Company Watch - Boeing.

Boeing

Boeing, whilst shying away from an official announcement, has, in the shape of Mike Bair, general director 787 program, given a strong indication that it will develop a larger version of the new Dreamliner jet, with the designation of 787-10. Boeing's problem is that the all new aircraft will venture into the 777 market and take away sales. However the real battle is with the Airbus 350, a development of the Airbus 330/340 series. Airline demand for a larger 300-passenger version of the 787 is said to be strong, the aircraft, with many advanced features increasingly looking like runaway success story. First flight is expected next year. http://www.boeing.com Apr 2, 2006

Boeing feeling bullish about Dreamliner. Boeing is predicting "another phenomenal year" for the 787 in 2006, with Mike Bair, VP and GM of the Dreamliner program, said that there are another 30 offers out to airlines for 500 787s on top of the 28 customers who have committed to 386 aircraft. Concerning the 787-10, Bair revealed that the model will have a range of 7,500 nm., which "meets Emirates' requirements." The carrier is expected to announce an order for 50 dash 10s at the Farnborough Air Show in July. Bair said that the dash 10 will be a simple payload-for-range trade with an MTOW of 540,000 lb. He said the range may change slightly as the airframer and key airlines finalize the exact stretch. It may be "40, 50 or 60 seats bigger" than the dash 9, he said. He also had a warning for Airbus, saying the dash 10's seat-mile costs are "almost unbelievable." Yesterday Boeing revealed that the version will have lower cash operating costs and significantly lower fuel burn per seat than the A380. Boeing's 787-8 will fly "late summer in 2007" and be delivered "in early summer 2008," according to Bair. The test program will include six aircraft and be one of the tightest ever for a Boeing or Douglas jet. Mar 29, 2006

AeroMexico took delivery last week of its first 777 from Boeing. With the delivery, it also "becomes the first airline in the Americas to receive Boeing's Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag," the airframer said. The airline will take a second 777-200ER in April. Mar 27, 2006

British Airways flew the prime minister non - stop from Brussels to Melbourne for his Commonwealth Games visit plus meetings with Australian counterpart John Howard. The special Boeing 777-200 charter took 18 hours 45 minutes to cover the 9,274 miles distance and three hot meals served. On board were 20 crew to cover CAA rest requirements for a mission that took a lot of planning. The flight could be the precursor of scheduled BA flights down under, maybe with the 787? http://www.ba.com Apr 2, 2006

Interest from Emirates, others spurs development of 787-10, Boeing is in final negotiations with Emirates for up to 50 787-10s, which will become the fourth model of the fastest-selling twin-aisle aircraft in history. Mar 28, 2006

Excel Airways, a UK-based charter carrier, will purchase 10 Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglet shipsets for its fleet of 737-800s, four of which are leased from ILFC and six owned jointly by GE Commercial Aviation Services and Royal Bank of Scotland. APB said Excel will save more than 115,000 gal. of fuel per aircraft per year using the winglets. Mar 28, 2006

GECAS orders up to 60 737NGs. GE Commercial Aviation Services and Boeing announced an order yesterday for 30 firm and 30 option 737NGs, a deal worth approximately $4 billion at list prices.GECAS will take delivery of the 30 firm aircraft from 2008 through 2010. It has ordered 68 737s in the past two years--the lessor and its customer carriers will take delivery of 30 this year--and has more than 200 NGs out on lease to more than 30 airlines around the world. Included in the order is the 737-900ER. GECAS is the first leasing company to order that model, which seats up to 215 in a single-class configuration and is 9 ft. longer than the dash 800. It will take its first dash 900ER in the first half of 2007. Mar 30, 2006

Qantas finalized its commitment for up to 115 787s with a firm order for 45 worth $5.8 billion, options for 20 and purchase rights for another 50. The signing ceremony confirming a Dec. 14 announcement was a highlight of celebrations marking inauguration of the airline's Sydney-San Francisco service. The first four 787s will be delivered to Jetstar International in July 2008, with another 28 to follow for Jetstar and Qantas by 2011. Qantas will get its first Dreamliner in mid-2009. The 787s will replace a fleet of A330s and 767s. Mar 31, 2006

Qatar Airways may change plans to buy Boeing jets. Qatar Airways has indicated it may not purchase 20 Boeing 777s. The airline made a commitment to purchase the planes, but is now considering Airbus planes. Qatar Airways executives did not explain the change. Mar 28, 2006

Connexion by Boeing 

Connexion by Boeing, which was only launched commercially in May 2004, is really taking off. The high-speed wireless Internet system is currently offered on more than 180 routes daily worldwide by a number of airlines including ANA, El Al, Etihad, Lufthansa, Singapore and SAS. Connexion by Boeing claims that it is changing people's perception of the use of Internet when away from base and teamed up with consultancy Burke Research to conduct a global biannual study on customer satisfaction and loyalty. This study, which focuses on the second half of 2005 and includes responses from nearly 3,200 participants worldwide, shows that in-flight Internet is changing traveler behavior: 83% of those surveyed said that the availability of the Connexion by Boeing service will have an impact on future travel plans and their choice of airline carrier and 94% said they plan to use the service again on a future flight. http://www.connexionbyboeing.com Apr 2, 2006