Commercial Aviation News

The first Airbus A350-900 for Philippine Airlines has taken to the air for the first time. The airline ordered six (6) of the type with options for a further six (6). The jet is powered by Rolls Royce TRENT XWB powerplants. The airline hopes to take delivery of four of the type this year.

United debuted their Boeing 737 MAX 9 in Houston this week. The aircraft is the newest member in the United fleet. United is now the third U.S carrier to operate the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft but the first to operate the MAX 9 variant. Southwest and American have been operating the slightly smaller MAX 8 variant. The aircraft is powered by a pair of LEAP-1B powerplants by CFM International. It is configured to 179 seats much like their Boeing 737-900ER but of course the MAX 9 is about 14% more efficient overall.

Bombardier (TSX:BBD.B) and Airbus have agreed to close the C Series partnership on July 1, 2018 after having received all required regulatory approvals.

“Closing the Airbus partnership ahead of the original schedule positions us to accelerate value creation for our shareholders as we combine the innovative C Series aircraft with the global scale and reach of Airbus,” said Alain Bellemare, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. “With this milestone achieved, we are focused on capturing growth opportunities across the portfolio and delivering our remaining turnaround plan objectives.” The partnership with Airbus will close and be effective July 1, 2018. Consequently, Bombardier will de-consolidate C Series financial results starting July 1, 2018. As a result of closing earlier than originally expected, Bombardier is withdrawing its full year guidance for its Commercial Aircraft segment. However, the company reaffirms its regional aircraft delivery guidance of approximately 35 aircraft for 2018 and expects to provide updated 2018 segment guidance for revenue and EBIT when it announces second quarter results on August 2, 2018.

Closing ahead of schedule will result in expected revenues for 2018 in a range of $16.5 billion to $17 billion, as C Series revenues from and after July 1, 2018 will no longer be consolidated in Bombardier’s financial results and sales from Aerostructures and Engineering Services to CSALP will no longer be inter-segment. Full year consolidated EBIT for Bombardier Inc. is expected to increase to a range of $900 million to $1.0 billion as C Series program results will no longer be fully recognized after closing. Further adjustments to the equity pick-up of CSALP’s results included in our EBIT guidance may be required based on CSALP’s future results. Free cash flow expectations for the year remain unchanged at breakeven plus or minus $150 million, excluding the proceeds of the sale of the Downsview property. Further, Bombardier’s cash commitments towards the C Series program under the Airbus partnership will be recognized as investing activities, reflecting the receipt of non-voting participating units of CSALP, if any.

Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of their first Airbus A350-1000. They are now the second airline in the world to operate the longest variant of the A350 in the world, second to Qatar Airways. They have 20 of the type on order and already operates multiple -900 examples (22). Come September, Cathay Pacific will operate the 1000 from Hong Kong to Washington DC which will represent the longest flight for any carrier operating out of Hong Kong.

Here is the Airbus video to how it was put together...

Yesterday Boeing delivered the first 737 MAX aircraft to Indian carrier Jet Airways. It is the first delivery of a massive 150 aircraft order. The large order represents two separate orders of 75 aircraft, one placed in 2015 and the other earlier this year. The first aircraft handed over to Jet Airways is registered VT-JXA while the second aircraft is soon to start test flights and is expected to be registered VT-JXB.

The first A330-900 production aircraft, which made its maiden flight on 15 May 2018, has been fully equipped with an Airspace by Airbus cabin and painted in launch operator Tap Air Portugal’s colours for its worldwide tour to demonstrate the aircraft’s readiness for airline operations. Also known as route proving, the tour will include ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) missions, landing at diversion airports and testing airport handling services. After a fly-past over Airbus’ European sites, the A330neo will head for 15 major airports worldwide over five continents, aiming at achieving 150 flight test hours in three trips.

WizzAir recently celebrated the delivery of its 100th A320 family aircraft. To celebrate the event, the aircraft was painted in a special 100th livery. Executives from Airbus, Wizz Air, and Pratt & Whitney were joined by Hungary’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs during a ceremony at the Budapest Airport that marked delivery of Wizz Air’s 100th Airbus A320 Family aircraft.

Boeing announced a new order from Federal Express (FedEX) for new freighters. 24 aircraft were ordered split equally between new 767s and new 777s. "We are taking another positive step in our fleet modernization program as we add more efficient, lower emission aircraft to our global fleet," said David L. Cunningham, President and CEO of FedEx Express. "The Boeing 767 and 777 Freighters have brought greater efficiency and reliability to our air operations. The 777, with its tremendous range characteristics, has allowed us to provide faster transit times around the globe. We are excited to add more of these aircraft to our fleet." The order would cost 6.6 billion dollars at current list prices.

Sam Chui was of course on hand to do a quick review of Cathay Pacific's first Airbus A350-1000 for the delivery flight to Hong Kong.

TAP Portugal first Airbus A330-900NEO flying from Lisbon to Rio De Janiero.

Aegean Airlines has confirmed that they have firmed up on an Airbus A320neo family order. It involves 30 aircraft of the family type and more specifically it is broken down into 10 A321neo and 20 A320neo planes. The firmed order now represents around 5 billion dollars in investment at current list prices and also is the largest private investment in Greece at the point.

Comac C919 test beds took to the skies recently for a combined 4 hours of flying time between them. It was aircraft 102 and 101 that took the the sky while aircraft 103 is currently in final assembly and is expected to make its first flight later this year. Comac is aiming to get the C919 in the market between 2020 or 2021 pending no delays.

Swoop has flown the coop...

The Ultra Low Cost Carrier subsidiary of WestJet spread its wings yesterday for its first flight from Edmonton International Airport on Monday June 25th. Flight 102 marked history for the brand new airline and presenting an air of freshness and reasonable fares to Albertans -for now-. Photo by Ben Forrest.

Airbus, the making of Iberia's first A350 XWB...the aircraft has the name Placido Domingo.

Airbus has rolled out the first unit in the new BelugaXL transporter model. It just came out from the paint shop and here is the result in its whale-inspired livery.

Nepal Airlines has taken delivery of its first widebody jetliner, an Airbus A330, one of two it will lease from Portuguese lessor Hi Fly. Great news for this airline.

Sam Chui tries First Class on Oman Air Boeing 787-9 delivery flight.

China's OKAY AIR takes delivery of their first Boeing 737 MAX 8. I believe they have approximately 10 examples on order. Overall commitments are more though where they mix 9 and 10 variants. he first aircraft isn't theirs outright as they have leased it from lessor GECAS.

In what appears to be a tit-for tat move, Boeing has closed a deal that will see them taking over the commercial arm of Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. You would remember that Airbus closed their deal on the Bombardier CSeries program at the start of this month. The Boeing-Embraer deal is worth 4.7 billion dollars and Boeing will control 80 percent stake and Embraer 20 percent.