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Airbus delivers 800th A330/A340
By IAG | March 14th, 2007 | Posted in A330, airbus | No Comments
The A330-200 long range jetliner was delivered to Qatar Airways. More than 1,080 aircraft have been ordered and 280 are still to be delivered. Production rates are currently seven aircraft per month and this is due to increase to eight per month by the beginning of 2008 and nine per month by the middle of 2009.
Airbus delivers 800th A330/A340
By IAG | March 14th, 2007 | Posted in A330, airbus | No CommentsThe A330-200 long range jetliner was delivered to Qatar Airways. More than 1,080 aircraft have been ordered and 280 are still to be delivered. Production rates are currently seven aircraft per month and this is due to increase to eight per month by the beginning of 2008 and nine per month by the middle of 2009.
767F to get update?
By IAG | March 2nd, 2007 | Posted in 767, A330, airbus, boeing, freighter | No CommentsGeoffrey Thomas at ATW reports that Boeing is tight-lipped about plans for a freighter models based on the 767-200/300 and derived from its entry in the USAF KC-X tanker competition. These plans are in order to counter the A330-200F, which has 32 orders this year. Boeing is looking to match the A330-200F's 69 ton payload over 3,200 nm. The current 767-300F can carry 55 tons over a similar distance.
He reports Boeing may have two offerings, a 767-200LRF and a -300LRF, with the former carrying less payload over greater distances (building on the nonstop appeal of the 777-200F). Boeing has said its entry in the USAF competition will be "an advanced derivative of the future 767-200 Long Range Freighter and will be produced at Boeing's facilities in Everett." According to Geoff's sources, the flight deck will be based on the 777 rather than the 767-400ER and the aircraft will feature heavier undercarriage and flaps and possibly the increased (by 14.3 ft.) wingspan and raked wingtips of the 767-400ER. No new engine technology has been mentioned, though we have speculated on this.
Such a move by Boeing reflects on its flexibility to tweak established designs to extract better performance. It will be difficult to enable the 767 to compete with the A330F – but given Airbus' woes at present, a 100% match is not necessary. As UPS demonstrated recently, the 767 remains a viable freighter.
CIT orders more Airbus
By IAG | February 15th, 2007 | Posted in A330, a320, a350, airbus, atlantic city | No CommentsCIT Group signed a firm contract with Airbus in December 2006 for five long range A330 widebodies, as well as ten A320 Family aircraft. The repeat order by CIT underlines strong demand for the Airbus A330 and the A320 in the leasing market. To date CIT has placed firm orders for a total of 142 Airbus aircraft, including 112 A320s, 25 A330s and five A350s. Of these, 73 have been delivered so far.
This order also continues to underscore Airbus strength essentially being in these two planes. Its other offerings, especially the A340 is not getting any attention. Airbus is clearly in great need of broadening its offerings. The A350XWB can't come fast enough.
CIT orders more Airbus
By IAG | February 15th, 2007 | Posted in A330, a320, a350, airbus, atlantic city | No CommentsCIT Group signed a firm contract with Airbus in December 2006 for five long range A330 widebodies, as well as ten A320 Family aircraft. The repeat order by CIT underlines strong demand for the Airbus A330 and the A320 in the leasing market. To date CIT has placed firm orders for a total of 142 Airbus aircraft, including 112 A320s, 25 A330s and five A350s. Of these, 73 have been delivered so far.
This order also continues to underscore Airbus strength essentially being in these two planes. Its other offerings, especially the A340 is not getting any attention. Airbus is clearly in great need of broadening its offerings. The A350XWB can't come fast enough.
The French Saudi tanker fracas
By IAG | February 13th, 2007 | Posted in A330, france, kc-30, mrtt, saudi arabia, tanker | No CommentsFrench officials scrambled Monday to fix a misunderstanding with the Saudis after prematurely announcing a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with refueling aerial tankers. First the French defense ministry announced that the French Defence Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince had signed a strategically important agreement to supply Airbus MRTT tankers in a deal worth ~400 million euros.
Two hours later the French released a second statement, changing course: "Discussions between France and Saudi Arabia relating to the contract for MRTT are continuing." The French U-turn seems driven by fears of breaching Saudi sensitivities over the timing of an announcement. Recall the Saudis reaction to British concerns with graft on the Typhoon order. Probably the Saudis are also concerned how Washington will see this order.
MRTT is the Multi-Role Tanker Transport, based on the A330, and known in the US as the KC-30 for the USAF tanker competition. EADS says the deal related to two tankers and declined to comment further. Airbus has yet to fly a fully equipped MRTT but said last month that its boom system had been flown and tested on a A310. Canada has two A310-based MRTTs and Germany three.
Another A330-based MRTT customer is the Royal Australian Air Force which ordered five. Britain is also negotiating with EADS to use A330 MRTTs for refueling Royal Air Force planes under a 27-year outsourcing contract.
The Saudis enjoy playing vendors off against each other. But Saudi Arabia will find Washington a much cooler place (with Democrats in charge) to visit when this tanker deal is finally announced. After selecting the Typhoon and now the MRTT, people in Congress and the Pentagon will feel slighted – these orders appear ungrateful to the US which has defended the, if not corrupt, then suspect Saudis. Large amounts of terror money is invariably traced back to Saudis. Perhaps these orders going to Europe reflect a growing belief in Saudi Arabia that Europe's increasingly Muslim population naturally makes for better allies.
The French Saudi tanker fracas
By IAG | February 13th, 2007 | Posted in A330, france, kc-30, mrtt, saudi arabia, tanker | No CommentsFrench officials scrambled Monday to fix a misunderstanding with the Saudis after prematurely announcing a deal to supply Saudi Arabia with refueling aerial tankers. First the French defense ministry announced that the French Defence Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince had signed a strategically important agreement to supply Airbus MRTT tankers in a deal worth ~400 million euros.
Two hours later the French released a second statement, changing course: "Discussions between France and Saudi Arabia relating to the contract for MRTT are continuing." The French U-turn seems driven by fears of breaching Saudi sensitivities over the timing of an announcement. Recall the Saudis reaction to British concerns with graft on the Typhoon order. Probably the Saudis are also concerned how Washington will see this order.
MRTT is the Multi-Role Tanker Transport, based on the A330, and known in the US as the KC-30 for the USAF tanker competition. EADS says the deal related to two tankers and declined to comment further. Airbus has yet to fly a fully equipped MRTT but said last month that its boom system had been flown and tested on a A310. Canada has two A310-based MRTTs and Germany three.
Another A330-based MRTT customer is the Royal Australian Air Force which ordered five. Britain is also negotiating with EADS to use A330 MRTTs for refueling Royal Air Force planes under a 27-year outsourcing contract.
The Saudis enjoy playing vendors off against each other. But Saudi Arabia will find Washington a much cooler place (with Democrats in charge) to visit when this tanker deal is finally announced. After selecting the Typhoon and now the MRTT, people in Congress and the Pentagon will feel slighted – these orders appear ungrateful to the US which has defended the, if not corrupt, then suspect Saudis. Large amounts of terror money is invariably traced back to Saudis. Perhaps these orders going to Europe reflect a growing belief in Saudi Arabia that Europe's increasingly Muslim population naturally makes for better allies.
Boeing set win big at British Airways
By IAG | February 8th, 2007 | Posted in 777, A330, airbus, boeing, british airways | No CommentsBritain's "The Independent" reports that Airbus is set to lose to Boeing on a $2bn order from British Airways which is about to expand its longhaul fleet. The order for 10 wide-bodied aircraft is due to be placed by the airline in the next four weeks. Airbus appear to be resigned to the airline selecting the 777 rather than the A330.
Airbus was playing second choice for this order. It will be the first BA order for new aircraft in more than six years. BA's longhaul fleet is exclusively Boeing.
Airbus expects a bigger BA order to replace its 747-400 fleet later on. This order, potentially worth over $10bn, could be placed before the end of the year and would pit the A380 and the A350XWB against Boeing's 747-8 and 787.
While the later order is much bigger, its timing allows some leeway for EADS and Airbus to "make nice". BA is a public company and will be transparent in its choice. But less transparent will be the UK government's discussions with EADS about wing work in Bristol. There have been grumblings from the UK government about its displeasure at work potentially being taken away from the UK as part of restructuring at Airbus. Only the most naive would think that the "make nice" conversations will occur in a vacuum. The bigger order is not Boeing's to lose; it will be a tough order to win.
Boeing set win big at British Airways
By IAG | February 8th, 2007 | Posted in 777, A330, airbus, boeing, british airways | No CommentsBritain's "The Independent" reports that Airbus is set to lose to Boeing on a $2bn order from British Airways which is about to expand its longhaul fleet. The order for 10 wide-bodied aircraft is due to be placed by the airline in the next four weeks. Airbus appear to be resigned to the airline selecting the 777 rather than the A330.
Airbus was playing second choice for this order. It will be the first BA order for new aircraft in more than six years. BA's longhaul fleet is exclusively Boeing.
Airbus expects a bigger BA order to replace its 747-400 fleet later on. This order, potentially worth over $10bn, could be placed before the end of the year and would pit the A380 and the A350XWB against Boeing's 747-8 and 787.
While the later order is much bigger, its timing allows some leeway for EADS and Airbus to "make nice". BA is a public company and will be transparent in its choice. But less transparent will be the UK government's discussions with EADS about wing work in Bristol. There have been grumblings from the UK government about its displeasure at work potentially being taken away from the UK as part of restructuring at Airbus. Only the most naive would think that the "make nice" conversations will occur in a vacuum. The bigger order is not Boeing's to lose; it will be a tough order to win.
