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

Ethiopian Airlines orders 10 Boeing 737

Rapidly expanding african Airline Ethiopian Airlines , which is currently preparing for membership in Star Alliance, orders 10 Boeing 737-800s for use on their intra-african network. Currently Ethiopian already flies 3 737-800s and 5 737-700s. The airline made headlines at this years Dubai Airshow when it ordered 12 Airbus A 350s.

Here is a link:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/01/22/337522/ethiopian-airlines-to-purchase-10-737-800s.html

Turkish Airlines orders 20 Airbus A 320 Family Aircraft

Turkish Airlines ordered 20 Airbus A 320 family aircraft consisting of 14 Airbus A 321s and 6 Airbus A 319s. Also the airline signed for 10 options which can be for any A 320 family member. The planes will be delivered in 2011 and 2012. In case the options will be exercised, those narrowbody jets would be delivered in 2013.

Here is a link:

http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=18936

China Eastern orders 16 Airbus A 330s

Yesterday China Eastern has announced that it has ordered 16 Airbus A 330s for delivery from 2011 to 2014. Interestingly there are currently rumours that Gulf Air has cancelled 16 Airbus A 330s because they want to focus more on regional flights instead of longhaul flights. Could it be that those 16 planes were originally destined for Gulf Air?
Once all A 330s are delivered, China Eastern will operate a fleet of 36 aircraft of this type.
Here is a link:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/12/28/336640/china-eastern-signs-for-16-a330s.html

Malaysia Airlines orders 15 Airbus A330s

Today Malaysia Airlines (MAS) announced its order for 15 Airbus A330-300 for delivery between 2011 and 2016. Furthermore they also signed for 10 options of the type. The whole deal should be worth 5 billion USD.

More on Flight International:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/12/22/336479/mas-orders-15-a330s.html

ANA orders 5 Boeing 767 and 5 Boeing 777

In an unexpected move today All Nippon Airways - ANA - announced its order of 5 Boeing 767-300ER and 5 Boeing 777-200ER. The 767s are "gap fillers" until the much delayed 787 Dreamliners arrive. The 777s are intended as replacements for the last remaining 747s.
The deal is worth 2 billion Us-Dollars.
Here is a link:

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/12/21/336420/ana-orders-5-767s-5-777s-in-185.2-billion-deal.html

The biggest order of the year

Yesterday United Airlines placed the biggest aircraft order of this year worth $ 10 bln for each 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 25 Airbus A350 XWB. Furthermore 50 options for each plane have also been signed. This is by far the biggest aircraft order of this year. The planes will be delivered from 2016 to 2019 and will replace Uniteds huge fleets of Boeing 767s and Boeing 747s (pictured).

Here is a link:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSGEE5B715B20091208

The Spell has been broken - Korean Air orders 5 B747-8I

Yesterday Korean Air announced it has ordered 5 Boeing 747-8I from Boeing for delivery between 2013 and 2015. So for now, the spell has been broken and Boeing finally has a second customer for the passenger version of its revamped Jumbo Version. The last and - up to now - only order by an airline was in 2006 from Lufthansa!

Here is a link:

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=979

Airbus sold 52 Airbus A 320 to an undisclosed customer

Today it was announced that in November Airbus sold 52 A 320 Aircraft to an undisclosed customer who currently does not want to be named. So the speculation is on, which mysterious airline has concluded this massive plane order?

Here is a link to the story:

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idCNGEE5B21PU20091203?rpc=44&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0

Boeing 747-8F Leaves the Paint Hangar

The first Boeing 747-8F left the paint hangar last Wednesday and looks quite impressive.
You can see the picture on the Boeing homepage:

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=13&item=944

Back from Dubai Airshow

Just to give all readers a short update on things to expect. I have returned from last weeks Dubai Airshow which was quite spectacular. In the coming days and weeks I will post my impressions and will release new articles about airlines in the region and specific airline types. Be prepared for a treat on the Ilyushin 76.

The Beast is out - B747-8F roll-out

Yesterday evening, the B747-8F number 1 finally left the hangar where she was built for the first time.

You can see some pictures here:

http://boeingblogs.com/randy/archives/2009/11/night_moves_1.html

The Boeing 747 - The Queen of the Skies Part V

The new version - the Boeing 747-8

This fifth part of my article series on the Boeing 747 will introduce you to the new and revamped version of the Queen of the skies. When Airbus first came up with the plan to develop a giant four-engined mega airliner with two passenger decks, Boeing came under increasing pressure to either design a similar giant or to stretch the Jumbo Jet. Since the middle of the 1990s there have been several attempts to stretch the 747 or to even extend the upper deck over the whole length of the aircraft, but neither version gained any serious customer interrest. But in November 2005 the Boeing 747-8 was officially launched in two versions: The 747-8F freighter and the 747-8i passenger mover. The designation “8" was chosen to show a connection to the Boeing 787 mid-size jet, that is currently selling like hot cake. For both versions the length is stretched to 76.4 m, thus becoming the longest civil airliner (unless you count the ukrainian Antonov 225 special freighter which has a length of approximately 89 m but exists only as a single aircraft). The interior of the passenger model will be completely upgraded and will be analogue to the Boeing 787, the stair to the upper deck will be changed to a curved one, the windows will be 8 % bigger than the current windows and the cabin lighting will be completely modernized, in order to give passengers a more comfortable feeling. The wings on both variants will be strengthened and instead of the traditional winglets the new jumbo will have raked wingtips, just like the latest versions of the Boeing 777. Many parts of the 747-8 are interchangeable with those of the 400 series and due to only slight flight deck upgrades the aircraft can be flown with the same type rating as the 747-400. The General Electric Genx, which is one of the 787 engines will be the only engine available for the 747-8. So far airline interest for the passenger 8i is relatively modest, only Lufthansa has ordered 20 aircraft and 7 additional VIP aircraft, mainly destined for the Middle East, have been sold. In contrast the freighter has as of now gained 78 orders from such names as Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Emirates, Atlas Air and Cathay Pacific. The range of the 8i will be more than 15.000 km at a MTOW of 442.250 kgs, the MTOW of the freighter will be the same. To learn more about the Boeing 747-8 Family please visit the following link to the Boeing homepage:

http://boeing.com/commercial/747family/747-8_background.html

The Boeing 747 - The Queen of the Skies Part IV

The first modern version - The Boeing 747-400
In this fourth part on the queen of the skies you will get to know the current version of the queen of the skies - the Boeing 747-400. This particular subtype with its many different versions became a sales success right from the start. Externally it does not look to different from the previous model, the 300, but internally Boeing completely revamped the majestic bird. For the first time in a Jumbo Jet the station of the flight engineer was removed and instead a new electronic EFIS cockpit (electronic flight instrumentation system) with a FMS (flight management system) computer was installed. All relevant flight information is shown on 6 CRT (cathode ray tube) screens. Again some minor aerodynamic improvements were made to the airframe, including new wing/fuselage fairings and an additional fuel tank in the horizontal stabilizer. Perhaps the most visible change is the addition of an 1.8 m wingtip extension and the fitting of large winglets. The 400 series was first offered in 1985 and Northwest Airlines became the first customer. In addition to the pure passenger model, again a combi version and a domestic version for Japan was offered and built. This domestic version, tagged the Boeing 747-400D, omitted the winglets because its fuel saving effect becomes only effective during long cruise and the 400D is only beeing used for short domestic hops. 1993 saw the delivery of the first 400F to launch customer Cargolux. The 400F is the all cargo variant based on the fuselage of the Boeing 747-200 (and thus the short hump) but with the wings and winglets, as well as with the flight deck from the Boeing 747-400. From the beginning the three big engine manufacturers offered new engines for the 400 series. The typical MTOW for a 747-400 is between 385.000 and 394.000 kgs, however a new extended range version - the 747-400ER - with an MTOW of 412.769 kgs entered service with Qantas Airways in 2002. Based on this ER model an improved freighter, the 400ERF was introduced and proved popular with many cargo operators. Both ER versions have their airframe, wings and gear strengthened and carry additonal fuel tanks in their belly. The standard range of the 400 is 13.565 km with the ER version adding another 805 km extra range. In total 694 Boeing 747-400 of all versions have been built, the last one rolled of the Boeing assembly line in August 2009. As from now on all Jumbos will be of the new Boeing 747-8i and 747-8F variant, with the first one currently under construction (please see my earlier blog posts).