Gulf Air looking at three types of regional jets

Gulf Air CEO Samer Majali recently spoke at the Arab Air Carriers Organization about the airline´s plans for the wide-scale introduction of regional operations using regional jets. This year GF introduced two Embraer 170s and just recently a pair of two Embraer 190s. Currently the airline is evaluating the E-jets by Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, the new C-Series by Canadair or the A-318 by Airbus, all models with roughly 90 to 110 seats. The A-318 would offer fleet communality with the big A-320 fleet of Gulf Air, but is considered a commercial failure due to its high weight in comparison with the competitors, which offer "real" regional jets (as the 318 is basically a shrunk A-319). The C-series would only become available in the 2013 to 2014 timeframe. The carrier expects a decision until years end.

Here is a link to the original article in flight global:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/10/25/348875/gulf-air-considering-three-types-for-regional-jet-fleet.html

32 additional Airbus A 380s for Emirates - and wanting more

During the course of the ILA 2010 at Berlin Schönefeld Airport Emirates Airlines ordered a breathtaking further 32 Airbus A 380 Mega-Jumbo airliners thus bringing the total 380 order of the airline to a stunning 90 aircraft. Many in the airline industry see this deal with great scepsis. Critics have serious doubts about the airline´s ability to fill all this flying metal. In the wake of the Dubai financial crisis it remains to be seen if all those BOLD ambitions of the Gulf´s biggest player will be successfull and if all aircraft will be taken over. Emirates explicitly stated, that all those aircraft are for growth and that no early delivery aircraft will be replaced by the newly ordered aircraft. Emirates president Tim Clark recently hinted that even a lot more than the 90 A380s that are now on order will be needed in the future and that more orders are on the way. Furthermore there are rumours brewing that the airline might place a big boeing order at this year´s Farnborough Air Show which is to be held in July. Great ambitions!

Emirates in order spree this summer?

There are currently all kinds of wild and modest rumours floating around the internet that Emirates will likely order a huge number of widebody aircraft again this summer. Possible orders are either for 30 Airbus A 330s (LOI signed two years ago - but expired) or 20 more B777s, or even up to 30 more Airbus A 380s... . An order could already be signed during next weeks ILA in Berlin or during the course of the Farnborough Airshow in July. We will keep you posted on these developments and inform you when Dubais premier airline goes on a shopping trip again.

New built Fokker 100s looming on the horizon

It seems there might be a new lease of life for a reliable old workhorse! The Dutch company NG Aircraft plans to build an updated Fokker 100 with possible service entry around the year 2015. NG is the successor to Rekkof ("Fokker written reversed"), which already tried to manufacture a new Fokker 100 variant for several years. The company has secured a loan for € 20 Mio to convert one of the Fokker 100 prototypes, which is currently in storage, into the prototype of the new version, which is called the XF series. Furthermore there seems to be some substantial interest from established F100 operators to retrofit older aircraft with the new technical systems, for example new avionics, new engines (have yet to be determined which model exactly) or winglets. This blogger wishes them the best of luck, as he likes the old Fokker design very much.

Here is a link to an article in flight global:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/03/10/339286/fokker-100-revival-team-claims-interest-in-retrofit.html

Boeing to Offer Next Generation Tanker based on 767

This week Boeing announced that they are offering the Boeing NewGen Tanker aircraft based on the Boeing 767. This aircraft will be the Boeing bid in the US Air Force competition to replace 179 KC-135 tanker aircraft. Potentially if this competition would be won by Boeing the follow-on order could comprise hundreds more aircraft of the same type to be manufactured over the course of several decades and thus giving the old 767 a complete new lease of life. The flight deck of the Boeing NewGen Tanker will be completely revised and will feature the big flight displays of the Boeing 787. In addition to its tanker role the Boeing NewGen Tanker can also be used to transport military personnel and cargo.

Check out this cool Boeing video to learn more about this aircraft:

http://www.unitedstatestanker.com/video#TheBoeingNewGenTanker

Boeing 747-8F First Flight

Yesterday the Boeing 747-8F flew for the first time. This will kickstart approximately 1600 hours of flight testing, using the first three aircraft of this new Jumbo variant. Boeing 747 Chief pilot Mark Feuerstein took RC 501 (s/n 1420) for a 3:39 hours long flight around Seattle and the Northwestern United States.

Pictures and video on flightglobal:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/02/09/338139/pictures.html

Turkish Airlines orders 20 Boeing 737s

Turkish Airlines currently on a shopping tour for new aircraft which is only comparable to the order spree of the Gulf Airlines. In addition to the 20 Airbus aircraft ordered a few weeks ago, Turkish now ordered 10 Boeing 737-800s and 10 longer Boeing 737-900ERs and also signed for 15 options. The aircraft will be delivered from 2011.

Here is a link:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/02/04/338030/turkish-airlines-to-acquire-20-737-800900ers.html