Tag Archives: Boeing Field

UPS starts to add Blended Winglets to its Boeing 767-300F freighters

UPS Airlines (United Parcel Service) (Atlanta and Louisville) has unveiled a new look for its flagship Boeing 767 fleet by adding winglets as a part of its sustainability efforts to save fuel and reduce emissions.

These wingtip devices, which are arrow-shaped surfaces attached to the tip of each wing, enhance the overall efficiency of the aircraft, saving fuel by reducing drag while also lowering noise emissions by improving take-off performance. The modifications will save UPS more than six million gallons of fuel each year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 62,000 metric tonnes. UPS estimates approximately a four percent fuel savings on each 767 flight.

“UPS continues to lead the industry in sustainable business practices,” said David Abney, UPS chief operating officer. “With the widest portfolio of services in the industry, we are constantly looking for ways to reduce emissions, and drive down operating costs so our customers have the solutions they need to compete in a global economy. These winglets are a perfect example of sustainability in action. They are good business and good stewardship.”

UPS currently operates 54 of the 767 aircraft with five on order. The company plans to have winglets on all 767 aircraft by the end of 2014. Winglets are already installed on UPS’s 747, and MD-11 fleets, and the A300-600 has a similar device called a wingtip fence.

The modifications will add approximately five and a half feet of span to each wing, and each winglet is 11 feet tall. Aircraft weight will increase by nearly 3,000 pounds due to the weight of the winglets and the extensive structural reinforcement of the wing structure. Even at this size and weight, the winglets will still reduce the amount of fuel used per flight.

Winglets improve the aerodynamics of the wing by extending the length of the wing and reducing the amount of drag, which is the force that opposes an aircraft’s motion in the air.

The winglet project is a sustainability initiative implemented by UPS Airlines. The company already operates one of the cargo sector’s youngest and most fuel-efficient air fleet, and is working to reduce its carbon intensity an additional 20 percent by 2020 from a 2005 baseline. Other highlights of the airline’s fuel conservation efforts include computer-optimized flight routes, aircraft taxi time management, and alternate-fuel ground support equipment.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. The first, Boeing 767-34AF ER N304UP (msn 27242) lands at Boeing Field (King County) in Seattle with the new device.

UPS:

Airbus is ready to snatch a major Boeing customer: Lion Air

Lion Air (Jakarta) is reportedly ready to sign a major order with Airbus for narrow body A320 Family aircraft in a high-profile ceremony today in Paris. Lion Air is a staunch Boeing customer and has over 300 Boeing 737-800, 737-900ER and 737 MAX 9 aircraft on order for the fast-growing Asian market.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Boeing 737-9GP ER WL PK-LJJ (msn 37289) turns off the runway after a test flight at Seattle (Boeing Field).

Lion Air:

Malindo Air to launch operations on two routes on March 22

Malindo Air (Kuala Lumpur) will launch operations with Boeing 737s on the Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu (three times daily) and Kuala Lumpur-Kuching (four times daily) routes on March 22.

Malindo Air is a joint venture between National Aerospace and Defence Industries (NADI) (51%) (Malaysia) and Lion Air (Jakarta, Indonesia) (49%). The name “Malindo” is a contraction of Malaysia and Indonesia.

Next the airline will add service from Kuala Lumpur to Bintulu, Miri, Sandakan and Sibu.

Read the full full story from The Star: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. The pictured Boeing 737-9GP ER 9M-LNF (msn 38687) was the first -900ER to be handed over (in a basic Lion Air color scheme) on March 14, 2013. The airliner is also a milestone delivery and carries a special 7500th Boeing 737 logo by the nose (below, courtesy of Malindo Air).

Editor’s “To The Point” Observation: This new launch will sharpen the competition between AirAsia and Lion Air. To underscore this point, please read this report from Reuters about this growing feud:

CLICK HERE

Initial Route Map:

WestJet celebrates the delivery of its 100th Next-Generation Boeing 737

WestJet Airlines (Calgary) and Boeing (Chicago) celebrated the 100^th Next-Generation 737 to join the airline’s fleet on December 6.

WestJet began in 1996 with three Boeing 737-200s serving five cities and has grown into Canada’s largest low-fare airline serving 81 destinations across Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. With today’s delivery of a Boeing 737-800, WestJet’s fleet now consists of 100 airplanes – all Boeing Next-Generation 737s.

The airplane, the pictured 737-8CT registered as C-GAWS (msn 38880), was initially delivered to Newport Beach, California-based leasing company Aviation Capital Group (ACG) and is now being leased and operated by WestJet.

Copyright Photo: Rick Schlamp. Wearing its test registration of N1781B, the new jetliner carries unique #100 Boeing 737 NG sub-titles at Seattle (Boeing Field).

WestJet:

Southwest to convert Wichita to a Southwest city on June 2

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) on June 2, 2013 will convert service at Wichita, Kansas from AirTran Airways to a Southwest city. At Wichita’s Mid-Continent airport, WN will substitute three AirTran nonstop flights between Wichita and Atlanta with two Southwest nonstops between Wichita and both Dallas/Love and Chicago/Midway, and daily Southwest nonstop service between Wichita and Las Vegas. This will give Southwest five daily departures, with direct and connecting service to another 70 Southwest cities across America.

Integration between Southwest and AirTran also continues in the Caribbean. On the same day WN will convert existing AirTran nonstop service between Baltimore/Washington and San Juan, Puerto Rico to Southwest Airlines service, and will add a fourth daily roundtrip between San Juan and Orlando. All of Southwest’s service to San Juan utilizes Boeing 737-800 aircraft complete with Boeing’s Sky Interior.

According to the airline, Southwest will also add two daily nonstop roundtrips between Houston/Hobby and New York’s LaGuardia Airport. WN will also add new nonstop service between Chicago/Midway and Tulsa. Other nonstop markets that will seasonally return will be daily nonstops between Seattle/Tacoma and Atlanta, Nashville, Houston/Hobby, and Kansas City, between Austin and Portland OR, and between Las Vegas and Manchester. Southwest will end nonstop service in five markets—Albuquerque-Tucson, Oakland-Reno, Little Rock-St. Louis, and between Birmingham and both Jacksonville and New Orleans. In addition, WN will eliminate seasonal nonstops between Hartford and Ft. Myers, weekend-only nonstops in the Norfolk-Tampa and Providence-Ft. Myers markets, and will seasonally shift Southwest nonstop service between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and both Raleigh/Durham and Milwaukee to AirTran. WN will also reduce frequency in 40 roundtrip markets and increase service in 49 others, winding up with an average of 3,382 departures each weekday—which represents an overall increase in roughly 18 midweek departures per day.

Southwest Airlines:

Qatar Airways takes delivery of its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

Boeing (Chicago) and Qatar Airways (Doha) yesterday (November 12) celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airplane (A7-BCB), the first of 30 787s ordered by the airline, is also the first to be delivered to an airline in the Middle East.

Made from composite materials, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes and will allow airlines such as Qatar Airways to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public. The airline has announced that it will deploy the Dreamliner on services to Dubai, London Heathrow, Delhi and Zurich, with others planned as additional 787s join the fleet.

According to the manufacturer, “In addition to providing airlines with unprecedented fuel economy and low operating costs, the 787 features a host of new technologies that greatly enhance the passenger experience. Qatar Airways’ customers will also experience cabin environment improvements such as improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other features. The airline’s 787 cabins are configured with 22 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy.”

Qatar Airways’ first Boeing 787 is also the airline’s 32^nd Boeing airplane and will join a fleet of 31 Boeing 777 passenger and cargo aircraft. The Doha-based airline currently flies to a global network of 120 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

Qatar Airways:

RwandAir would like to double its fleet in the next five years

RwandAir (Kigali) would like to more than double its fleet in the next five years, including possibly adding the Boeing 787 Dreamliner according to this article by Reuters. The government airline added its first Bombardier CRJ900 (CL-600-2D24) (9XR-WH) (msn 15286) on October 17, 2012.

Besides the CRJ900, the fleet consists of two Next-Generation Boeing 737- 800s, two Boeing 737- 500s and a DHC-8-100.The new CRJ900s are replacing older and smaller 50-seat CRJ200s.

Read the full article: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: James Helbock. The first Boeing 737-800, the pictured 737-84Y 9XR-WF (msn 40892), was added to the fleet on August 25, 2011, direct from Boeing. The airline is also the first to operate the 737 with the new Sky Interior in Africa.

RwandAir:

Alaska Airlines accepts its first new Boeing 737-900 ER, Boeing earns $1 billion in the third quarter

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) yesterday (October 23) took delivery of its first new Boeing 737-900 ER (Extended Range) (N402AS) aircraft.

Meanwhile, The Boeing Company (Chicago) reported third quarter net income of $1.0 billion, or $1.35 per share, on continued strong core performance and revenue of $20.0 billion. Increased earnings at Commercial Airplanes and Defense, Space & Security were more than offset by higher pension expense of $194 million ($0.18 per share). Earnings per share guidance for 2012 was raised to between $4.80 and $4.95. The company also raised its revenue guidance to between $80.5 and $82 billion on higher Defense, Space & Security revenue, and increased its 2012 operating cash flow outlook to greater than $5.5 billion.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker. Boeing 737-990 ER N402AS (msn 41189) is pictured departing from a cloudy Boeing Field in Seattle as flight “Alaska 9401” bound for Paine Field (PAE) near Everett, to where it will be outfitted prior to entry into revenue service.

Alaska Airlines:

Norwegian takes delivery of its 50th new Boeing 737-800, dedicates the aircraft to UNICEF

Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian.com) (Oslo) continues to phase in brand new aircraft. The airline has taken delivery of its 50th new Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft is painted in the children’s rights organization UNICEF’s colors and logo to mark the Norwegian’s signature and UNICEF partnership.

Boeing 737-8JP LN-NGE (msn 39050) in the UNICEF livery and named “Commemorative Air”, was handed over yesterday (October 1) and landed at Gardermoen in Oslo today dedicated to UNICEF. Norwegian has been working with UNICEF since 2007. In connection with the Norwegian’s 10th anniversary on September 1, Norwegian gave NOK 1 million to UNICEF. The aircraft will fly throughout the Norwegian’s European route network.

Norwegian Air Shuttle:

American Airlines loans new Boeing 737-823 N897NN for three months of testing as the “ecoDemonstrator”

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) is loaning this brand new Boeing 737-823 registered as N897NN (msn 33318) for three months for a special program in conjunction with Boeing and the FAA.

According to Boeing, “the Next-Generation 737-800 will be used as a flying test bed for validating environmentally progressive technologies. The airplane, known as the ecoDemonstrator, is outfitted with advanced technologies and test equipment for a month of intense flight testing in Montana.

The 2012 ecoDemonstrator program is a partnership between Boeing, American Airlines, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

“The goal of the ecoDemonstrator program is to accelerate integration of these technologies for more fuel efficient, quieter, cleaner, more advanced sustainable material solutions for the future,” said Jeanne Yu, Boeing Commercial Airplanes director of Environmental Performance. “Demonstration programs give us a platform for better learning about new technologies in application. This helps us incorporate these technologies more rapidly.”

American Airlines is loaning one of its new Next-Generation 737-800s to Boeing for three months to serve as the test bed for these advanced technologies. Each technology being fitted on the airplane for testing has the goal of reducing fuel consumption, lowering noise, and testing the viability of sustainable materials. After testing, the airplane will be returned to standard configuration and delivered later this year.

Technologies on the 2012 ecoDemonstrator airplane will include improvements to wing and engine efficiency as well as fuel-saving flight trajectory methods.

The 2012 ecoDemonstrator is part of a multi-year program. In 2013, a wide-bodied airplane will serve as the test bed. See details of the technologies in the fact sheet at http://www.boeing.com/farnborough2012/ and click on “Backgrounders.”

The FAA is participating in the 2012 and 2013 programs, providing funding for two of the technologies and sharing in the flight test costs. The funding is provided through their Continuous Lower Energy Emissions and Noise program (CLEEN).”

Copyright Photo: Rick Schlamp. Boeing 737-823 N897NN departs Boeing Field on August 24 headed for the testing over Montana. N897NN carries unique “ecoDemonstrator” markings for this special program.

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