Company Watch - Boeing.

For more company news, data and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/professional.htm Aug 21, 2006

Boeing it has reached an agreement to acquire C-Map, a leading provider of digital maritime cartography, data services and other navigational information. C-Map will become a part of Jeppesen's marine division. Jeppesen is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. C-Map has significant operations throughout Europe, Australasia and the Americas. Aug 18, 2006

Boeing has rolled the first 747-400LCF Large Cargo Freighter out of the hangar at Taipei's Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport. The enormous airplane is the first of three specially modified jets that will be used to transport major assemblies for the all-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 747-400LCFcan hold three times the volume handled by the existing 747-400 freighter, thanks to a cargo deck that bulges up behind the cockpit. Ground testing is under way to prepare the LCF for its first flight. After initial flight testing in Taipei, the LCF will fly to Seattle to complete the flight test program. First flight and the ferry flight to Seattle are expected to occur by the end of August. The modifications have been performed by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corp. (EGAT), a joint venture of EVA Air and General Electric and a part of Taiwan's Evergreen Group. The second airplane continues to be modified and will be completed this fall. The third airplane will begin modification next year. The first two LCFs enter service in 2007 to support the final assembly of the first Dreamliners. The 747-400LCF looks like nothing on earth, a sort pregnant Jumbo and is much larger than the Airbus Beluga. What the new aircraft needs is an even better quality name. Any submissions from readers will be passed on to Boeing. http://www.boeing.com Aug 17, 2006

Boeing to take first steps in shutting down C-17 line, report says. Boeing will start notifying suppliers that it plans to shut down its C-17 cargo-plane program as early as Friday, according to media reports quoting unnamed sources. Boeing has enough orders to continue building the plane through 2008, but some of the parts must be ordered months ahead of time. It has been unable to secure new orders for the plane from the Department of Defense. Aug 17, 2006

Boeing today announced that a detailed business and market analysis of Connexion by Boeing is complete, and the company has decided to exit the high-speed broadband communications connectivity markets. Boeing will work with its customers to facilitate an orderly phase out of the Connexion by Boeing service. Boeing acknowledged it was reviewing the Connexion business on June 26. This effort included an assessment of the market and discussions with existing customers and potential new business partners. Lufthansa, a Connexion customer, said the closing would have no "immediate impact" on its FlyNet service, available on most long-haul flights. Other carriers that have installed Connexion on at least some aircraft include Japan Airlines, ANA, SAS, China Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, El Al and Singapore Airlines. Fewer than 150 aircraft are believed to be equipped with the service, well short of the thousands Boeing predicted six years ago. Several US airlines dropped plans to install Connexion in the aftermath of 9/11, dealing the program a major blow as it was just ramping up. Boeing said yesterday that the vast majority of its 560 Connexion employees likely will be. Aug 17, 2006

Centralwings added a sixth 737-400 and will lease a third 737-300. Aug 15, 2006

Connexion, Boeing's technically successful high-speed broadband communications system, is to be phased out. Boeing says that the market has not materialized in the way it expected, meaning that it can't see a profit at the end of the day. The high-speed wireless Internet system is currently offered on more than 180 routes daily worldwide by a number of airlines including Air China, ANA, Asiana, El Al, Etihad, Singapore and SAS. Lufthansa, another operator, is clearly miffed, reports indicating that the service has been well received by customers, with as many as 40 people using the service at one time on long haul flights. The client airlines are thought to be looking at alternative suppliers. Your editor was one of the first to try the system on a Lufthansa flight in 2004 (see left). http://www.connexionbyboeing.com Aug 19, 2006

Boeing and Monarch Airlines of the United Kingdom announced today that the airline has ordered six Boeing 787-8 purchase rights for another four. The order is worth $916 million at list prices. With first delivery starting in 2010, the airline will use the new advanced, fuel-efficient 787s as the basis of its future long-haul operations. Monarch's current long-haul fleet comprises Boeing 767s, A300s and A330-200s. The Dreamliner's size, extended range and superior fuel efficiency make it ideally suited for Monarch Airlines' business model, which includes both scheduled and charter operations. Aug 18, 2006

SilverJet, the soon to be launched Luton-based all-business class airline, has confirmed a Letter of Intent to secure two ex-ThomsonFly (formerly Britannia Airways) Boeing 767-200 aircraft. Delivery is scheduled for no later than March 2007 and October 2007 respectively. The airline is also in advanced negotiations for a further three similar aircraft, the first due by the end of October this year. Sicma Aeroseat has been contracted to supply its award winning new 75" flat beds for each of its aircraft. Laurence Hunt, chief executive, says that the airline plans to start operations in December 2006 flying daily from Luton's private jet terminal to Newark New York. http://www.flysilverjet.com Aug 19, 2006

Boeing and New Delhi-based SpiceJet today announced that the airline converted its 10 options into an order for five Next-Generation 737-800s and five 737-900ERs. SpiceJet first announced the preliminary agreement for this order in February at the 2006 Asian Aerospace Air Show in Singapore. The order is valued at more than $700 million at list prices and deliveries are scheduled to begin in late 2007. The options exercised today are part of an order SpiceJet originally placed in February 2005. That order included 10 737-800s, the first of which Boeing delivered to the airline in February 2006. Aug 14, 2006

Thomsonfly said it will purchase two 737-300s and three new dash 800s, taking delivery in the first quarter of 2007. It also said it will sell two 767-200s to Silverjet, an all-business-class startup scheduled to commence operations at London Luton in December. Silverjet will take the aircraft in March and October 2007. Thomsonfly said it will dispose of two 737-500s next spring but offered no further details. It currently operates 47 Boeing aircraft. Aug 17, 2006

Boeing announced a 50/50 joint-venture agreement with VSMPO-AVISMA of Russia for the machining of titanium forgings for the 787. The companies have been working together since 1997 and signed an MOU on the titanium JV in April. VSMPO-AVISMA will perform rough machining in Verkhnaya Salda before final machining and processing is completed by Boeing in Portland, Ore. Aug 14, 2006

Goodrich inked a contract valued at up to $4 million to overhaul landing gear on Asiana Airlines 737, 747, 767, and 777 aircraft. Aug 17, 2006

Lufthansa CityLine is evaluating an order for new narrowbodies intended to replace not only the 146s but also its 737 Classics and older A320s. Some 60% of CityLine's business comprises feeder service to Franfurt and Munich, where it will lease Hangar 4 for CRJ900 maintenance. It has based eight aircraft in Hamburg, offering fares to European destinations starting from [euro]99 ($125.9) including taxes. Aug 16, 2006

Monarch Airlines, the long established Luton-based carrier, now predominately a scheduled airline, has taken the Boeing route for its future aircraft requirements. Currently operating a mixed long haul fleet of Airbus A300, A330-200 and Boeing 767, the airline has opted for the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners with a firm order for six and option for a further four. First deliveries will start in 2010. To date, including Monarch, 32 customers have logged 420 orders and commitments for the new wide body, due to make its maiden flight next year. http://www.flymonarch.com Aug 19, 2006

GECAS announced it will lease nine additional new 737-800s to Xiamen Airlines for delivery beginning in mid-2008. The aircraft are part of the lessor's existing order book with Boeing. The Chinese carrier signed an agreement for five of the type in February. It operates a 38-aircraft fleet comprising 737s and 757-200s. Aug 17, 2006