Company Watch - Boeing.

Jul 30, 2007

India-based Air India took delivery of the airline's first 777-200LR (Longer Range) Worldliner airplane. This is the first 777 from Air India's order of 68 Boeing jetliners. The airline will receive an additional three 777-200LR Worldliner and three 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes this year. Air India's order for 68 Boeing jetliners, placed in December 2005, was the largest commercial airplane order in India's civil aviation history in terms of price. The order consisted of 23 777s, including eight 777-200LR Worldliners and 15 777-300ERs, and 27 787-8 Dreamliners. Additionally, Air India Express, a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, ordered 18 Next-Generation 737-800s. Jul 27, 2007

Air India will use the 777-200LR to offer for the first tme nonstop flights between the United States and India. It begins service to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport from Mumbai, India, on Aug. 1. Air India's 777-200LR will have a three-class configuration, including eight first-class cabins, 35 executive class and 195 economy seats. All executive class seats will turn into flat beds and economy seats will be larger, at 18.5 inches in width. Passengers also will have access to an in-flight entertainment system provided by Thales on video screens that measure 23 inches in first class, 15.4 inches in executive class and 10.6 inches in economy. Additionally, the airplane will be able to carry up to 15 tons of cargo. Jul 27, 2007

EU, U.S. trade charges of rule-breaking to favor Airbus and Boeing. In competing complaints to the World Trade Organization, the EU and the U.S. have accused each other of providing too much assistance to aerospace companies Boeing and Airbus. Both allege damage to their own industries. Jul 26, 2007

Dreamliner's modern interior design provides more comfort to passengers. Boeing hopes passengers will appreciate the comforts of the 787 Dreamliner so much that they will actively seek to book flights that use the new airliner. Improved hull design features allow for higher humidity and lower air pressure within the aircraft, providing a more comfortable flight for travelers. Similar interiors are also being developed for the upcoming advance technology Boeing 747-800 Intercontinental. Jul 27, 2007

Boeing faces fines over contaminated water at California lab. Regulators are looking to charge Boeing a nearly $500,000 fine for 79 violations of its water discharge permit. Boeing allegedly allowed excessive levels of lead, mercury and other toxins to flow from its Santa Susana Field Lab in Ventura County into nearby canyons and the Los Angeles River. A Boeing spokesman said the company is reviewing the complaint by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. Jul 27, 2007

Boeing expects revenue of $65 billion this year, up 5.6% from 2006. Boeing Commercial Airplanes expects to deliver 440-445 aircraft with all production slots sold, with deliveries rising to 515-520 in 2008 with slots "essentially sold out." It said it will deliver an even higher number of units in 2009 while reiterating that it expects ontime delivery of the first 787 in May 2008. First flight is scheduled for September and Boeing said it "continues to address and manage pressures with respect to supplier performance, schedule and weight." The 787 has logged 683 firm orders from 47 customers. For aircraft orders and deliveries go to http://airguideonline.com/aircraft_orders.htm Jul 26, 2007

Boeing post a $1.05 billion net profit in the second quarter, a reversal from the year-ago period's loss of $160 million that resulted from one-time charges. The company's backlog rose 27% year-over-year to a record $278.5 billion, with $207.7 billion (up 47% in the past year) coming from the Commercial Airplanes segment. Revenue climbed 14% to $17.03. Operating profit of $1.51 billion compared to a $48 million deficit in the second three months of 2006. For aircraft orders and deliveries go to http://airguideonline.com/aircraft_orders.htm Jul 26, 2007

Boeing Commercial Airplanes enjoyed a 22% year-over-year revenue increase to $8.71 billion on a 17.5% lift in deliveries to 114 aircraft, comprising 86 737 NGs, four 747s, three 767s and 21 777s. Segment operating profit of $960 million represented a 34% jump over the $719 million earned in the year-ago quarter. Boeing booked 360 gross orders during the quarter and 549 in the first six months of the year. For aircraft orders and deliveries go to http://airguideonline.com/aircraft_orders.htm Jul 26, 2007

Boeing Commercial Airplanes's six-month net profit of $1.93 billion compares to a $532 million surplus in the year-ago period. Boeing's revenue of $16.26 billion rose 15% from the year-ago semester, with the segment's operating result increasing 17% to $1.67 billion. Jul 26, 2007

Pentagon awards Boeing $80M contract for European missile defense. President George W. Bush's plan for a European missile shield moved ahead with the announcement that Boeing will build and deliver 10 interceptors to a site in Poland and move one larger fixed radar from the U.S. Marshall Islands to the Czech Republic. Another radar will be portable to different locations. The contract could be worth up to $3.5 billion through 2013. Jul 26, 2007

Boeing's flying wing passes first flight test. Looking more like a manta ray than a jet airplane, Boeing's unmanned X-48B flying wing prototype passed its first flight tests on Friday. The model airplane weighed just 500 pounds, with a wingspan of 21 feet. Boeing officials say that a similar craft could be in use as a military cargo plane sometime between 2015 and 2020. Jul 26, 2007

Boeing, Air New Zealand working on algae-based biofuel. Aquaflow Bionomic Corp. is working with support from Boeing and Air New Zealand to develop an aviation biofuel made of wild algae derived from bacterial pond scum. The research is being conducted in secret, but the company in December displayed a Land Rover powered by its blend of 5% algae biofuel with 95% diesel. Jul 24, 2007

Continental Airlines confirmed last week that it reached an agreement earlier this month to sell 10 Boeing 737-500s to Transaero for delivery later this year and in 2008. It also said it is in discussions with another airline regarding the sale of five more 737-500s. The sales are in line with the carrier's decision to slow 2008 capacity growth to 3%-4% from the 5%-7% ASM growth rate originally planned, with most of the slowdown coming on domestic services. "It's also necessary to keep turning over the fleet to keep it young," a spokesperson said. "We want to phase out some of our older planes." Jul 23, 2007

Jose Carlos Pereira, head of national airport authority Infraero, told reporters yesterday that last week's fatal accident and another last year involving a Gol Boeing 737 were "totally unrelated" events and that Brazil can solve its air safety problems without outside intervention. "This crisis is ours. The dead are ours. The problem is ours and we are going to have to resolve it here in Brazil," he said. "Brazil does not need international help. Let them worry about their airspace and we will worry about ours." Jul 24, 2007

Goodrich signed a new long-term agreement with Boeing under which Goodrich will continue as the exclusive supplier of original equipment and aftermarket landing gear for the Boeing 737, 747, 767 and 777 programs through 2012. Jul 27, 2007

Jet Airways Buys Three More Boeing 777s. India's Jet Airways said on Thursday it had exercised an option to buy three additional Boeing 777-300 aircraft scheduled for delivery in May, October and November 2009. Jet Airways has also purchased seven ATR72-500 aircraft scheduled for deliveries between December 2008 and July 2010, and leased six ATR72-500 aircraft, scheduled for delivery between November 2007 and November 2008, it said in a statement. It did not disclose the value of the deals. Jul 27, 2007

Qatar Airways confirmed this week that it is preparing to announce a 787 order. After refusing to do so last week. Jul 25, 2007

Sterling Airlines announced the delivery of Aviation Partners Boeing blended winglet shipsets for seven Boeing 737-700s and one 737-800. It also has options on a further eight and already operates four winglet-equipped 737-800s. Jul 27, 2007

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