LAN Airlines (Chile) (Santiago) is getting ready to replace its aging Airbus A340-300s (above) with the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners (below). The venerable A340s are currently assigned to the long-range Santiago-Auckland-Sydney Southern Hemisphere trans-Pacific route.
The last regularly-scheduled revenue flight is currently scheduled for the morning of April 17 when flight LA 800 arrives from Auckland at 11:35 am (1135) in Santiago. However the A340 may be kept as a reserve aircraft after this last scheduled flight, pending any last minute changes.
The Chilean carrier took delivery of its first stretched Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (CC-BGA) on February 5.
In other news, LAN Airlines on January 27, 2016 will start to operate a weekly Boeing 787 flight on the Santiago-Caracas-Miami (on Wednesdays) route per Airline Route.
Top Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A340-313 CC-CQC (msn 363) arrives back at the Santiago (SCL) hub.
LAN Airlines (Chile) aircraft slide show:ย
Bottom Copyright Photo: Steve Bailey/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner CC-BGB (msn 35318) prepares to depart from Paine Field on a test flight on March 6. It is pending delivery to the carrier.
Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston)ย and Cargolux Airlines (Luxembourg) are celebrating the 30th direct delivery of a 747 Freighter to the Luxembourg-based cargo carrier. To mark the occasion, Cargolux’s latest 747-8 Freighter carries a special decal of the “Father of the Boeing 747,” Joe Sutter, the Boeing engineer who led the team that designed the airplane.
Photos Above: Boeing. The pictured Boeing 747-8R7F LX-VCL (msn 35823) with the special Joe Sutter emblem on the nose was officially handed over to the carrier on March 5.
Video Below: Interview with Joe Sutter.
This latest delivery was the 12th 747-8 Freighter to join Cargolux’s fleet, with the Luxembourg carrier becoming the world’s first operator of the airplane type in October 2011. Prior to the introduction of the 747-8 Freighter, Cargolux took delivery of the first of two 747-200 Freighters in 1979 and in 1993 also became the world’s first operator of the 747-400 Freighter, taking a total of 16 747-400 Freighters.
In January 2015, Cargolux began operations to Manaus Airport in Brazil with a 747-8 Freighter carrying a full load of machinery spare parts and telecommunications equipment. In the process, Manaus Airport became the 100th commercial airport that Cargolux serves with the 747-8 Freighter, underlining the airplane’s incredible versatility in the world cargo market.
Cargolux currently has two unfilled orders for 747-8 Freighters, with the all-Boeing carrier operating a fleet composed entirely of 747-400 Freighters and 747-8 Freighters.
Silk Way Westย (formerly Silk Way Airlines) (Baku) and Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) have announced an order for three 747-8 Freighter airplanes valued at more than $1.1 billion at current list prices.
Silk Way West is an enterprise of the Silk Way Group, which includes 23 companies working in the aviation industry and related services. The airline currently operates seven Boeing airplanes, including two 767-300 Freighters, three 747-400 Freighters and two 747-8 Freighters.
According to Boeing, “there are now 56 747-8 Freighters in service with eight customers, the 747-8 Freighters have logged more than 500,000 flight hours and more than 88,000 flight cycles. They are performing with the highest dispatch reliability and utilization of any four-engine airplane in service.”
Copyright Photo: Royal S. King/AirlinersGallery.com.ย Silkway Azerbaijan Cargo (Silk Way West Airlines) Boeing 747-83QF VQ-BVC (4K-SW882) (msn 44937) lands at Paine Field near Everett.
Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) is taking another look at possibly serving Paine Field near Everett, Washington (north of Seattle) after the Snohomish County council approved the construction of a passenger terminal. Paine Field is also the home of Boeing’s 747/777/787 assembly plant.
The Snohomish County Council has approved a two-gate passenger terminal at PAE. The building will be leased to Propeller Airports (New York). The facility once built, could handle up to 23 flights a day according to KING 5.
Meanwhile Alaska Airlines is now taking a new look at PAE for possible service probably by Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon) following this vote according to Puget Sound Business Journal.
Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Horizon Air (Alaska Horizon) Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) N452QX (msn 4459) taxies to the runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in the special “Employee Powered” livery featuring the signatures of employees.
American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) has announced it will begin domestic service with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in May and international service in June.
The 787 initially will be deployed between Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) beginning on May 7, before launching internationally between DFW and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) beginning June 2. The new aircraft will also operate between DFW and Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires beginning on June 4. American will deploy the 787 to additional markets in 2015 as it takes delivery of new aircraft.
Above Photo: American Airlines. Business Class.
Arranged in a two-class cabin configuration, American’s 787-8 features 28 fully lie-flat Business Class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. The custom-designed forward-and rear-facing seats provide direct-aisle access for every Business Class customer for more mobility throughout the cabin. The aircraft is equipped with satellite Wi-Fi capability to keep customers connected while traveling internationally. The premium cabin also features inflight entertainment selections on a 15.4-inch HD Panasonic touchscreen monitor positioned in each seat. Business Class customers will also be offered Boseยฎ QuietComfortยฎ Acoustic Noise Cancellingยฎ headphones and ear buds. Each seat is equipped with universal AC power outlets and a USB jack.
Above Photo: American Airlines. Main Cabin.
The Main Cabin will be outfitted with 48 Main Cabin Extra seats in a 3-3-3 configuration, offering customers up to six inches of additional legroom, and 150 Main Cabin seats also arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration. Every seat offers a 9-inch HD Panasonic touchscreen monitor with an assortment of movies, TV programs, games and audio selections. Each Main Cabin seat is also equipped with universal AC power outlets and a USB jack.
Other advanced features on the Dreamliner include larger dimmable windows, improved cabin humidity and improved sound quality. American’s 787-8s will also feature a walk-up bar stocked with snacks and refreshments for customers traveling in the premium cabin.
American has placed firm orders for 42 Boeing 787 aircraft, with the right to acquire an additional 58. American already has the youngest fleet of the U.S. global network carriers, with an average aircraft age of 12.3 years. In 2015, American plans to take delivery of an average of two new aircraft per week. These new deliveries will make American’s fleet even younger, more modern and more efficient and will provide a solid foundation for continued improvements in technology, products and services.
Video: American Airlines. Testing and accepting the first Boeing 787:
Copyright Photo: Royal S. King/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-8 N800AN (msn 40618) was delivered on January 22.
American Airlines aircraft slide show (current livery):
Lufthansa (Frankfurt) will soon take delivery of this brand new Boeing 747-830 D-ABYT (msn 37844) (above). The new Jumbo was rolled out of the paint shop on February 8 at Paine Field sporting a basic 1968 livery, albeit minus the traditional metal finish on the bottom of the fuselage for that period. The aircraft will soon be flying test flights and we will have more photos soon.
The retro color scheme is part of modern day Lufthansa’s 60th Anniversary celebrations. Post-war Lufthansa restarted operations on April 1, 1955.
Top Photo: Lufthansa. D-ABYT in the Boeing paint shop after the work was finished.
Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. The first LH 747, Boeing 747-130 D-ABYA (msn 19746), is pictured taxiing to the gate at New York (JFK) on April 8, 1971 in the original 1968 livery for the Boeing Jumbo. The first 747 was handed over to the airline on March 10, 1970.
Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) and LAN Airlines (Chile) (Santiago) (LATAM Airlines Group) yesterday (February 5) celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first 787-9 Dreamliner. LATAM Airlines Group is leasing the new airplane from Amsterdam-based lessor AerCap.
LATAM Airlines Group will become Latin America’s first operator of both the 787-8 and 787-9 variants of the Dreamliner family when the airline group launches 787-9 services on South American routes in April.
With this delivery, LATAM Airlines Group will have 11 787s in its fleet, the most in Latin America. The company is building a fleet of 32 787 Dreamliners, including 10 787-9s, over the next several years.
The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 will fly up to 40 more passengers an additional 450 nautical miles (830 kilometers) with the same exceptional environmental performance โ 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.
The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passenger-pleasing features such as large windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.
Fifty-eight customers from around the world have ordered more than 1,070 787s, with more than 200 airplanes delivered.
Photo: Boeing. Boeing 787-9 CC-BGA (msn 35317) departs from a cloudy Paine Field near Everett, WA.
Scoot (Singapore) yesterday (January 31) took delivery of its first 375-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The pictured 787-9 9V-OJA (msn 37112) named “Dream Start” late last night departed from Paine Field and is headed for an arrival tomorrow in Singapore.
Read the full story from the Sunday Times: CLICK HERE
Update: On February 2 Boeing issued this statement:
Boeing and Scoot Pte Ltd. announced the delivery of the Singapore-based airline’s first 787 Dreamliner. The airplane will play a key role in the low-cost carrier’s strategic plan to expand its long-haul fleet.
“We are proud to deliver the first 787 to Scoot and have them join the growing family of 787 operators,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The new Dreamliner will bring great value to Scoot’s operations and provide an exceptional experience for Scoot’s passengers.”
The airline will take delivery of an additional 19 787 Dreamliners. The airplanes were originally ordered by parent company Singapore Airlines, which included ten 787-9 and ten 787-8s.
Top Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 787-9 9V-OJA (msn 37112) lands at Paine Field before the handover.
The Boeing Company (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) reported record fourth-quarter revenue of $24.5 billion on higher deliveries and core earnings per share (non-GAAP) that increased 23 percent to $2.31, reflecting strong performance across the company. Fourth-quarter 2014 core operating earnings (non-GAAP) increased to $2.3 billion and GAAP earnings from operations increased to $2.0 billion. Fourth-quarter 2013 results included a $406 million non-cash charge ($0.34 per share) related to the A-12 settlement.
Revenue rose 5 percent in the full year to a record $90.8 billion and core earnings per share (non-GAAP) increased 22 percent* to $8.60 on record deliveries. Full-year 2014 GAAP earnings per share was $7.38.
Core earnings per share guidance for 2015 is set at between $8.20 and $8.40, while GAAP earnings per share guidance is established at between $8.10 and $8.30. Revenue guidance is between $94.5 and $96.5 billion, including commercial deliveries of between 750 and 755. Operating cash flow is expected to be greater than $9.0 billion.
Commercial Airplanes fourth-quarter revenue increased 15 percent to a record $16.8 billion on higher delivery volume and mix. Fourth-quarter operating margin was 9.3 percent, reflecting higher planned period costs and the dilutive impact of 787 deliveries partially offset by the delivery volume (Table 4).
During the quarter, the company began production on the fuselage stringers of the first 737 MAX airplane. The 737 program has won over 2,600 firm orders for the 737 MAX since launch. Also during the quarter, the company began final assembly of the 787-9 Dreamliner at the South Carolina facility and broke ground on the 777X composite centers in Everett and St. Louis.
Commercial Airplanes booked 432 net orders during the quarter with a record 1,432 orders in 2014. Backlog remains strong with nearly 5,800 airplanes valued at a record $440 billion.
Copyright Photo: Nick Dean/AirlinersGallery.com. How much longer will the Boeing 747-800 be built? Will there be another “Super Bowl Surprise” in support of the Seattle Seahawks? Boeing 747-8JK N6067E (msn 38636) in house colors departs from Paine Field.
Scoot (Singapore) has once again revised its inaugural Boeing 787-9 service. The airline will now introduce the new type on February 5 between Singapore and Perth followed by Singapore – Hong Kong the following day pending the first delivery from Boeing (the pictured 9V-OJA) this coming week. The company is planning to replace its six Boeing 777-200 ERs with the new 787s by September.
Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com.ย The first Scoot 787-9, registered as 9V-OJA (msn 37112), approaches the runway at Paine Field on January 19. The new aircraft is named “Dream Start”. It has been performing crew training flights during January..
Video: The first Scoot 787-9 performs high speed tests at Paine Field near Everett.
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