The 787-9 Dreamliner took to the skies on July 14 with a powerful, yet quiet, performance in front of Farnborough Airshow attendees as it closed out the day’s flying demonstrations.
Video: Boeing.
Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) has issued this statement on the evolving design features of the 777X:
Boeing announced today at the Farnborough Airshow new details about the innovative passenger experience being created for its newest long-haul twin-aisle airplane โ the 777X.
By building on the award-winning passenger-preferred interior of today’s 777 and applying 787 Dreamliner cabin innovations, Boeing will continue its leadership in offering unprecedented levels of comfort for the traveling public and enhanced flexibility for airlines.
Among its advances, the 777X interior will feature:
A cabin altitude of 6,000 feet โ comparable to the 787 Dreamliner
Windows that are more than 15 percent larger than the competition and located higher on the fuselage so they’re at eye level for a larger percentage of passengers
Increased ambient light made possible by the larger, newly positioned windows
All-new interior design that allows airlines to customize their cabin architectures by class. This innovation includes an adaptable suite of parts that facilitates choices in overhead ceiling and stow bin configurations, allowing airlines to create the feeling of separate and distinct cabins that meet both airline and passenger needs
A cabin that is 16 inches wider than the competition, allowing airlines a variety of economy class seat widths up to 18 inches wide
Higher cabin humidity, comparable to the 787 Dreamliner
Enhanced air filtration, incorporating the latest filtration technologies to increase passengers’ well-being
Next-generation LED lighting, further enhancing the passenger experience throughout the flight and allowing airlines more branding opportunities
Lower cabin noise, achieved through the new engine nacelle design, new high bypass ratio engines, better insulation and a passenger cabin that doubles the number of air nozzles with lower velocity and less noise
In addition to the advancements announced today, Boeing is continuing to explore new ways to create a better flying experience.
The 777X program has 300 orders and commitments from six customers worldwide. Production is set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2020.
Copyright Photos: Boeing.
Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the largest regional aircraft trading and leasing company with the worldโs biggest ATR fleet, has signed a total order for 75 ATR 42-600 aircraft, in a deal valued at over US$1.55 billion. Deliveries will commence in 2015 through to 2020. By confirming this order for new ATR 42-600s – which includes 25 firm orders and 50 options for the type – NAC is once again demonstrating its full confidence in ATR โ and this time, the smaller 50-seater ATR 42-600 series, in response to operator demand and recognizing that the replacement market for sub 50-seat turboprops is very under-served. The order builds on NACโs long relationship with ATR and its ongoing success with regional airline operators worldwide.
With this new order, totaling 75 aircraft, signed today at a special ceremony at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow, NAC solidifies its position as ATRโs largest customer.
This landmark ATR order comes just one year after NAC signed an order for up to 90 ATR aircraft, a contract worth a total $2.1 billion at the Paris Air Show. This was followed by an add on order worth a total of ย $820 million of up to 35 ATR 600 series aircraft, announced during the ERA General Assembly in October 2013. Taking all NACโs commitments (firm and options) into account the figure now rises to well over 200 new aircraft, as this major European lessor continues to expand its fleet to meet the need for short-haul turboprops, servicing the worldโs growing regional aircraft fleet.
UTair Aviation (Russia) (Khanty-Mansiysk)ย has signed a firm contract with Airbus for 20 A321 aircraft during the Farnborough Airshow. This is the largest order for the type received from a carrier in the region and the first time that UTair has ordered Airbus aircraft.
UTairโs A321s will feature a single-class cabin layout seating 220 passengers. The airline is planning to operate these new aircraft to further develop its charter network of popular leisure destinations.
UTairย was founded in 1967. The airline is operating a fleet of some 200 aircraft to over 60 domestic and some 40 international destinations.
Image: Airbus.
UTair (Russia):ย 
Air Baltic Corporation (airBaltic) (Riga) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire 10 CS300 aircraft and take purchase rights on a further 10 CS300 jetliners.
Based on the list price of the CS300 airliner, a firm-order contract with the network carrier will be valued at approximately $764 million, and could increase to $1.57 billion should the 10 purchase rights be converted to firm orders.
According to the manufacturer, the CSeries is designed for the “growing 100- to 149-seat market, the 100 per cent new CSeries aircraft family combines advanced materials, leading-edge technology and proven methods to meet commercial airline requirements in 2013 and beyond. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines, the CSeries aircraft family will offer a 15* per cent cash operating cost advantage and a 20* per cent fuel burn advantage. The CSeries aircraftโs clean-sheet design is ensuring that the aircraft will achieve greatly reduced noise and emissions, as well as superior operational flexibility, exceptional airfield performance and a range of 2,950 nm (5,463 km)*. The CSeries aircraft will be up to 12,000 lbs. (5,443 kg)* lighter than other aircraft in the same seat category and will provide passengers with a best-in-class, widebody cabin environment in a single-aisle aircraft.”
Including this announced LOI from airBaltic for 10 CS300 airliners and purchase rights for 10 CS300 airliners, as well as a conditional order for five CS100 and 10 CS300 jetliners placed by an unidentified customer earlier this week during the Farnborough Airshow, Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 352 CSeries aircraft.
The CSeries aircraft order book also includes firm orders for 138 CSeries airliners from Braathens Aviation (five CS100 and five CS300 aircraft), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (30 CS100 aircraft), Korean Air (10 CS300 aircraft), Lease Corporation International Group (17 CS300 and three CS100 aircraft), PrivatAir (five CS100 aircraft), Republic Airways (40 CS300 aircraft), an unidentified major network carrier (10 CS100 aircraft), an unidentified European customer (10 CS100 aircraft) and a well-established, unidentified airline (three CS100 aircraft). The CSeries aircraft program has also booked options for 124 aircraft and purchase rights for 10 aircraft from these customers, as well as LOIโs for up to 30 CSeries aircraft from Ilyushin Finance Co, and for up to 15 CS300 aircraft from Atlasjet.
airBaltic:ย 
ALAFCO (Kuwait City) today announced a commitment at the 2012 Farnborough Airshow for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8s valued at $1.9 billion at current list prices.
Theย Farnborough International Airshowย is a seven-day international trade fair for theย aerospace industryย which is held in even-numbered years in mid-July atย Farnborough Airportย inย Hampshire, England alternating with the Paris Airshow. This year the FAB Show will be from July 9 through July 15.
As the show approaches, a fierce sales battle is being planned by the aerospace leaders, especially Airbus and Boeing. Each side is now “storing up” prospective “order announcements” to be unveiled at the show next week, which we will report on in these pages as they are announced. Each side hopes to “out-announce” and “out sign” the other, often “firming up” or announcing “signed contracts” of previous announced intentions to purchase (MOUs). It is all about perception and of course, signed orders leading to market share. Neither side wants to have the perception grow that they are losing any ground in the “orders wars”.
To a lessor extent, the smaller manufacturers like Bombardier and Embraer are doing the same thing in order to gain ground on the “Big Two”. However the real battle is between the two Titans of the industry.
Many other communities would like to have a Paris or Farnborough-type of show but the truth be told, the manufacturers can’t afford any more public displays of these desperate order wars.
This article by Reuters details the current raging battle between the two giants to maintain market share. Both sides are now desperately discounting their prices (great for the struggling airlines) in order to not lose any further customers. They are promising the world with their new models. “Yes, we can cut your fuel bill” is their on-going A320neo and 737 MAX sales mantra. Both sides are attempting to snatch away long-time customers from the other giant. There are no rules except winning the battle. Careers will be made (and lost) next week.
Massive price cutting has severe implications for the both sides in the future along with all of the people who work for either company. Once you cut the price to bone how are you going to impress future customers?
All of the classic sports battles pale in comparison to next week’s gladiatorial “Battle of the Titans”. This battle won’t appear in the sports pages, but it has all of the competitive drama as the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, World Cup or even the upcoming Olympics in London. Bragging rights are on the line in Toulouse and Seattle.
Settle back in your easy chair on this Sunday morning before the battle and read this article and then visualize all of the maneuvers and strategies that are now taking place behind the scenes.
Reality TV? I wish all of this could be available to watch. It would be a great show.
Read the full article: CLICK HERE
Qatar Airways (Doha) is considering starting a new offshoot as a domestic airline in neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Read the full report from Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE
In other news, Qatar Airways is talking to QANTAS Airways (Sydney) about an increased relationship including code-sharing flights and possible joint flights.
Read the full report from news.com.au: CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Royal S. King. Brand new Boeing 787-8DZ Dreamliner N10187 (msn 38320) is pictured at Seattle (Boeing Field) on a test flight. N10187 will become A7-BCB on delivery this month. Boeing and Qatar are planning to bring a Qatar 787 to the Farnborough Airshow.
Hot New Photos:ย 
Qatar Airways:ย 
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