has signed a sales contract for 737 jetliners with China's official aircraft purchasing agency and eight Chinese airlines, in a deal worth $5.2 billion at list prices, the company said.

The China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group, which buys aircraft on behalf of Chinese carriers, signed a general purchase agreement for 80 single-aisle 737-700s and 737-800s in a ceremony in Washington D.C., Boeing spokesman George Liu said Wednesday.

The agreement, which was expected, is in addition to 70 of the planes that China agreed to buy from the Chicago-based jet-maker in November as part of a planned 150-plane purchase.

Boeing booked sales of 50 of those 70 planes last year, and the remaining 20 earlier this year, the company said.

Executives for the carriers that will take delivery of the new batch of 80 narrow-body jets also signed the agreement. The eight carriers are Air China, China Eastern Airlines (600115.SH), China Southern Airlines (1055.HK), Hainan Airlines (600221.SH), Shenzhen Airlines, Shanghai Airlines (600591.SH), Shandong Airlines (200152.SZ) and Xiamen Airlines.

"Everything is expected to be completed within the next few weeks," Liu said.

Airlines rarely pay the full catalogue price for planes, especially in bulk orders such as this one.

Boeing sold 120 aircraft in China in 2005 and is on its way to selling the same number of airplanes in the country this year, said Rob Laird, vice president of China sales at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, speaking in a conference call with reporters. Boeing Commercial Airplanes is an operating group within Boeing Co. that makes commercial jetliners.

Laird said Boeing won't sign more contracts during China President Hu Jintao's visit to the U.S. this month. Hu's trip is expected to include a tour of Boeing's factory in Everett, Wash.

Both Boeing and rival Airbus (F.ABI) view China as an increasingly important focus for their business.

Laird said predictions that China will need 2,600 airplanes over the next 20 years are "quite reasonable," adding that this is a forecast China's own aviation regulators would agree with.

The forecast came as increasing numbers of Chinese have the means to fly on domestic routes, rather than endure what are sometimes days-long train journeys, and to take overseas vacations.

INTERVIEW-Emirates may switch Airbus A340 to A380-CEO
By Christian Plumb

NEW YORK, April 12 (Reuters) - Dubai-based airline Emirates [EMAIR.UL] may convert its orders for Airbus's slow-selling A340-600 model into orders for its double-decker A380 super-jumbo plane, Emirates' chairman and chief executive said on Wednesday.

Emirates, the launch customer for the A340-600 High Gross Weight (HGW), the latest version of the plane set to begin deliveries this year, has indicated it could defer planned deliveries of the plane pending a possible upgrade.

But this was the first sign that Emirates, a big Airbus customer, could replace the orders altogether.

"We are actually either deferring the order to a later date or we are thinking to change for buying more of the A380s," its chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, said in an interview. "We require more of the bigger aircraft."

The previously reported hesitance of Emirates had been a latest blow to Airbus, whose four-engine A340 was trounced in sales last year by rival Boeing Co.'s similarly sized 777, which has only two engines, and therefore better fuel economy.

But switching most of the A340 orders to the larger A380 could ease the pain for Airbus -- controlled by Franco-German aerospace group EADS -- considerably.

He said the potential switchover reflected increased optimism about passenger traffic and demand.

Still, he told Reuters any order conversion might not be on a one-for-one basis, given the A380's larger size.

Emirates is already the biggest customer for the A380, the largest commercial jet ever and Europe's most ambitious aviation project since the supersonic Concorde.

STILL DECIDING

The airline will likely make a decision on whether to convert the 12 firm orders and eight options for the A340-600 over the next three months, he said.

Sheikh Ahmed, who has overseen Emirates' growth from a regional carrier with two leased aircraft to a global airline with 91 jets, spoke to Reuters in New York, where he was making a side trip following back-to-back visits with Airbus and Boeing in their commercial plane headquarters in Toulouse, France, and Seattle.

He said Emirates is still deciding between Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and Airbus's rival A350 for a planned order of 50 mid-sized jets, and indicated that the carrier is in little hurry to make a decision.

He echoed other recent criticisms of the A350, assailed in recent weeks by aircraft leasing companies for its lack of an all-new design to rival the 787, which was designed from scratch and contains more high-tech composites.

"We don't want to see a derivative aircraft," he said.

While the A350 contains several new components, its fuselage is based on that of the 20-year-old A330 model.

"At the end of the day I'm sure they have to listen to the operators," he said, while acknowledging that a redesign would be costly for Airbus, which is already slated to deliver its first A350 two years after the 787 enters into commercial service in 2008.

Sheikh Ahmed also confirmed that the airline plans to issue a 1.8 billion dirham ($490.1 million) bond in the next few months. The bond would repay a floating rate note that matures in July.

Air China agrees to buy 15 aircraft from Boeing

HONG KONG, April 20 (Reuters) - Beijing-based Air China Ltd. , the country's flagship carrier, said on Thursday it agreed to buy 15 Boeing 737 aircraft with a basic price of US$982.8 million to expand its fleet capacity.

"The Boeing Aircraft will principally reinforce Beijing's position as a transportation hub and increase frequency of flights of a number of key domestic flight courses," the Beijing-based carrier said in a statement.

The aircraft, which were bought with others under a package acquisition plan coordinated by China's National Development and Reform Commission, were expected to be delivered in stages from early 2009 to 2010, it said.

An Air China spokeswoman said the deal was part of a wider Chinese agreement to purchase 80 Boeing 737 single-aisle planes.

Air China said earlier this week that it earmarked 9 billion yuan ($1.12 billion) to pay for aircraft to be delivered next year and in 2008.

Shares of Air China eased 1.63 percent to HK$3.025 in early Thursday trade but have risen about 22 percent this year, outperforming the blue chip Hang Seng Index which rose about 13 percent in the same period. ($1=8.011 Yuan)

Boeing Says Southwest 737 Order Worth $4.5B At List Price
20 April 2006
Dow Jones Newswires

Boeing Co. (BA) on Thursday said Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) converted options into orders for 79 next-generation 737-700s in a deal worth about $4.5 billion at list prices.

Airplanes covered by the converted options will be delivered between 2007 and 2012, Chicago-based Boeing said.

The carrier now has 140 undelivered 737s on order from Boeing.

Boeing's shares recently gained 64 cents to $85.60 after reaching a 52-week high of $86.26 earlier Thursday.

Southwest's stock was trading down 72 cents, or 4.1%, at $16.64, on above-average volume.

^^

Are all these orders to replace the 737-300's and -500's?

Aside from that I saw a Southwest 737-700 with winglets flying over my house while banking towards our airport, it looked so awesome. Gotta love Southwest.

Boeing is much bigger and better! :)

^^

Are all these orders to replace the 737-300's and -500's?

Aside from that I saw a Southwest 737-700 with winglets flying over my house while banking towards our airport, it looked so awesome. Gotta love Southwest.
Boeing press release with more information :
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q2/060420b_nr.html

Boeing press release with more information :
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q2/060420b_nr.html


Thanks for the link hkskyline.

hmmm, looks like Boeing will definately have the uppper hand over Airbus this year..... Airbus better pull the finger out of their arses and do something about the A350 to better rival the 787... at the moment Airbus has no chance. The momentum is definately with Boeing these days.

Cheers.

Great news for Boeing!

hmmm, looks like Boeing will definately have the uppper hand over Airbus this year.....

As you may probably know, it is an Airbus habit to announce new orders during major airshows so with major airshows still to come and being still in April, I think that is quite a statement from you.

Indian start-up airline is going international with an order for 5 A340-500s and options for 5 more Linky (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/3814532.html)

part of that article made me smile - the A340 being mid-sized! Every one of those I've ever seen has been massive :)

Great news for Airbus!

hmm...I am curious to see on which routes these planes will be used since at the moment Kingfisher operates just domestic flights and still has not got rights to start international flights. Me thinks they will be used for flights connecting Delhi-North America.

Indian start-up airline is going international with an order for 5 A340-500s and options for 5 more Linky (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/3814532.html)

part of that article made me smile - the A340 being mid-sized! Every one of those I've ever seen has been massive :)

I think the A340-500 is a great looking aircraft due to the more massive looking engines. The "blow-dryer" engines on the A340-200 and -300's make the A340 look pathetic.

It would be nice to see the A340-500 in KingFisher colors since they have the A380 on order.

Great, I was looking for confirmation if indeed Kingfisher had signed up for 5 A-340-500's. This deal was signed in front of some pretty big people. The Prime Minister of India, the Chancellor of Germany, and at the Hannover Trade Fair.

Cladiv, you are right. The aircrafts will be first put on the India-North America sector.

Currently, India has a policy that only the airlines that have 5 years of uninterrupted domestic service are allowed to go international. Under that rule, Kingfishers turn doesnt come up till middle of 2010.

However, there is a way around it. Kingfisher, and also Air Deccan, have registered new companies in the United States for the purpose. This link is from Skytrax:

Kingfisher Airlines to operate nonstop flights between India and the US following acquisition of Airbus A340-500 aircraft (http://www.airlinequality.com/news/240406-Kingfisher.htm)

India's Kingfisher Airlines has signed a contract for the purchase of five Airbus A340-500 aircraft together with an option to acquire five more. Kingfisher Airlines is planning to operate direct flights between India and the U.S.

These Airbus A340-500 aircraft would be powered by Rolls Royce Trent 500 engines, according to an Airbus spokesperson.

Great, I was looking for confirmation if indeed Kingfisher had signed up for 5 A-340-500's. This deal was signed in front of some pretty big people. The Prime Minister of India, the Chancellor of Germany, and at the Hannover Trade Fair.

Cladiv, you are right. The aircrafts will be first put on the India-North America sector.

Currently, India has a policy that only the airlines that have 5 years of uninterrupted domestic service are allowed to go international. Under that rule, Kingfishers turn doesnt come up till middle of 2010.

However, there is a way around it. Kingfisher, and also Air Deccan, have registered new companies in the United States for the purpose. This link is from Skytrax:

Kingfisher Airlines to operate nonstop flights between India and the US following acquisition of Airbus A340-500 aircraft (http://www.airlinequality.com/news/240406-Kingfisher.htm)

I see, now things look much clearer. I was wondering how could they start going international already in 2008 (since Kingfisher will get the first A340 in 2008) as they are a relatively new airline even in the Indian market.

Airbus probably gave them an amazing deal for those A345s, theyre so desperate to sell them

I think that probably Airbus will be offering the cash back option on these planes as they stated in the past. I dont see anything wrong with that as long as allows them to sell planes and make profit.

Here is a render of an A340-500 in Kingfisher colours:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b61/cladiv/kingfisher.jpg

Air Pacific orders five 787s
25 April 2006

http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/photorelease/q2/060425a_lg.jpg
Photo Credit: Boeing image
Neg #: K63669

SEATTLE (AP) - Air Pacific, the flag carrier of the South Pacific island nation of Fiji, has ordered five Boeing 787-9 jetliners.

The first of the long-range jets will be delivered in 2011 and will fly the airline's routes from Fiji to Australia, New Zealand, North America and Japan, the airline and Chicago-based Boeing Co. said Tuesday.

The 787-9 will carry about 250 passengers just over 10,000 miles when it enters service in 2010.

Boeing has not yet published list prices for the 787-9, the longest of three versions the company has offered to customers. Because of its larger size, Boeing spokesman Peter Conte said the 787-9 will cost more than the standard model -- the 787-8, which has a list price of about $146 million.

Air Pacific also obtained purchase rights for three additional planes.

Boeing said orders for its 787 family now total 350 airplanes from 26 customers.

^^

That's beautiful.

Iran to buy 11 Airbus planes

TEHRAN, April 26, 2006 (AFP) - Iran's national airline is to buy 11 second-hand Airbus planes, the head of Iran Air was quoted as saying Wednesday.

"The contract to purchase six Airbus planes has been finalised and they will join the fleet from September," Saeed Hesami told state media, adding that Iran hoped to soon acquire another five Airbus jets as well as five Russian-made Tupolev TU-204's.

He did not specify the value of the Airbus deal or name the suppliers.

US sanctions mean that Iran can only shop for Airbus or Boeing planes on the used market, and Iranian officials have blamed the blockade for regular plane crashes in the Islamic republic.

^^ ... second hand?? so what did Airbus gain in this one?

Boeing Celebrates Second Anniversary of Dreamliner Launch

EVERETT, WASH., April 26, 2006 -- The team creating the all-new Boeing [NYSE:BA] 787 Dreamliner has made significant progress since launching the program two years ago today. Boeing launched the program on April 26, 2004, with a record launch order for 50 airplanes for ANA (All Nippon Airways).

"ANA led the way with its launch order," said Mike Bair, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "Since that order, we have seen a steady pace of additional orders from around the world."

Market Response
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the most successful new airplane launch in the history of Boeing, outpacing the popular 747, 777 and even the 737 Next-Generation for the same points in history relative to launch.

To date, 29 customers have made orders or commitments for 393 airplanes -- 350 of those are firm orders worth roughly $51 billion at current list prices. The first three years of production are sold out and demand for subsequent years is high.

"Market response to this airplane is unprecedented," said Bair. "Every way we look at it -- the number of customers, the variety of customers in terms of location and business model, the number of orders and even repeat business -- we just couldn't be happier.

"We have active proposals in the hands of 30 customers for an additional 500 airplanes. These are proposals that the airlines have requested and are actively considering. We are bringing the right airplane to market."

Technology Demonstrated
In the past 24 months, the 787 team has demonstrated the composite manufacturing technology that will allow the Dreamliner to be made primarily of this superior material.

Nine composite fuselage sections have been manufactured at facilities in Seattle and Wichita, Kansas. A demonstration wing box has also been built in Seattle. Extensive testing on systems components is also under way at sites around the world. In addition, both the General Electric and Rolls-Royce engines have started their test programs.

"Our technology development effort is proceeding as planned," said Bair. "We understand the technologies needed for the airplane and the team of professionals from Boeing and our partners is working tirelessly to develop and prove them."

"We know what our program challenges are and we're working through them together," Bair said.

Global Team Engaged
Contracting for 787 work is primarily complete. While the team of companies participating directly with Boeing on the 787 is smaller than on past programs, with larger work packages being contracted to fewer companies, the total team including sub-tier contracts involves companies from approximately two dozen countries.

There are now 135 sites around the world where the design of the 787 can proceed using the new digital design tools being provided by Dassault Systemes.

With more than three million square feet of new factory space being built around the globe to support the manufacturing of the Dreamliner, the project is the world's largest industrialization effort.

"It is humbling to travel around the world and see the experience, dedication and hard work that are going into this airplane," said Bair. "We have made impressive progress over the past 24 months.

"And the next two years will be equally challenging and exciting," he said. "Within that time frame, we will have built our first several airplanes, started our flight test program and be well on our way to certification and first deliveries."

Boeing Considers Second Assembly Line For 787 Dreamliner
27 April 2006

PARIS (Dow Jones)--Boeing Co. (BA) management will decide in the coming months whether or not to build a second assembly line for its 787 Dreamliner project in order to shorten delivery lead times for the new jet, a senior Boeing executive said Thursday.

Craig Saddler, finance director of the 787 program, told a press conference in Paris a decision to create an additional assembly line at the plant at Everett, Washington could be made by the end of the summer.

The 787 is on schedule to make its first flight at the end of the third quarter of 2007, Saddler said. Deliveries of the 787 to customer airlines are scheduled to start in mid-2008.

^^

Hell yeah they should build another assembly line. Maybe a third one excuslively for the 787-10.

It looks like the company that will hold the title for the next-gen midsize wide-body plane category would be Boeing. :)

Hurray for the 787 Dreamliner!!!

:applause:

Aeroflot delays decision in long-haul plane tender

MOSCOW, June 6 (Reuters) - Russia's flagship carrier Aeroflot said on Tuesday it could delay until late July its final decision on whether to award a $3 billion long-haul plane contract to Boeing or Airbus . Boeing's latest B-787 "Dreamliner" jet is competing with Airbus's A-350 aircraft for deliveries to Aeroflot of between 22 and 28 airliners.

"We have decided that we need another month or a month and a half to allow Airbus to formulate the dates of delivering its planes (before the announcement of the tender winner)," Aeroflot Deputy director General Lev Koshlaykov told Reuters.

He said this statement should not be interpreted as Aeroflot's support for one of the bidders in the tender.

Airbus last month signalled plans for changes to its A-350 aircraft that could delay deliveries worldwide.

Russian media have recently speculated that Aeroflot has decided to buy Airbus planes, saying the choice by the majority state-owned Russian carrier was politically motivated to spite the U.S. firm for Washington's objections to Russia's accession to the World Trade Organisation.

Earlier reports had however said that Aeroflot was close to choosing Boeing airliners.

I am sure they have already taken a decision and are just waiting for Airbus to formally launch the A370 to put ink on the deal.

Continental orders more Boeing planes
6 June 2006

HOUSTON (AP) - Continental Airlines Inc. said Tuesday it has ordered 34 new airplanes with a list price of $3 billion from Boeing Co. to increase its ability to serve long-haul routes and remove gas-guzzling planes from its fleet.

Chairman and Chief Executive Larry Kellner said the airline still plans to expand its passenger-carrying capacity 5 percent to 7 percent per year.

Continental said it was ordering 10 more Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, doubling its previous orders. That would make it the largest U.S. buyer of Boeing's latest widebody jet, which is scheduled to go into service in 2008, a Boeing spokesman said.

The airline also ordered 24 more Boeing 737s and will have 213 "next-generation" 737s when all the planes it has ordered are delivered.

Continental didn't disclose how much it will pay for the 34 planes. The jets would have a total list price of about $3 billion, based on current list prices, but airlines rarely pay sticker price when placing large orders.

Continental has been ordering more fuel-efficient aircraft for the past several years, believing this would give it an advantage over rivals whose planes use more costly jet fuel. The company has also taken steps such as adding upturned winglets, which boost mileage, and improving operating procedures to save fuel.

Also Tuesday, shareholders of Continental, the nation's fifth-largest airline by revenue, re-elected 11 directors and gave them power to issue more new shares.

Shareholders approved a change in the company bylaws to allow directors to issue 400 million shares of common stock, up from the current cap of 200 million, all but 78 million of which have been used or earmarked for other purposes. The board said it may need more shares to handle stock-based financing or acquisitions.

Investors rejected a resolution to discourage political activities tilted toward one party. The board said the proposal was unnecessary because of current laws and company policies. Continental has a political action committee that the company says is nonpartisan and financed entirely by voluntary contributions from employees.

On Monday, Continental officials said summer bookings were running ahead of last year and flights will be more crowded, especially in the United States. It said average fares would show a "solid" rise.

But the airline warned that it expected jet fuel to rise to an average $2.10 per gallon in the second quarter and $2.13 per gallon for the full year.

Like other airlines, Continental tries to dampen the effect of rising fuel prices by locking in some purchases in advance. The company said it had hedged about one-fourth of its fuel for the second quarter at an average price of $66.69 per barrel of crude oil, or about six dollars lower than oil futures; and 17 percent of third-quarter fuel at nearly $73 per barrel.

Continental lost $68 million last year, down from a $409 million loss in 2004. The company's shares rose 57 percent last year and recently hit their highest level since 2002.

The shares fell 38 cents, or 1.6 percent, to close at $23.62 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2006/06/12/daily8.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Virgin Blue, Boeing announce $634M 737 purchase
Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - 4:17 PM PDT Monday

Virgin Blue Airlines has been identified as the buyer of nine Boeing 737-800 airplanes valued at a list price of $634.5 million.

The Australian-based airline, based in Brisbane, Queensland, will receive the planes beginning in 2008, according to The Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA), which had been listing the order on its Web site to an unidentified customer.

Virgin Blue operates a fleet of 52 737s that operate between Australian cities including Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The 737 is built in Renton.

Nippon Cargo buys added Boeing planes
13 June 2006

SEATTLE (AP) - Boeing Co. said Tuesday that Japan-based Nippon Cargo Airlines agreed to purchase two additional Boeing 747-400 freighters, with a value of about $460 million at list prices.

The company did not disclose how much the airline will pay for the planes. Based on current list prices, the order would total about $460 million, but airlines rarely pay sticker price.

Boeing said the order is included on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries Web site attributed to an unidentified customer. The company will deliver the new freighters, which will replace the airline's older 747-200s, beginning in 2008 and 2009.

Previously, Nippon Cargo Airlines ordered eight 747-400s, two of which have been delivered. The airline said the planes will reduce its airplane maintenance costs, and help it boost its global business infrastructure.

Nippon Cargo Airlines serves 17 cities through Asia, Europe, and North America.

Shares of Boeing Co. fell 90 cents to close at $76.98 on the New York Stock Exchange, and added 18 cents in aftermarket activity.

I know this has been reported in a separate thread but I will add the news of Singapore Airlines's order heer so that can keep track of it after the separate thread dies:


Singapore Airlines orders 20 Boeing 787-9s, takes 20 options


From Boeing:
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2006/q2/060614b_nr.html

Boeing is delighted that Singapore Airlines (SIA) has announced its intention to purchase 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with first delivery anticipated in 2011. Singapore Airlines has a long-standing and well-deserved reputation as one of the world's outstanding carriers.

The Boeing 787 family is the most technologically advanced airplane in its class and will provide a new level of airplane economics and passenger comfort. Singapore Airlines' selection signifies confidence in the 787's unique blend of fuel efficiency, passenger-pleasing interiors and performance capabilities.

In 2004, SIA deferred its decision on regional aircraft. During the new evaluation, begun last year, Boeing clearly demonstrated the 787's value and market acceptance, resulting in this announcement.

Singapore Airlines is one of our most valued customers and long-time partners and we look forward to working closely with Singapore Airlines to finalize the order to support the carrier's unique offerings to the world.

Currently, the Boeing 787 has 26 customers with 363 orders. The SIA announcement is not included in these totals.


From Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10001058&sid=a7tt37Jw4occ&refer=movers_by_index

June 14 (Bloomberg) -- Singapore Airlines Ltd., Asia's most profitable carrier, said it placed an order for 20 787-9 planes made by Boeing Co. valued at an estimated $4.52 billion, as it seeks to win more passengers on routes within the region.

The letter of intent signed by the airline also includes purchase rights to buy 20 more 787-9 planes, Singapore Airlines said in an e-mailed statement today. The carrier will take delivery of the aircraft between early 2011 and mid-2013.

The order reinforces Boeing's position as Singapore Airlines' main supplier and strengthens the U.S. aircraft maker's lead over bigger rival Airbus SAS in the market for midsized fuel-efficient planes. Airbus Chairman Gustav Humbert was counting on selling A350s to Singapore Airlines, the launch customer of the world's largest aircraft, the A380, to close the sales gap with the 787, designed to burn 20 percent less fuel.

``The 787 is a brand new technology, which will significantly reduce unit cost of operating the aircraft,'' said Damien Horth, an analyst at UBS AG in Hong Kong, with a ``buy'' rating for the carrier's stock. ``Singapore Airlines has one of the largest fleet of Boeing 777s in the world and there are advantages of operating a common fleet.''

Boeing is relying on the fuel-efficient Dreamliner to win back dominance of the $60-billion-a-year jetliner market from Airbus. The decision to buy Boeing's 787-9 planes comes a day after Airbus said it will delay delivery of the superjumbo A380 aircraft for a second time. Singapore Airlines, which is seeking compensation for the delays, said it expects delivery of the first A380 by the end of this year.


Aircraft Routes

Singapore Airlines, 57 percent owned by the Singapore's state-owned investment company Temasek Holdings Pte, has 90 aircraft in its fleet, 85 of them Boeings.

The carrier, which is the world's biggest operator of the Boeing 777, has 58 of the planes in its fleet, with 13 more on option, according to its Web site.

The Singapore-based airline plans to use the new aircraft on routes to North Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, it said in the statement.

The 787-9 model, which can fly up to 8,800 nautical miles (16,298 kilometers) seating as many as 290 passengers each, will enter service in 2011. Singapore Airlines will select the manufacturer for the engines at a later date, it said.

The value of Singapore Airlines' order is based on current catalog prices, the carrier said.


Boeing 787, Airbus A350

Singapore Airlines' Chief Executive Chew Choon Seng said in September last year that the airline was choosing between the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 to fly more than 250 passengers on so-called medium-haul flights of less than seven hours to countries including China and India.

Boeing's win also follows a decision by Toulouse, France- based Airbus to come out with an all-new plane after the A350 sold poorly against the 787 model.

Airbus, which has won only 100 orders for the current A350 proposal compared with 363 for the 787, is reconsidering the design of the plane and will announce a decision by mid-year, Humbert said in May. Airbus plans to spend $10 billion on a new 300-seat plane, three people with direct knowledge of the proposal said last month. The A350 has been publicly criticized by Singapore Airlines' Chew.

The world's two biggest planemakers estimate airlines will buy as many as 3,000 of midsized aircraft over the next 20 years.

Singapore Airlines, which restricts the age of its aircraft to about five years, last placed an order for planes in August 2004 when it bought 19 Boeing 777-300ER planes. The order also included the option to buy 13 more 777-300ERs.

The carrier at that time decided against buying the 787 and the A330-200 offered by both planemakers because the proposals didn't meet its ``financial criteria.'' The airline said then it will continue to use its 777-200 planes to serve regional routes.

Shares of Singapore Airlines closed unchanged at S$12.30 in the city state. The stock has fallen 0.8 percent this year, compared with a 2.8 percent drop in the key Straits Times Index.

Air China to buy 24 Airbus A320s
14 June 2006

HONG KONG (AP) - Chinese flag carrier Air China Ltd. said Thursday it signed an agreement to buy 24 Airbus A320 aircraft, as part of a package deal involving the purchase of 150 Airbus jetliners by Chinese airlines.

The aircraft have a list price of $1.74 billion, but the Hong Kong-listed airline said Airbus granted "significant price concessions" in the aircraft purchase, without elaborating.

Commercial aircraft makers usually sell large aircraft at a steep discount to the list price.

Air China said the A320 series aircraft, scheduled for delivery between 2007 and 2010, will expand its fleet capacity as well as "reinforce Beijing's position as a transportation hub and increase frequency of flights."

The company had a total of 176 aircraft at the end of 2005. It said it will fund the purchase using company cash, commercial bank loans and other financing instruments.

The 24 planes are among the 150 Airbus jetliners that China's official aircraft-purchasing agency agreed to buy from Airbus at a total list price of nearly $10 billion in November.

The China Aviation Supplies Import & Export Group, which buys aircraft on behalf of Chinese carriers, signed a framework agreement on November 5 to buy 150 single-aisle A320 series aircraft that include A319s, A320s and A321s.

"Although the Airbus aircraft (were) purchased with other aircraft under a package acquisition plan...the decision to purchase the Airbus aircraft was made independently by the company," Air China said in a statement.

"The negotiations under the acquisition plan were done as a package to increase bargaining power."

Air China's latest agreement with Airbus comes just two months after the Beijing-based airline ordered 15 Boeing Co. 737 aircraft, also as part of a package deal by the official aircraft-purchasing agency.

Air China is 51.2 percent-owned by state-owned China National Aviation Holding Co. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. also has a 9.9 percent stake in the mainland airline. Cathay Pacific earlier announced plans to increase its stake in Air China to 20 percent.

Looks like the 787 Dreamliner will dominate against the A350 this year hands-down.

Thus forcing Airbus to go to the "Road of A370" but at the cost of another 10 billion euros just to make a new 787 competitor.

Guess it's back to the drawing board for EADS.

hehe

Ryanair orders 10 more Boeing 737s
3 July 2006

SEATTLE (AP) - Boeing Co. said Monday that European low-cost carrier Ryanair has exercised options to order 10 more of its next-generation 737-800 jets.

The order is valued at $705 million at list prices, though carriers often can negotiate discounts. Deliveries will begin in 2008. The planes will be outfitted with winglets, which reduce drag to boost fuel efficiency by 3 to 5 percent.

Airlines recently have been ordering more jets, hoping to retire the older, gas-guzzling portions of their fleet amid high fuel prices. Boeing has been battling with European rival Airbus to fill the market.

Ryanair is the world's second-largest operator of the 737 jet, after Southwest Airlines Co.

Boeing shares fell 62 cents to $81.29 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Tunisair orders one Airbus A319 plane

PARIS, July 5 (Reuters) - Crisis-hit European planemaker Airbus said on Wednesday that north African airline Tunisair had made a firm order for one of its A319 planes.

Airbus is trying to recover from delays to its A380 superjumbo, which sparked a collapse in the share price of its parent company EADS last month.

The Olympian

http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060705/BUSINESS/607050315

Airbus shakeup may help Boeing

The Associated Press

SEATTLE - A management shakeup at Airbus SAS and its majority shareholder marks yet another sign of the turmoil at the European aircraft maker that could work to the advantage of rival The Boeing Co.

But some say the fact that Airbus and European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. are moving quickly to try to solve those problems could pose challenges for Boeing in the long run, since it shows that Airbus is intent on rapidly turning its fortunes around.

On Sunday, Noel Forgeard, the co-chief executive of EADS, stepped down and was replaced by Louis Gallois, head of France's SNCF rail operator and former chairman of engine maker Snecma. EADS owns 80 percent of Airbus.

Airbus head Gustav Humbert also resigned and was succeeded by Christian Streiff, a former executive with building materials maker Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA, EADS said in a statement.

The shakeup comes as Airbus is struggling to keep customers loyal amid production delays for its superjumbo A380. The European jetmaker also is fighting to win customers for its planned A350, and is widely expected to announce a redesign of the troubled aircraft.

The A350 would compete with Boeing's new 787, which has been very successful in the market in part because it promises to be more fuel-efficient than current models. The hot-selling 787 is one of the many signs of recent success at Boeing's commercial airplanes division, demonstrating how the company has been able to exploit its rival's problems.

"Airbus is fumbling and stumbling and bumbling, and everything is going right for Boeing at the moment, so it's going to take years for Airbus to recover," said aviation analyst Scott Hamilton of Leeham Co.

settlepi.com

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/276460_airbus05.html?source=rss

Airbus risks permanent back seat to rival Boeing
Plane maker's woes distract it from competing with 787

By ANDREA ROTHMAN
BLOOMBERG NEWS

Airbus, buffeted by delays in the A380 superjumbo jet that triggered the ouster of senior management Sunday, faces the growing risk of losing its position as one of the world's two dominant aircraft makers.

European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Co., which is Airbus' majority owner, replaced one of its co-chief executive officers and the CEO of Airbus after saying wiring bottlenecks in the A380 may cost it 2 billion euros, or $2.6 billion, through 2010. Airbus also has fallen behind The Boeing Co. in the race to offer a fuel-efficient 250- to 350-seat plane.

Delays in the $13 billion A380 program have prevented management from focusing on a competitor for Boeing's midsize 787. Without a plane in this category, Toulouse, France-based Airbus would cede a market worth an estimated $450 billion over the next 20 years to Boeing.

"Airbus is at risk of becoming a marginal, niche manufacturer in a couple of years unless they act now," said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of Teal Group, a Fairfax, Va.-based consulting firm.

EADS on Sunday named French aerospace veteran Louis Gallois, 62, to replace Noel Forgeard as co-CEO. Christian Streiff, a former executive at glassmaker Saint Gobain SA, takes over from Gustav Humbert as chief executive of Airbus.

"There's not much time left," said Peter Rieth, an analyst at BHF-Bank in Frankfurt, Germany. "The new chief executive officer primarily has the task of bringing the problems in the company back on track, especially with the A380. That means not delaying deliveries any further and making strategic decisions such as how things will continue with the A350. These are two huge challenges for the new management."

There is precedent for the decline of a dominant plane maker.

McDonnell Douglas Corp., once the world's largest aircraft maker, failed to invest in new planes, and its product line was whittled down to one 300-seat model, the MD-11, and a 140-seat plane, the MD-90. It was swallowed by Boeing in 1997, after Airbus established itself as a competitor.

Doug McVitie, managing director of Arran Aerospace, a consulting firm in Dinan, France, said airlines may support Airbus because they need two strong plane makers to keep prices in check.



"Most of the major airline bosses would hate to see a duopoly become a monopoly," McVitie said. "So they'll be anxious to see Airbus solve its problems. That'll translate into patience and flexibility, and airlines will also think twice about their orders in case it tipped the balance too far in one manufacturer's favor."

Chicago-based Boeing won gross orders for 358 planes in the five months through May and delivered 160 aircraft. Airbus has orders for 105 planes and delivered 179 in the same period.

Streiff, 51, met EADS' German co-Chief Executive Tom Enders, 47, Monday at Munich airport and flew with him to Airbus headquarters to review strategy, EADS spokesman Michael Hauger said. Further management changes are contemplated, the company said.

The first priority will be fixing the A380 program, which is at least a year behind. Sixteen customers have ordered 159 A380s, a 555-seat plane that has a list price of $300 million. EADS lost a quarter of its market value on June 14 after announcing the A380 delays.

Shares of EADS, which owns 80 percent of Airbus, have dropped 39 percent since March 24.

"The developments at Airbus are regrettable, and we will work with the new management to minimize the impact of the A380 delays," said Stephen Forshaw, a spokesman for Singapore Airlines Ltd., which has ordered 10 A380s.

Airbus blamed the late deliveries on wiring harnesses, bundles of wires that run throughout the plane. The wiring controls functions including in-flight entertainment, lights, air conditioning and basic airplane systems.

While the A380 has drawn the biggest headlines, difficulties with other widebody planes have also hurt Airbus.

The company has managed to sell only 100 A350s compared with 350 for the competing Boeing 787. Airbus's four-engine A340, which consumes more fuel than twin-engine models, also is losing ground. Boeing won 155 orders for the long-range 777 last year. Airbus received 12 for the A340-600 and none for the A340-500.

The broader widebody market, planes with 200 to 500 seats, may total $1 trillion over 20 years, Aboulafia estimates.

Airbus is spending $10 billion to redesign the A350, people familiar with the decision said in May. With the management reorganization now resolved, the EADS board may meet before the Farnborough Air Show in England, which opens July 17, to decide whether to go ahead with a final design for the plane.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060704/bs_afp/francegermanyaerospace_060704233343

Tue Jul 4, 7:33 PM ET

LONDON (AFP) - Airbus is reportedly to confirm Thursday that after five years, it has lost the lead in aircraft orders to its US rival Boeing.

ADVERTISEMENT

The grim news emerges as the embattled European aircraft manufacturer collates its half-year order book at its headquarters in Toulouse, southwest France, The Times newspaper said.

"A yawning gap between the two companies will become apparent," the paper said in its lead business story, stating that Airbus has "definitive orders" for 145 to 150 planes so far this year, against 445 for Boeing.

"There is no doubt Airbus is struggling and it looks almost certain to lose out to Boeing over 12 months," an unidentified analyst in London's City financial district was quoted as saying.

New executives at Airbus and its biggest stakeholder EADS vowed Monday to get to the heart of their problems, after it emerged in mid-June that delivery of its new Airbus A380 double-decker airliner will be seriously delayed.

Airbus orders fall behind Boeing
A380 plane in production
Production delays have hit the giant Airbus A380 passenger jet
European aircraft maker Airbus has fallen behind arch US rival Boeing in the number of new orders for planes.

The firm's chief commercial officer, John Leahy, told the BBC that Airbus orders were currently running at "about 20% or 25% compared to Boeing".

However, he insisted that the firm remained on course to deliver more planes than Boeing this year.

Airbus has been hit by production setbacks with its giant A380 jet and senior management problems.

Until recently, the firm had been leading Boeing in total passenger jet orders.

But reports on Wednesday suggested that Airbus orders for the first six months of the year would be in the region of 145 to 150 planes, compared with about 450 at Boeing.

'Industrial problems'

The current year has so far proved to be a tough one for Airbus, with delay problems to deliveries of the A380 superjumbo followed by controversy at its Franco-German parent firm EADS.

Earlier this month, EADS co-chief executive Noel Forgeard stepped down in the wake of an insider trading scandal, while Airbus boss Gustav Humbert resigned over the A380 delays.

Mr Leahy denied management problems at EADS were hitting sales of new Airbus planes.

However, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that delays to production of the A380 remained a major concern for the firm.

"There is no doubt about our industrial problems in the building of the aircraft. It's clearly an embarrassment and cost to us," he said.

Mr Leahy said Airbus still hoped to "catch up" with Boeing on new orders for planes by the end of the year, and suggested the firm was close to securing two new customers for the A380.

"We would expect that several existing (A380) customers will follow up with additional orders before the end of the year," he said.

Mr Leahy added that plans by British defence firm BAE Systems to conduct an audit of Airbus, aimed at helping it decide whether to sell its 20% stake in the planemaker, had not shaken confidence at the firm.

"The fact that shareholders come and go in a large international company doesn't affect the customer directly. What affects the customer is the quality of the aircraft," he said.

China Southern Airlines buys 50 Airbus A320 planes

SHANGHAI, July 7, 2006 (AFP) - China Southern Airlines announced Friday it had signed a contract to buy 50 Airbus A320 aircraft with a catalogue price of 3.3 billion dollars.

The planes will be delivered in 2009-2010, the airline said in a statement to the Shanghai Stock Exchange where it is listed.

China Southern, one of the nation's biggest airlines, said although the deal had a catalogue value of 3.3 billion dollars, it was able to secure a lower price but it did not provide further details.

Airbus' Beijing-based spokeswoman Xu Chunna told AFP the deal was part of an order for 150 mid-range planes the Chinese government signed in Paris last year.

"Now the deal is finalized," Xu said.

Airbus reports sharp fall in aircraft orders

PARIS, July 10, 2006 (AFP) - European aircraft maker Airbus said on Monday that it had booked 117 firm orders for passenger jets in the first half of 2006, less than half the number in the same period of 2005 and far behind Boeing.

The announcement of a sharp slowdown in orders adds to a run of bad news for the company, which has been hit by management problems and production difficulties with its flagship project -- the A380 superjumbo jet.

In the first six months of 2005, the company had booked 276 orders.

The figures, published on the company's website, show the European group trailing its US rival Boeing which reported 480 orders at the end of July.

Airbus leads for deliveries -- 219 compared with 160 for Boeing -- but the figure for orders is seen as the indicator of future success and shows the relative strength of each company's product range.

Boeing is winning the race in the long-haul market with its 787 model, which is being marketed to airlines as a fuel efficient, medium-sized jet.

By contrast, Airbus has had to redesign its A350 aircraft, which it hoped would rival the 787 in this segment of the market.

Orders for the Airbus A380, which will be the biggest airliner in the world when it enters service next year, have dried up since the beginning of 2006 and no new orders have been placed, the figures showed.

Airbus announced in June that it had experienced production problems with the A380 which would result in delays to delivieries of the giant aircraft.

The news exposed management problems at Airbus and its parent company EADS and led to the departure of Airbus chief executive Gustav Humbert and EADS co-chief executive Noel Forgeard.

Finnair positive on potential Airbus A350 redesign
By Sami Torma

HELSINKI, July 11 (Reuters) - Finnair said on Tuesday it remained positive about an expected redesign of the planned new Airbus A350 plane despite signs the changes would delay deliveries by up to two years.

Finnair has ordered nine A350s with options for four more for delivery between 2011 and 2013 to help expand long-haul traffic to Asia. The deal could be worth more than $2 billion.

"Should the design change, it would in practice mean that we will get a better plane," Maunu Visuri, head of fleet management at the Finnish airline, told Reuters.

Airbus launched the proposed A350 last October, but several would-be buyers demanded more advances over the current, 20-year-old A330 model and a design to better compete with the all-new Boeing Co. 787 due in 2008.

Visuri expects the redesigned plane to be slightly bigger than the current design, with more cabin and cargo space and a faster cruising speed.

He said Airbus was working to optimise the plane's aerodynamics, including its fuselage, wings and engines.

Airbus has made no official statement on the redesign but is expected to announce an update at the Farnborough air show which opens near London on July 17.

PRICE TO STAY SAME

Visuri said that despite the plane's delay, he remains confident the deal will turn out positive for Finnair.

In the light of current negotiations with Airbus, Visuri said he believed the final purchase price of the A350 planes would not increase for Finnair compared with what it has agreed.

"For us, it is the unconditional starting place, that (the A350's) business case would not change. It looks promising at the moment," he said.

The deal could be worth more than $2 billion at list prices though discounts are common, especially on new models.

One challenge posed by a delay is that Finnair would need to fill a temporary gap in its fleet starting about 2011.

"The negative side is that deliveries will probably be delayed by about two years from the original schedule," he said.

Visuri said Finnair would fill the gap by either keeping its current fleet of MD-11s in service longer or using new or used Airbus A340 planes.

Airbus, reeling from a recent management shake-up, reported a slump in plane orders on Monday.

Uncertainty over the A350 was seen partly to blame for the slowdown, which included no sales of wide-bodied jets in the second quarter.

Boeing has taken four times as many orders as Airbus this year.

Airbus mystery plane set for UK air show spotlight
By Jason Neely, European Aerospace & Airlines Correspondent

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - The year's biggest air show opens near London next week, with all eyes on planemaker Airbus and its secretive plans for an all-new, mid-sized plane to challenge resurgent rival Boeing Co..

The two planemakers waged a feisty battle at the biennial event last time as the biggest winners in $21 billion worth of business deals announced.

This year, the France-based company faces mounting pressure to reveal its mystery plane, which analysts say could cost $10 billion to build.

Industry sources and analysts say Airbus's top salesman, John Leahy, will be working hard to sell the concept and could have deals to announce at the Farnborough air show, which opens on Monday.

Airbus has wrestled for more than a year with the design of a model named the A350 which is now likely to be shelved, some analysts believe, as the planemaker responds to calls from would-be buyers for a wider fuselage and other advances.

"It looks increasingly likely to us that Airbus will scrap plans for the A350 aircraft and launch a brand new A370," Credit Suisse analysts wrote in an research report.

Analysts are keen to see how the 10 customers already signed up for the A350 respond to the likely change of course.

Finnair, which has signed up for nine of the A350 model, said this week it was happy to wait longer to get a better plane but was not prepared to pay more for it.

Boeing does not have a 787 flying yet, but the model could cause some excitement if the U.S. planemaker announces it will build a bigger version of it dubbed the 787-10.

If that announcement comes, it is likely to include the name of a launch customer, taking a potential deal away from the new Airbus offering.

Boeing watchers will also be looking for the unidentified customer listed on the planemaker's website as the first buyer of the latest and largest version of the 747 jumbo, the 747-8 Intercontinental.

Boeing has bounced back after losing the orders race to Airbus for five straight years, outselling Airbus 4-to-1 so far this year.

SUPERJUMBO

Airbus will be flying the A380 superjumbo, the subject of a crisis at the planemaker last month after it announced that complications in wiring the mammoth planes would slow deliveries over the next three years.

Leahy has flagged 20 orders for the model by year-end and Farnborough is a likely place to announce at least some of those, analysts say.

Embraer is set to fly its 190 airliner at Farnborough, one of its largest models at 108 seats and part of the Brazilian planemaker's foray into the niche just below the model ranges of Airbus and Boeing.

DEFENCE

On the defence side, Boeing's F-15 and F/A-18 fighters will be on display, as will the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon, the Gripen from Sweden's Saab and Russia's MiG 29.

Lockheed Martin Corp. will give a briefing on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), which is the subject of some controversy in the UK and elsewhere as governments demand work and technology from the $276.5 billion project before committing to big orders for the futuristic fighter plane. Raytheon will show off Britain's newest spyplane, the Sentinel R1, which adds a sophisticated radar system to a Bombardier Global Express business jet.

Spyplanes and combat jets without pilots, called UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles), will also be on display.

Italy's Alenia Aeronautica will display its Sky-X UCAV and Europe's biggest defence company, BAE Systems of Britain, which revealed its UAV/UCAV programme in February, is expected to give more details on its work.

The U.S. Air Force will be flying several aircraft at the show, including its B-52 Stratofortress, a massive, eight-engined bomber.

^^

That's weird that they might just drop the A350 name.

I would think that they would set it up like this

A350 -> 787
A370 -> 777

It looks like at least for Boeing that planes are set up in pairs for the most part for different services. You had the 707/727, 737/747, 757/767 and now the 787/777.

For Airbus they launch the A300(310)/320, 330/340, 350/370 and the A380 serves niche markets like the Boeing 717 even though I think the A380 will do much better than the 717 did in sales.

717 was quite crap. I'm positive that A380 would do a lot better than the 717, even though I'm a Boeing fan :P

^717 was a shortened MD80. Shortening a plane has never proven to make a good sale as shorter planes tend to be very heavy for the number of passengers they carry. The A380 has the same problem. The design was optimized for the 800 passenger A380-900. The 800's economy thus suffers.

Airbus says Air Caraibes to buy one extra A330-300

PARIS, July 18 (Reuters) - European aircraft maker Airbus said on Tuesday Air Caraibes had agreed to buy an additional A330-300 to cope with growth on transatlantic routes.

Airbus said it would deliver the aircraft in November 2008.

Air Caraibes currently operates two A330-200s and one A330-300 which was put in service two weeks ago, Airbus added.

SIA to buy 20 Airbus A350s, nine A380s

SINGAPORE : Singapore Airlines has signed a letter of intent to buy 29 new passenger jets - 20 A350s and nine A380s - from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the company said Friday.

The firm order is worth US$7.5 billion and includes an option for another 20 A350s and six more of the double-decker A380s, SIA said.

Deliveries of the A350 XWB-900s, dubbed extra wide-body, are scheduled to begin in 2012 and run through to 2014 while the nine additional A380s will begin arriving in late 2008 and run until 2010, SIA said.

The announcement of the deal came one month after the profitable carrier reached a deal with Airbus' US rival Boeing for 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft worth US$4.5 billion.

SIA plans to be the first airline to fly the A380, the biggest commercial airliner ever, when it takes delivery of the first of 10 super-jumbos on order by the end of the year.

Technical problems on the A380 had earlier prompted the carrier to express its disappointment over delays in deliveries which have been progressively pushed back.

"This latest order, together with Singapore Airlines' order in June for 20 Boeing 787s, will position the airline well for future growth and uphold our policy of continuous fleet renewal and modernisation," SIA chief executive officer Chew Choon Seng said.

The A350 has just been reconfigured after clients complained Airbus had failed to match up to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner which has won hundreds of orders. - AFP/ch

I have a question though.

We all know that in the B 787 versus A 350 battle, the 787 still has the upperhand in terms of number of orders.

My question is...

By how many orders is Boeing leading over the Airbus?

I have a question though.

We all know that in the B 787 versus A 350 battle, the 787 still has the upperhand in terms of number of orders.

My question is...

By how many orders is Boeing leading over the Airbus?

Not entirely correct since the A350XWB will also scrap the 777 market.It is still way too early to compare the A350 with the 787 since they are in two different stages of development.The industrial lauch of the A350 will take place around October while the 787 maiden flight is due next year and it is expected to enter service in 2008 should everything go smooth.

^717 was a shortened MD80. Shortening a plane has never proven to make a good sale as shorter planes tend to be very heavy for the number of passengers they carry. The A380 has the same problem. The design was optimized for the 800 passenger A380-900. The 800's economy thus suffers.

My 717 was quite crap statement was made in response to this statement "I think the A380 will do much better than the 717 did in sales". What I meant was that the A380 should not be compared to the 717.