Tag Archives: boeing airplanes

SMBC Aviation Capital orders 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8s

Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and SMBC Aviation Capital (Dublin), one of the world’s largest aircraft lessors, announced an order for 10 737 MAX 8s today at the Paris Air Show. This deal adds to a 2014 order placed by the lessor for 80 737 MAX 8s for a total of 90 on order.

Boeing has been doing business in Japan for more than 60 years, during which time it has built close and enduring partnerships with Japanese customers and industry partners. Japanese customers have purchased over 1,000 Boeing airplanes and Japan’s aerospace companies make a significant contribution to all Boeing commercial airplane programs: the 737, 747-8, 777 and 787, and now the 737 MAX and 777X.

SMBC Aviation Capital has a modern fleet of over 370 owned and managed aircraft valued at more than $10.5 billion, which includes 180 Boeing airplanes. The leasing company has 95 airline customers and over 42 investors in more than 40 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Dublin and has offices in Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, Amsterdam, Toulouse and Seattle.

Image: Boeing.

American Airlines inaugurates Boeing 787 service, starts DFW-Beijing flights

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) this morning (May 7) inaugurated Boeing 787-8 revenue service (with N801AC, msn 40619) between Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago (O’Hare). The inaugural flight departed at 7:10 am from DFW and was broadcast live on the new Periscope app (owned by Twitter).

Read the full report from NBC 5: CLICK HERE

In other news, American Airlines today (May 7) launched daily nonstop service between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), marking the airline’s 11th route between the U.S. and Asia and the only daily nonstop flight connecting DFW and Beijing.

American’s service to Beijing will initially operate with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft before it switches to the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner beginning June 2 – marking the inaugural international flight for the new aircraft.

The new flight from DFW will complement American’s existing service from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Beijing.

Photo Above: Boeing Airplanes. Boeing congratulates the American flight crew on the inaugural flight.

American Airlines aircraft slide show:

Video of the inaugural flight by American Airlines:

Copyright Photo Below: Brian Peters/AirlinersGallery.com. The sunlight shines brightly on sister ship Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner N800AN (msn 40618) at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

SMBC Aviation Capital orders 80 Boeing 737 MAX 8s

Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) and SMBC Aviation Capital (Dublin) have announced an order for 80 737 MAX 8s, valued at more than $8.5 billion at list prices. This is the largest single order for 737 MAXs from a leasing company and will help SMBC Aviation Capital grow its portfolio of high-demand, fuel-efficient airplanes.

With this agreement SMBC Aviation Capital becomes the 50th 737 MAX customer and grows the program’s order book to more than 2,400 airplanes.

“It is 10 years since our business placed its first order with Boeing and we have enjoyed a decade of successful partnership since then,” said Peter Barrett, CEO, SMBC Aviation Capital. “The 737 MAX 8 is one of the most fuel efficient and versatile aircraft available and today’s announcement shows our ongoing commitment to the new generation of the popular 737 family, as well as our appetite to keep broadening and deepening our platform in order to service our customers’ requirements. Following this order and given the clear commitment of our shareholders and the strength of the global aircraft leasing sector, we remain very confident in our ability to continue to deliver long-term growth.”

SMBC Aviation Capital is the world’s third largest aircraft lessor, with a modern fleet of over 370 owned and managed aircraft valued at more than $10.5 billion. The business’s strategy is to own and lease liquid, investor-friendly aircraft assets with continuous trading through the industry cycle to maximise profitability and manage risk. The business has sold more than 240 commercial aircraft valued at over $7.5 billion.

SMBC Aviation Capital has 95 airline customers and over 40 investors in more than 40 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Dublin and has offices in, Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, Amsterdam, Toulouse and Seattle.

SMBC Aviation Capital has 180 Boeing airplanes in its portfolio and has 95 airline customers in more than 40 countries.

ImageS: Boeing.

Ethiopian Airlines orders 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8s

Ethiopian Airlines (Addis Ababa) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) have announced an order for 20 737 MAX 8s. The order, previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website, is worth more than $2.1 billion at list prices and also includes options and purchase rights for a further 15 737 MAX 8s. The order represents the largest single Boeing order by number of airplanes from an African carrier.

The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The 737 MAX will be 14 percent more fuel-efficient than today’s most efficient Next-Generation 737s – and 20 percent better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service. The 737 MAX has a total of 2,294 orders from 47 customers worldwide.

Ethiopian currently serves more than 83 destinations across five continents from its base at Bole International Airport in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian flag carrier’s partnership with Boeing has existed for more than half a century, with a current fleet of more than 50 Boeing airplanes that includes Next-Generation 737s, 757s, 767s, 777s, 787 Dreamliners and a cargo fleet of 757s, 777 Freighters and MD-11s.

Image: Boeing.

Ethiopian Airlines:

Belavia orders three Boeing 737-800s to upgrade the fleet

Belavia Belarusian Airlines (Minsk) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) have reached an agreement on an order for three Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes. Valued at $272 million at current list prices, this is the first direct purchase of Boeing airplanes for Belavia.

The new airplanes will be capable of carrying up to 189 passengers in economy class cabin. Belavia said it will use these airplanes on existing charter routes because the economic efficiency of the airplanes will reduce operational costs and the extended range will allow for nonstop flights to farther destinations, including Tenerife, Canary Islands and Dubai.

Belavia serves a network of routes between European cities and the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as several Middle East destinations. The airline’s Boeing fleet currently consists of six 737-500s and seven 737-300s.

Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil/AirlinersGallery.com. The new airplanes will start the process of replacing the older Boeing 737 Classics including Boeing 737-3Q8 EW-283PA (msn 26333) arriving at Antalya, Turkey.

Belavia:

Boeing delivers the first Boeing 777-300 ER to Kenya Airways

Boeing (Chicago) has delivered a 777-300 ER (Extended Range) to GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) for lease to Kenya Airways (Nairobi). The pictured 777-36N ER 5Y-KZZ (msn 41818) was handed over on October 24.

Kenya Airways’ 777-300 ER is configured with 400 seats, 28 in Premier World and 372 in Economy, and features USB ports, power sockets and an all-new in-flight entertainment system throughout the cabin. The airplane can fly up to 7,825 nautical miles (14,490 kilometers) and is equipped with GE90-115B engines, the world’s most powerful commercial jet engine.

Kenya Airways is set to take delivery of a further two 777-300 ERs, including an additional lease, as part of the carrier’s 10-year strategic plan dubbed ‘Project Mawingu.’ The Nairobi-based carrier plans to increase its fleet size from 44 airplanes to 107 by 2021 and destinations from the current 62 to 115. Currently the airline operates an all-Boeing long-haul fleet of four 777-200 ERs and six 767-300 ERs.

With this delivery, Kenya Airways is also working with Boeing to support the Alaskan Sudan Medical Project (ASMP) by carrying 10,400 lbs (4,717 kilograms) of humanitarian supplies on the 777-300 ER’s delivery flight to Kenya. ASMP will use the supplies to build medical clinics, drill water wells and construct bio-sand filters for clean water in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. The humanitarian cargo will also include water pumps and agriculture equipment to support local farmers, fulfilling the ASMP’s mission statement of saving lives through health, clean water and agriculture.

Kenya Airways operates a fleet of more than 25 Boeing airplanes including, 777s, 767s and 737s. The carrier serves more than 60 destinations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe and has nine 787 Dreamliners currently on order from Boeing.

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 777-36N ER 5Y-KZZ (msn 41818) climbs beautifully from the runway at Paine Field near Everett.

Ethiopian Airlines:

Ryanair finalizes its order for 175 Boeing 737-800s

Ryanair (Dublin) has finalized a firm order for 175 Next-Generation 737-800 airplanes with Boeing valued at $15.6 billion at list prices. The order, originally announced as a commitment in March, is Boeing’s largest ever aircraft order from a European airline.

CEO O’Leary flew into the air show on one of Ryanair’s 303 737-800s, which bore a special livery celebrating the agreement.

Ryanair, which took delivery of its first 737-800 from Boeing in 1999 and has the largest fleet of Boeing airplanes in Europe.

The airline operates over 1,600 flights per day from 57 bases on 1,600 routes across 29 countries, connecting more than 180 destinations.

Copyright Photo: Boeing. Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of Ryanair (left) joined Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO (right), at the Paris signing ceremony.

Video:

Ryanair:

Boeing delivers the first direct purchase 767-300 ER to MIAT Mongolian Airlines

Boeing (Chicago) has delivered a 767-300 ER (extended range) to MIAT Mongolian Airlines (Ulaanbaatar), the first-ever direct purchase delivery to the airline.

“This is a momentous step forward for MIAT Mongolian Airlines as we continue to enhance our fleet,” said Jargalsaikhan Gungaa, President and CEO of MIAT Mongolian Airlines. “We are pleased with the comfort, range and payload of the new 767-300ER and we look forward to introducing it into our long-haul fleet.”

Mongolia’s flag carrier completed a historic order in 2011 at the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., marking the first time in more than two decades that the airline extended its route network by purchasing Boeing airplanes instead of leasing them.

“We congratulate MIAT Mongolian Airlines on the delivery of their first direct purchase 767-300ER,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With the new passenger-pleasing cabin interior and low operating costs, Boeing is confident that the 767-300ER will play an important role as MIAT Mongolian Airlines continues expanding into new markets.”

Mongolian Airlines:

Route Map:

The FAA grounds the Boeing 787 due to battery issues

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (Washington) has grounded all N-numbered Boeing 787s (United Airlines is the only U.S. operator) due to the on-going problems with the batteries. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued an emergency airworthiness directive that requires U.S. 787 operators to temporarily cease operations. According to this report by Reuters, “the FAA said airlines would have to demonstrate that the batteries involved were safe before they could resume flying, but gave no details on when that could occur.”

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Boeing issued the following statement:

Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney issued the following statement after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive that requires U.S. 787 operators to temporarily cease operations and recommends other regulatory agencies to follow suit:

“The safety of passengers and crew members who fly aboard Boeing airplanes is our highest priority.

“Boeing is committed to supporting the FAA and finding answers as quickly as possible. The company is working around the clock with its customers and the various regulatory and investigative authorities. We will make available the entire resources of The Boeing Company to assist.

“We are confident the 787 is safe and we stand behind its overall integrity. We will be taking every necessary step in the coming days to assure our customers and the traveling public of the 787’s safety and to return the airplanes to service.

“Boeing deeply regrets the impact that recent events have had on the operating schedules of our customers and the inconvenience to them and their passengers.”

This is the major issue for Boeing and its 787 customers. It also raises questions about the FAA certification process.

Here is a list of how other countries and operators are reacting:

EASA (Europe) will follow the FAA and ground the aircraft according to Reuters: CLICK HERE

Japan has grounded the 787s of ANA and JAL (who had already grounded their fleets): CLICK HERE. JAL is also canceling the new Tokyo-San Diego route.

LAN Airlines grounded its three 787-8s: CLICK HERE

Qatar Airways has grounded its five 787-8s. Read the report by Reuters: CLICK HERE

United Airlines grounded its 787-8s and substituted other aircraft for the 787 flights or rebooked its customers.

Meanwhile LOT Polish Airlines (Warsaw) wins the “worst timing award” for its press release and the Chicago O’Hare inaugural flight. Right before the FAA grounded the aircraft, the Polish airline issued the following announcement:

LOT Polish Airlines will inaugurate new 787 Dreamliner nonstop service from Chicago to Warsaw on Wednesday, January 16, and make aviation history as the first airline with scheduled Dreamliner service from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.

LOT is the first European carrier to operate the Dreamliner with a total of eight aircraft to be in their fleet. LOT’s Dreamliner inaugural flight from Chicago to Warsaw is followed closely by Toronto on February 1 and New York’s JFK on February 3.

LOT’s inbound Dreamliner special flight from Warsaw is scheduled to touch down at Chicago’s O’Hare airport at 6:55 p.m. The Dreamliner trip from Chicago will depart at 9:55 p.m., and arrive the next day in Warsaw at 1:50 p.m. Typically the flight will depart Warsaw at 5:25 p.m. and arrives in Chicago at 9:20 a.m. the same day. The flights were previously operated with Boeing 767s.

LOT’s Dreamliner has 18 seats in Elite Club (business class), 21 in Premium Club (premium economy) plus 213 seats in economy class.

In preparation for the Dreamliner flights, LOT has implemented a new design inspired by traditional and famous symbols of Poland. This design is reflected in the new aircraft interiors, inflight menus with its new selection of beverages, on-board equipment, toys for children and other amenities. The quality of service offered is an additional asset with specially trained Elite Fleet cabin crews, new comfortable classes of service-Elite Club and Premium Club- as well as the unique product on board the aircraft.

January 16, 2013 will probably go down in history as the darkest day for the Boeing Aircraft Company. William E. Boeing is probably rolling in his grave.

LOT Polish Airlines:

Turkish Airlines finalizes its order for 15 Boeing 777-300 ERs

Boeing (Chicago) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) have finalized a firm order for 15 777-300 ER (Extended Range) airplanes worth $4.7 billion at list prices. The agreement, first announced in October as a commitment, also includes options for five additional 777-300 ERs and is the largest order by value in Turkish Airlines’ history.

Turkish Airlines’ fleet currently includes 12 777-300 ERs, the first of which Boeing delivered in October 2010. Over the past two years, these airplanes have formed the backbone of Turkish Airlines’ long-haul operations. This latest order will enable the Turkish flag-carrier to continue to serve new destinations worldwide.

The 777-300 ER seats up to 386 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km).

Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet that includes nearly 100 Boeing airplanes and serves more than 200 destinations across 90 countries worldwide.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. Boeing 777-3F2 ER TC-JJJ (msn 40710) prepares to land at Los Angeles International Airport.

Turkish Airlines: