Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Boeing down sharply second day in a row. Airbus stock in similar decline
By Scott Hamilton
March 12, 2020, © Leeham News: Boeing stock is in another sharp decline today.
Yesterday, the stock fell 18%, to close under $200 for the first time since May 2017.
Today, the stock was off 15% in early morning trading, to a low of $156. At this writing, Boeing is down 13.5% at $163. The Dow Jones was down 7%.
Year-to-date, Boeing is off 52%.
While here in the US, focus is on Boeing, looking at the Paris stock exchange, Airbus stock also in in a similar decline—without all the baggage Boeing has.
Does the new weight bump turn the A330-900 to a trans-Pacific aircraft? Part 2
By Bjorn Fehrm
Subscription Required
Introduction
March 12, 2020, © Leeham News: We continue last week’s theme and compare Airbus’ new 251t variant of the A330-900 to the A350-900 in this article.
We saw in the first article the A330-900 251t is now a credible long-range aircraft, including the long hop over the Pacific ocean. When to use the A330-900 or the A350-900? We analyze their economics and where one is to prefer to the other for long-range operations.
Summary:
- The Airbus A330-900 in its 251t version can serve many US to Asia routes that were reserved for the A350-900 before.
- We check if the economics support replacing the A350-900 with the A330-900 for these routes.
Heard on the Ramp: Boeing has its 777X sales challenges; Airbus A330neo appears to be next
Heard on the Ramp
We introduce today a new feature, Heard on the Ramp. This column contains news briefs LNA picks up in the market that aren’t expansive 
enough for stand-alone articles but which are items of interest. Publication will be on an as-needed basis.
By the Leeham News staff
March 10, 2020, © Leeham News: Last year revealed Boeing 777X order problems, with a small customer base and cancellations or deferrals. Perhaps this year will be the Airbus A330neo’s turn.
Out of 337 orders, 156 A330neos are with airlines in trouble or can’t take aircraft (AirAsiaX, Iran Air, HNA), or 46%.
This is without counting the second level of trouble airlines and lessor orders, which may have challenges placing aircraft in today’s unsettled market.
European airline struggles add risk to 15% of Airbus, Boeing orders
By Judson Rollins
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Introduction
Earlier this week, LNA examined the potential for a shakeout among European carriers as the coronavirus outbreak spreads to the continent.
Five European countries now rank among the ten hardest hit – travel demand is plummeting nearly as rapidly as after the September 11 attacks in the US.
On Thursday, UK-based Flybe went into bankruptcy after long-time financial struggles. The airline had 54 De Havilland Canada Dash-8-400s and nine Embraer E175-E1s in its fleet, more than half of which were leased from Nordic Aviation Capital and HEH Aviation Management.
LNA reviewed aircraft ownership data to understand top manufacturer and lessor exposure to European carriers, particularly those with known profitability issues and high debt loads.
Source: Twitter / @AirportWebcams
Summary
- Airbus’s exposure to Europe is 16% on single-aisles and 19% on twin-aisles;
- Boeing has just under 15% of its single- and twin-aisle orders from Europe;
- Embraer’s E2 jet program has 27% exposure to the region;
- ATR, De Havilland Canada, COMAC face little to no threat from European airline woes;
- Norwegian, TAP, SAS, TUI are likely the most imminent threats to manufacturers and lessors.
Does the new weight bump turn the A330-900 to a trans-Pacific aircraft?
By Bjorn Fehrm
Subscription Required
Introduction
March 5, 2020, © Leeham News: Airbus gave an update on their new 251t variant of the A330-900 this week. With a 251t Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW), the former mid-ranger is mutating to an able long-hauler.
The true long-haul aircraft in the Airbus lineup is the A350, the go-to aircraft from Airbus for Pacific-Ocean crossings. But with a nominal 7,200nm range, the A330-900 is no longer the trans-Atlantic aircraft it was. It will be an alternative to the A350 for many trans-Pacific routes.
Summary:
- The A330 started as a mid-range aircraft with less than 4,000nm range. At the time, the A340-300 was positioned as the long-ranger.
- With the A340 out of the way and to compete with Boeing’s 787, the A330 grew its range 85%. Is it now an alternative to the A350?
US imposed $22m in Airbus tariffs in 2019
By Scott Hamilton
Exclusive
March 3, 2020, © Leeham News: The US Customs and Border Patrol collected $277m in tariffs last year in connection with the Airbus trade war.
Airbus’ A320 final assembly line in Mobile helped reduce the tariff exposure.
But only $22.1m was from tariffs placed directly on Airbus airplanes imported into the United States, LNA learned.
Information obtained by LNA confirmed that most of the tariffs were levied on industries and products unconnected to Airbus.
Airbus to deliver 251 tonnes version of A330-900 by mid-year
By Bjorn Fehrm
March 3, 2020, ©. Leeham News: Airbus has started the additional flight testing needed to certify the 251t version of the A330-900. It needs to verify the handling of the aircraft at the higher weight allowed by a 251t MTOW (Maximum Take-Off Weight, up from 242t for today’s A330-900).
The flight test campaign is short, about 40 hours in all. This allows for certification and first deliveries by mid-year. The smaller A330-800 will certify the 251t version next year.
An upcoming shakeup in European skies
By Vincent Valery
Introduction
Mar. 3, 2020, © Leeham News: After the 2012-2014 European sovereign debt crisis, passenger traffic grew briskly in Europe. The expansion of low-cost airlines, combined with increasing passenger traffic from Asia, contributed to this passenger boom on the old continent.
Despite the passenger traffic boom, the last few years have been challenging for most European airlines. Apart from a few notable exceptions, profitability is materially lower than at US carriers. There were several high-profile bankruptcies, notably Air Berlin, Alitalia, and Monarch, in 2017, followed by Thomas Cook last year.
LNA wrote a series last year on the struggling European carriers.
After starting in mainland China, there have been significant COVID-19 outbreaks in South Korea, Iran, and Italy. The number of diagnosed cases is increasing rapidly around the world, and notably in Europe.
Until two weeks ago, European airlines canceled most of their services to mainland China and reduced frequencies to other Asian destinations. However, with the outbreak intensifying in Europe, numerous carriers took emergency measures to reduce service on intra-Europe services.
European airlines are facing the COVID-19 disruptions with weakened balance sheets. To make matters worse, they have become the target of numerous environmental groups in Western Europe. The ongoing slump in passenger traffic will stretch some carriers’ finances beyond recovery. The much-discussed consolidation wave seems a matter of when, not if.
The financial challenges will undoubtedly affect OEMs, notably Airbus and Boeing.
In this article, LNA lists the scheduled OEM deliveries in countries affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, then assesses the financial vulnerability of major European airline groups.
Summary
- A global COVID-19 outbreak;
- Emergency airline measures to reduce capacity;
- Almost all OEM 2020 scheduled deliveries affected;
- Financial vulnerability at European airlines.
Grounding takes toll on Boeing 737 MAX investment desires
By Scott Hamilton
March 2, 2020, © Leeham News, Austin (TX): A poll of people attending a major aerospace conference here today illustrates the hit Boeing took from the trouble with the 737 MAX.
The audience was asked to rate the Airbus A320neo against the 737-8 MAX for financier/lessor risk-reward investment.
The A320neo was rated favorably by 70% of the those voting. The MAX 8 was rated favorably by just 19%. The remainder rated the two planes equally.
In the era of the A320ceo and 737-800, the Boeing tended to have an edge by a few percentage points in this largely American audience. Audiences at similar European conference tended to tilt toward the A320ceo in past surveys.
In the same polling at this year’s conference 75% of those voting believe Airbus has the better narrow-body product line. Only 19% chose Boeing.
Asian airline troubles could affect up to 20% of Airbus, Boeing backlogs
By Judson Rollins
Subscription Required
In last week’s analysis, LNA examined which airlines in greater China and the rest of Asia may be in imminent risk of financial distress due to the growing coronavirus outbreak. We found that airlines from Malaysia to Japan have significant exposure to the Chinese market. Several have shaky balance sheets and were already losing money prior to the outbreak, most notably AirAsia, AirAsiaX, Thai Airways, Nok Air, Malaysia Airlines, and Asiana.
The coronavirus outbreak has now spread to Europe and the Middle East, but we are continuing our focus on Asia as it’s been most greatly affected so far. Additional analysis focusing on Europe will follow, with particular attention to the potential for further airline consolidation on the continent.
LNA reviewed ownership and operating data on aircraft to understand top manufacturer and lessor exposure to greater China, which includes Hong Kong and Macau, and the rest of East Asia.
Summary
- Airbus has greater exposure to China and the rest of East Asia, especially in widebodies;
- Boeing’s 787, 777X difficulties will be exacerbated by Asian airline troubles;
- COMAC’s sales book is almost exclusively in China, but government support is likely;
- ATR has material exposure to Southeast Asia; other regional aircraft OEMs are largely unaffected.