Paris air show aircraft orders' list

The orders confirmed by Airbus and Boeing as it stands at Paris air show.

Company Firm Value Provisional Value

Airbus 312 $30.2 bln 318 $29.5 bln

Boeing 47 $7.5 bln 94 $14.9 bln



Last year at Farnborough Airshow, Airbus unveiled net new orders for 130 planes worth over $13 billion, and Boeing 103 new orders worth over $10 billion.

Between them, they racked up a combined 176 provisional orders worth over $19 billion



AIRBUS ORDERS BY CUSTOMER:
FIRM ORDERS

Company No of aircraft Type Value

LAN 20 A320neo $1.8 bln

IndiGo 30 A320 $2.5 bln

IndiGo 150 A320neo $13.7 bln

TransAsia 6 A321neo $0.6 bln

Air Lease Corp 11 A330 $2.4 bln

Air Lease Corp 1 A321 $0.1 bln

SAS 30 A320neo $2.7 bln

GECAS 60 A320neo $5.5 bln

Saudi Arabian 4 A330 $0.9 bln



PROVISIONAL ORDERS

Company No of aircraft Type Value

Alafco 30 A320neo $2.7 bln

Republic 40 A320neo $3.6 bln

Republic 40 A319neo $3.4 bln

Avianca 18 A320 $1.5 bln

Avianca 33 A320neo $3.0 bln

Alafco 6 A350-900 $1.6 bln

Garuda 15 A320 $1.3 bln

Garuda 10 A320neo $0.9 bln

JetBlue 40 A320neo $3.6 bln

CIT 50 A320neo $4.6 bln

Air Lease Corp 36 A320neo $3.3 bln



BOEING ORDERS BY CUSTOMER:

FIRM ORDERS

Company No of aircraft Type Value

*Malaysian 10 737-800 $0.8 bln

*Aeroflot 8 777-300ER $2.3 bln

Norwegian 3 787 $0.6 bln

Norwegian 15 737-800 $1.2 bln

Mongolian 1 767-300ER $0.16bln

Mongolian 2 737-800 $0.16bln

Unidentified 2 747-8 $0.6 bln

*Qatar Airways 6 777-300ER $1.7 bln * - orders were previously in Boeing order book but customer was unidentified



PROVISIONAL ORDERS

Company No of aircraft Type Value

UTair Aviation 7 737-900ER $0.6 bln

UTair Aviation 33 737-800 $2.7 bln

GECAS 8 777-300ER $2.3 bln

GECAS 2 747-8F $0.6 bln

Unidentified 15 747-8 $4.8 bln

Air Lease Corp 20 737 $1.6 bln

Air Lease Corp 5 777 $1.4 bln

Air Lease Corp 4 787-9 $0.9 bln

Boeing bags an additional 10 B737-800NG order from Malaysian Airlines

Boeing and Kuala Lumpur-based Malaysia Airlines today announced the airline has exercised an option to purchase 10 additional Next-Generation 737-800s. The order is valued at more than $800 million at current list prices. The airline still has purchase rights for an additional 10 Next-Generation 737-800s remaining from their initial 2008 contract. Today's announcement was made at the Paris Air Show by Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vice President of Sales & Marketing Marlin Dailey and Malaysia Airlines Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Tengku Dato' Sri Azmil Zahruddin Raja Abdul Aziz. His Excellency Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal, the Malaysian Ambassador to France, was also in Paris for the signing ceremony. "Today we celebrate Malaysia Airlines as key member of the Next-Generation 737 family of operators and we welcome this occasion to strengthen our long-term relationship with a valued partner," Dailey said. "The selection of the Next-Generation 737 to support the airline's strategic fleet modernization plan reinforces the superior economics of the most fuel efficient single-aisle airplane operating in today's market."

Malaysia's 737s are the first in Asia to sport the passenger-pleasing Boeing Sky Interior and are fitted with Blended Winglets, which improve fuel efficiency by up to four percent, increase flying range, and reduce CO2 emissions and takeoff noise. "The option we exercised today marks another step in Malaysia Airlines' mission to strengthen and build upon the airline's award-winning service and passenger value, efforts that support the company's business transformation strategy to profitable operation," said Tengku Azmil. "Boeing's Next-Generation 737, with its economic advantages, including unmatched fuel efficiency, is the right airplane to support our business and our customers." The digitally designed Next-Generation 737 is the most technologically advanced airplane family in the single-aisle market. The 737-800, which can seat up to 189 passengers, is 771 kilograms (1,700 pounds) lighter, can fly 583 kilometers (315 nautical miles) farther while carrying 12 more passengers than the competing model. Malaysia Airlines, with a 64-year history as the national carrier of Malaysia, operates a mixed fleet of short- and long-haul airplanes, including 747 passenger and freighter, 777, 737-800s and Classic 737 airplanes. The airline flies nearly 45,000 passengers daily to more than 100 destinations worldwide.

Big orders help AirBus

Airbus said on Monday it had won an order for 60 narrow-body A320neo planes worth $5.1 billion at list prices from the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric. Analysts expect narrow-body planes, the backbone of fast-growing budget airlines, to be a key battleground for orders between Europe's Airbus and U.S. rival Boeing at the biennial air show. Airbus believes it has the upper hand with the A320neo, whose more efficient engines save airlines 15 percent in fuel costs, according to the company. Engine maker Pratt & Whitney boss David Hess said on Monday he expected an astounding amount of demand for the A320neo. Sources close to the matter said Airbus was also likely to report an order on Monday for 30 A320neos worth about $2.4 billion at list prices from Scandinavian airline SAS.

Qatar Airways said it hoped to conclude a deal this week to buy A320neo planes as well. Boeing conceded it might lose some customers while it makes a decision about whether to re-engine or redesign its competing 737 narrow-body plane, although it was confident of winning out over the longer term. It also upstaged Airbus with successes in other plane sizes and booked the first big order of the show for six 777-300ER wide-body jets worth $1.7 billion at list prices from Gulf carrier Qatar Airways. Analysts expect Middle Eastern and Asian airlines to dominate the buying as they seek to boost transport links for their booming economies. The Boeing deal came a day after Airbus unveiled plans to boost the range of its future competing A350, of which Qatar is the biggest customer.

Paris air show - orders soar

Airbus faced the unexpected and daunting task on Monday of delivering a marketing blow to rival Boeing and maintaining momentum for a revamped jet with its two flagship planes grounded at the Paris Air Show. The European planemaker has targeted an order surge worth tens of billions of dollars, but was left reeling as the world's largest aviation event was jinxed by a series of mishaps including a taxiway collision involving the A380 superjumbo. The right-hand wing-tip of a test plane for the world's largest jetliner, with a wingspan of almost 80 meters (yards), scraped a building at Le Bourget airport on Sunday and was withdrawn from the air show's traditional flying displays.

A second aircraft, the delayed European A400M airlifter, was also withdrawn from air display after a gearbox problem but will be allowed to perform in a flypast when French President Nicolas Sarkozy inaugurates the biennial event on Monday. The A380 collision caused dismay hours after the arrival of its new rival Boeing's elongated 747-8 superjumbo which is showing its distinctive silhouette abroad for the first time. The latest version of the legendary 747 jumbo touched down in orange and red "sunrise" livery symbolizing the importance of Asia, whose economic growth is set to dominate aviation in coming years starting with this week's air show. Industry sources expect some sales of both the A380 and 747-8 during the June 20-26 event but the main joust for market share concerns narrow-body, medium-haul 150-seat planes.

The air show could bring two record deals on successive days as Airbus tries to woo buyers for a revamped A320neo with more efficient engines, saving airlines 15 percent in fuel costs. "We clearly believe in the business case and the orders you are going to see at the show are going to be astounding," said David Hess, chief executive of engine maker Pratt & Whitney. Buyers are already camped out in Paris hotels to negotiate the final details of major deals but are aware that Airbus has staked a lot on winning a slew of orders for the A320neo at the Paris show, and some are said to be digging in their heels. A $16 billion provisional deal from IndiGo to buy 180 A320neo passenger jets, first announced in January, was mired in further negotiations that could spill beyond the air show. The deal if finalized would set a record for the number of planes in one transaction. But sources say if all goes to plan it is set to be eclipsed by a 200-plane order being fine-tuned between Airbus and Malaysia's AirAsia.

Demand for aircraft is on a sharp rebound driven by demand from Asia's rapidly growing airports and the Middle East. "Those two markets will enjoy at least one-third if not more of the demand increase for global air traffic in the next decade," said Philip Toy, a managing director at Alix Partners. The Airbus A320neo has also benefited from airline concerns about fuel costs. Boeing said on Sunday it would decide by end-year whether to upgrade its 737 with new engines from about 2016, as Airbus has done, or build an all-new jet in 2019. "They will sell hundreds but it is hard to tell what is gross and what is net, what is a conversion from an earlier order. There are myriad complications," said Teal Group analyst Richard Aboulafia said of the A320neo.

Orders are likely to include a confirmation of an $8 billion 100-plane order from leasing giant ILFC and another plane order for both Airbus and Boeing planes another big lessor, GECAS. But it could be Boeing that grabs attention on day one of the show with a sale of 777 wide-body airplanes to Qatar Airways -- a reminder that the two planemakers are battling for market share on a second front after Airbus revamped its A350. Russia and China will flex their muscles as potential rivals to Airbus and Boeing, especially during a Tuesday visit by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and some analysts expect surprise sales. But Western planemakers say it will be some time before newcomers mount a serious challenge in civil aerospace.

Thai Air places aircraft orders worth $3.9 billion with Airbus and Boeing

Thai Airways announced Monday that it would acquire 23 Airbus and 14 Boeing airplanes for about $3.9 billion to modernise its ageing fleet after a period of financial turbulence. The carrier said the deals, which have been approved by its board of directors, would enable it to grow profits and be among the top three leading airlines in Asia in terms of quality and service efficiency. The airline plans to buy six Boeing 777-300ER planes, four Airbus A350-900s and five A320-200s for a total of about $1.6 billion, for delivery between 2014 and 2017. It will also lease 22 aircraft, including eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners, to be delivered between 2012 and 2017, a company statement said. "Acquiring new aircraft made from lightweight and non-corrosive composite material to replace retiring aircraft will save fuel and maintenance costs," it added.

The company is bouncing back after a tough spell that saw it sink 21.3 billion baht ($702 million) in the red in 2008 owing to the global financial crisis, high fuel costs and political protests that temporarily shut Bangkok's airports. The carrier posted a net profit of 1.6 billion baht in 2010, up more than threefold compared with 2009 as revenue more than doubled. The airline faces increased competition from regional low-cost carriers such as Air Asia and last year announced plans to start its own budget airline in cooperation with Singapore's Tiger Airways. Currently Thai Airways operates a mixed fleet, including some ageing Boeing 747 jumbos and Airbus A300s, which are no longer being produced.

Thai Airways president Piyasvasti Amranand admitted in October that the carrier's planes were "pretty old" and said the company needed to move quickly given the backlog of orders facing Boeing and Airbus. The new orders are on top of a plan announced a year ago to take delivery of seven Airbus A330-300s medium-range aircraft and eight Boeing 777-300ER long-range planes by 2014 on lease.The group has delayed delivery of six Airbus A380s, now due to arrive starting from 2012, because of a shortage of cash. The launch of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner, heralded as a new generation of highly fuel-efficient mid-sized aircraft, has been repeatedly delayed due to a string of technical mishaps. Delivery of the first 787s is now scheduled for the third quarter of 2011 to inaugural customer All Nippon Airways of Japan.

Hong Kong Airlines expanding its fleet with A380 orders

Hong Kong Airlines Ltd. will order Airbus A380s as it challenges larger neighbor Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and adds flights in China, the world’s fastest- growing air-travel market. The carrier, controlled by the investment arm of China’s Hainan province government, will announce the deal at next week’s Paris Air Show, it said in a text-message reply to questions today. It didn’t elaborate on the number of superjumbos it will buy at the show, which starts June 20th. The world’s largest airliner may help Hong Kong Air compete with Cathay on long-haul routes and offset a looming capacity crunch at the city’s airport caused by delays in building a new runway. The carrier will be the third new A380 customer this year, following Skymark Airlines Inc. and Asiana Airlines Inc., as Airbus boosts sales among smaller Asian carriers. “It’s a good move for brand-building,” said Kelvin Lau, a Hong Kong-based analyst at Daiwa Capital Markets. “It’s quite difficult for newcomers to break into lucrative long-haul routes.”

Hong Kong Air also agreed to order 32 Boeing Co. 787s and six 777 freighters earlier this year to help expand. It had 30 Airbus A320s, 12 A330s and 15 A350s on order as of the end of May, according to the Toulouse, France-based planemaker’s website. The carrier and affiliate Hong Kong Express now operate 18 planes, according to their website. The airline expects to double passenger numbers to 4 million this year as it adds planes and taps China’s rising travel, President Yang Jianhong said in March. The carrier has a less than 10 percent share of Hong Kong’s outbound travel market, Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc said at the time. The airline will be the second in Greater China to order the A380 following China Southern Airlines Co. Airbus is due to deliver the first superjumbo to China Southern later this year. The planemaker has sold a total of 234 A380s, of which 49 have been delivered, as of the end of May, according to its website.

Orders for the A380 have been dominated by Middle East and Asia-Pacific carriers. Emirates Airline has placed orders for 90, making it the largest customer. Singapore Airlines Ltd. was the first carrier to fly the superjumbo on commercial services. Asiana, South Korea’s second-biggest carrier, signed up for six A380s in January. Skymark, a Japanese budget airline, confirmed an order for four the following month. Cathay Pacific has so far ruled out ordering A380s and is instead building its long-haul fleet with smaller planes. It ordered 15 Airbus A330-300s and 10 Boeing 777-300ERs in March, following an agreement for 30 A350s in August. “We’ll probably have another good look at big aircraft in the next one or two years,” Chief Executive Officer John Slosar said last week in Singapore at the International Air Transport Association’s annual general meeting.

Hong Kong Air is seeking to raise funds by selling a stake to private-equity investors ahead of an initial public offering that may raise as much as $1 billion, Yang said in March. The carrier had a net income of about HK$110 million ($14 million) in 2010, its first annual profit, and it may double that this year, he said. Hong Kong Airport will likely reach full capacity by about 2020 because of growing demand for flights into China, operator Airport Authority Hong Kong said earlier this month as public consultation on plans to build a third runway began. Passenger numbers at the airport may grow as much as 3.6 percent a year, reaching 105 million by 2030, according to estimates on its website. China’s international passenger numbers my rise 11 percent a year through 2014, about double the pace of the global market, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Etihad road show in South East Asia

Etihad Airways Pilot recruitment team will be touring South East Asia throughout June 2011 in search of new First Officers. Etihad is looking for qualified first officers for its fleet of A320, A330,A340 and B777, all based in the Capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi.







The schedule of the road show is as follows.

City	Date	Time	Location
Jakarta	07.06.2011	09:00 - 15:00	City DateTimeLocationJakarta07.06.201109:00 - 15:00
Singapore	09.06.2011 10.06.2011	09:00 - 15:00	Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road
Kuala Lumpur	13.06.2011 14.06.2011	09:00 - 15:00	Doubletree by Hilton, Kuala Lumpur, The Intermark, 182 Jalan Tun Razak
Manila	16.06.2011	09:00 - 15:00	Mandarin Oriental Makati Hotel, Makati Avenue, Makati City 1226
Hong Kong	19.06.2011	09:00 - 15:00	Novotel Citygate Hong Kong, 51 Man Tung Road
Ho Chi Min	21.06.2011	09:00 - 15:00	Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, 88 Dong Khoi Street, District 1
Bangkok	24.06.2011 25.06.2011	09:00 - 15:00	Golden Tulip Hotel, 92 Soi Saengcham. Rama 9 Road

Emirates hunt for qualified FO's in UK and Ireland

Emirates is hiring highly skilled and successful Flight Deck Crew from around the world. Currently recruiting experienced and technically proficient First Officers to fly the extensive international route network. The First Officer position offers an exceptional opportunity for ambitious pilots to develop their career on one of the youngest high-tech fleets, with one of the fastest growing and most profitable airlines in the world. Emirates now has 201 wide-body aircraft worth more than US$85 billion on order to add to it's current fleet of 151 aircraft including A330/A340/A380's and B777's.

Emirates will be conducting Pilot Information Sessions in the UK and Ireland at the end of January. These sessions will provide more information on Emirates Selection Programme, the benefits of living and working in Dubai and details of our remuneration package.

January 24th, 2011 -- 10:00am
Apex City Hotel
61 Grassmarket, Edinburgh
Scotland

January 25th, 2011 -- 10:00am
Dublin Radisson Blu Hotel
Dublin Airport, Ireland

January 26th, 2011 -- 10:00am
Belfast Radisson Blu Hotel
The Gasworks
3 Cromac Place
Ormeau Road
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Boeing delivered its 200th aircraft to Air France

Boeing and Air France celebrated on Wednesday the 200th direct delivery of a Boeing jetliner – a 777-300ER (extended range) – to the Paris-based carrier.
The 777 is the backbone of the long-haul fleet. This new aircraft will support Air France's projected growth on long-haul destinations and confirm the Air France-KLM Group's European leadership position on the international network. With this latest delivery, Air France continues to upgrade its fleet, one of the youngest in Europe, and launches its new business class.
For the 2011 summer season, Air France will be operating a total of 61 777s making it one of the largest 777 passenger fleets in the world. The airline also operates two 777 Freighters and 12 747s. Boeing is scheduled to deliver to Air France one 777 Freighter in 2011 and 11 additional 777-300ERs through 2015. In addition to their direct purchase of Boeing airplanes, Air France has successfully operated many other Boeing airplanes on lease for many years.The 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, greatly reducing its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. The airplane has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). The 777 family is the world's most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. Sixty-one customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 777s.

Boom in Asia creates a shortage for pilots!

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., Qantas Airways Ltd. and Emirates Airline are awaiting deliveries of about 400 planes to capitalize on Asia’s rising prosperity. Finding pilots is the next job.
Boeing Co. expects the region’s carriers to be the biggest buyers of twin-aisle planes as travel grows in China and India, home to a combined 1.1 billion middle-class people. Asia-Pacific airlines will buy about 8,000 planes worth $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years, Airbus SAS said. Airlines worldwide need an average of 49,900 pilots a year from 2010 to 2030 as fleets expand, yet current training capacity is only 47,025, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization in Montreal. That is sparking bidding wars as Emirates offers tax-free salaries and four-bedroom villas for captains, and AirAsia Bhd., the region’s biggest budget airline, gives tuition-free training. “It’s a major issue and will be a big challenge to the industry’s growth,” said Binit Somaia, a Sydney-based analyst for the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. “Even if you can find the pilots, you have to pay top dollar for them because they are so scarce.”

China, the world’s fastest-growing major aviation market, likely will account for a third of the region’s orders, Airbus, the world’s biggest aircraft maker, said in February. Its economy will grow 10.5 percent this year, compared with world growth of 4.6 percent, according to International Monetary Fund estimates.
India, with estimated growth of 9.4 percent this year, may overtake China as the world’s fastest-growing major economy as early as 2013, according to Morgan Stanley.
This year, the region’s carriers ordered 133 commercial jets with more than 100 seats, or 23 percent of the global total, according to Ascend Worldwide Ltd., a London-based aviation forecaster and data provider.
“There will be a shortage of pilots, and this is going to last for a while because it takes time to produce a good pilot,” said Elmer Pena, president of the Airline Pilots Association of the Philippines.
Philippine Airlines Inc. canceled flights in July and August and rebooked passengers after losing 27 pilots to higher paying jobs abroad.

The demand in Asia contrasts with the 4,500 U.S. airline pilots on furlough, according to figures compiled by Kit Darby, a retired United Airlines pilot now running an Atlanta-based consulting firm.
That situation shouldn’t last long. The global fleet of cargo and large passenger planes will double to nearly 32,000 by 2028 from 15,750 last year, according to Airbus.
The major U.S. airlines are expected to hire more than 40,000 pilots in the next 12 years, said Louis Smith, president of FltOps.com, which provides career counseling services and sponsors job fairs.
World passenger traffic is expected to increase an average of 4.7 percent a year between 2009 and 2028, according to Airbus.
Emirates is the largest Arab airline with more than 200 planes on order. It aims to recruit 250 pilots this year and double that number in 2011, it said in a statement.
The company, which needs more than $28 billion through 2017 for expansion, sought to recruit in Houston, Madrid and Singapore.
Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s biggest carrier, will recruit 1,000 people, including crew, Chief Operating Officer John Slosar said. PT Garuda Indonesia placed a newspaper advertisement last month seeking pilots “fluent in English and of good character.” Jetstar, the budget arm of Qantas, plans to recruit 120 more pilots by next summer.
Singapore Airlines Ltd. and AirAsia, based near Kuala Lumpur, set up their own tuition-free training academies. Singapore Air’s flying college graduates about 150 cadet pilots a year, while AirAsia’s facility trains as many as 500 a year.
Graduates must stay with the budget carrier for five years, AirAsia Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes said.
New flight schools also are opening. CAPA is investing at least $125 million to build an aerospace university in India that can train about 300 pilots a year, Somaia said.
The shortage, and hiring by a new crop of budget carriers, also could push wages higher.
“There is a misconception that low-cost airlines pay lower salaries,” said Tony Davis, chief executive officer of budget carrier Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd., part-owned by Singapore Air “We couldn’t do that in a competitive market.”
Basic pay for Singapore Air captains flying twin-aisle Boeing 777s or the Airbus A330s begin at S$9,300 ($6,870) a month, excluding allowances, said P. James, president of the Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore. They also earn a productivity allowance of as much as S$3,800 for flying 70 hours a month.
Emirates offers a starting monthly salary of 34,410 dirhams ($9,370) for captains, according to its website. That excludes benefits such as hourly flying and productivity payments.
Its other perks include a tax-free basic salary, profit sharing, villas for captains and free dry cleaning of uniforms, its website said. Those incentives help attract candidates to an increasingly demanding job, said Barry Jackson, president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, who has been a pilot at Qantas since 1987.
“Young people these days prefer to become doctors or lawyers,” he said. “This sort of career path is becoming less desirable.”

Boeing and Emirates announce their order of 30 B777's

Boeing and Dubai-based Emirates Airlines today announced an order for 30 Boeing 777-300ERs (Extended Range) at the 2010 Farnborough International Airshow. Eighteen of these were previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website. Emirates is already the world's largest 777 operator with a fleet of 86 777s through direct purchase and lease, plus an additional 16 777-300ERs previously on order. It is also the only airline in the world to operate every model in the Boeing 777 family, including the 777 Freighter. "Since we took delivery of our first 777 14 years ago, the airplane's reliability, performance and operating economics have firmly established it as the backbone of our fleet," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group.
"Our decision to further expand our 777 fleet reflects our plans to continue to build our fleet of the future and grow our expansive global network, which already spans six continents. It also demonstrates our commitment to operating a modern fleet that not only enhances the passenger experience but our operational efficiency as well." Emirates took delivery of its first Boeing 777, a 777-200, in 1996, and since then the airline has deployed the 777 on short-, medium- and long-haul routes.

"Emirates is today one of the world's leading airlines. Its growth over the years has established it as a truly global force in the aviation industry," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Emirates has played an important role in the success of the 777 with its strong support and valuable feedback over the years. Today's order underscores the airline's confidence in the airplane which forms the backbone of its fleet. For that we are very grateful." The Boeing 777 is the world's most successful twin-engine, long-haul airplane. The 777-300ER extends the 777 family's span of capabilities, bringing twin-engine efficiency and reliability to the long-range market. The airplane carries 365 passengers up to 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). Boeing incorporated several performance enhancements for the 777-300ER, extending its range and payload capabilities. Excellent performance during flight testing, combined with engine efficiency improvements and design changes that reduce drag and airplane weight, contributed to the increased capability.

Emirates to place more aircraft orders

Emirates airline is set to place a $5 billion order for 20 Boeing B777 wide-body jets, aviation sources said on Saturday.The order could be a key feature of the opening day of the July 19-25 Farnborough air show on Monday, when the Dubai-based airline is expecteded to hold a news conference. Boeing declined to comment.

An order for 20 of the latest model of 777s, which seats 365 passengers, would be worth $5.4 billion at list prices. Emirates, the largest airline in the Arab world, placed an order for 32 Airbus A380s at the Berlin air show last month and said it was likely to order more aircraft soon.

ANA pilots test fly the B787

Two of the senior All Nippon Airways (ANA) pilots flew the B787 Dreamliner on Wednesday. The flight happened over the Washington state airspace. Boeing had obtained a special airworthiness certificate from FAA to conduct the flight. The two ANA pilots were B777 rated. Boeing's test pilot for B787 showed the difference in cockpit layout between the B787 and B777 for the pilots. ANA has ordered for 50 B787's of which their first aircraft is expected to be delivered in late 2010. The two ANA pilots had performed different sorts of landing and take off and had a good feel of the aircraft, the flight lasted for 2 hours and 40 minutes.  

Air India cancel orders with Boeing

Air India the national carrier of India wants to cancel the order of three Boeing 777-300ER. But it is learn t that Boeing has offered Air India 10 single aisle aircraft's in lue of three long haul aircraft's, Boeing is ready to deliver 10 B737-800 instead of the three B777's. Differences in the pricing remain the main obstacle between Boeing and Air India, as AI wants the aircraft's to be priced at a post dated price when the orders were initially placed. AI had placed an order of 68 aircraft's with Boeing in 2005  which includes 23 B777, (8 B777-200LR and 15 B777-300ER) 18 B737-800, 27 B787-800. Air India has already taken deliveries of  18 B737-800, 8 B777-200LR and of the 15 B777-300ER 10 aircraft's have been delivered and the remaining 5 were about to be delivered over a period of next 15 months. It is estimated that Air India will have to pay Rs22,000 crore for aircraft deliveries this year, were it paid Rs 12,000 crore last year.

Angola Airlines confirms' order of two B777

Boeing and Angola Airlines announced the order of two B777-300ER at Washington. The 2 B777 are valued at about $550 million and the airlines have also got purchase rights for two more 777-300ER in future. The flag carrier of Angola is expected to use these two new aircrafts' for route expansion and add new destinations in Europe.
The Boeing 777-300ER is 19 percent lighter than its closest competitor, which reduces its fuel requirement. It produces 22 percent less carbon dioxide per seat and costs 20 percent less to operate per seat. The airplane can seat up to 365 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). The 777 family is the world's most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. Sixty customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 B777s.

Isreal's El Al airlines cancels orders four B777

El Al airlines has canceled orders of 4 B777-200 which was placed in 2008 before the global recession. The dipping passenger traffic has prompted the airline to cancel the order. The airline also confirmed that the advance payment made for the order of these aircraft will be adjusted in future deliveries.
Also LAN airlines was reported saying that it would not take deliveries of 4 B767 which they had ordered, instead differ it to B787's and is expected to receive 2 in 2011, 3 in 2012 and 5 in 2013.

Crack discovered inside the Emirates plane

The DGCA has found cracks inside the Emirates flight that took a plunge on sunday loosing almost 18,500 feet.
The flight which was carrying 350 passengers and 14 crew was hit by a Clear Air Turbulence (CAT). The incident had almost lasted for 15 seconds, the investigators in this incident think that the gravitational force and the oscillation the B777 experienced during the CAT might be the key reason for the cracks developed.

Emirates Kochi flight had a close call

A major air disaster was on the cards on Sunday morning, thanks to the pilot. A B777 Emirates flight bound to Kochi from Dubai with 350 passengers and 14 crew on board was hit by an air pocket. Passengers and the crew on board suffered anxious moments, it is learnt that the plane hit an air pocket at 20,000 feet and it went into a free fall and lost 18,500 feet before the pilot could regain controls of the aircraft at 1500 feet AGL and landed the aircraft safely at Kochi Intl airport.
The DGCA has launched an inquiry into the incident and has also grounded the aircraft. All passengers where examined by doctors at the Kochi airport and it was reported that 23 passengers were injured.

Blown engine strands United Airlines on the runway

With more than 300 passengers bound to Chicago from Honolulu, United flight 2 a B777 on Wednesday blew its left engine out before takeoff on the runway. The engine blew out with a big bang, where the Pilot thought that the tyres had gone flat. There were no causalities reported.

Mid Air collision averted - KSFO

Looks like the National Transportation Safety Board have already started their investigation for the near mid air collision at San Fransisco.
It was reported that a United Airlines flight 889 was departing to Beijing, China. It was a Boeing 777 carrying 251 passengers, scheduled to depart 11h15m. As it got its departure clearance and got airborne, the pilot quickly spotted a light aircraft reported as Cessna 182 was on the jumbo's flight path.
According to United Airlines spokes person, the C182 pilot was cautioned about the jumbo on its flight path. But there was no action taken by the Cessna pilot to divert from the jumbos' flight path.
United Airlines flight 889 pilot had to maneuver to avoid a mid air collision. How ever the flight continued to China with out any Incident.