Leeham News and Analysis
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Leeham News and Analysis
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- Airbus 1Q2025 results: So far, so good, but US tariffs make future results unpredictable May 1, 2025
- Does an Airbus A220-500 need a new wing and engines? May 1, 2025
- Teamsters, Boeing have a new contract April 29, 2025
First mover or not, that is the question: A321XLR vs NMA
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Introduction
July 23, 2018, © Leeham News: First mover or not first mover, that is the question.
In a pre-Farnborough Air Show interview with another publication, Airbus Group CEO Tom Enders said Airbus had the advantage of being the “first mover” by acquiring majority control of the Bombardier C Series program.
But when it comes to responding to the prospective Boeing New Midmarket Airplane (NMA, or 797), Airbus officials say they are content to wait and watch, willing to let Boeing make the first move.
At the same time, Airbus is proceeding with studies to further extend the range of the A321neo, in the form of the A321XLR. The airplane would have a range of 4,500nm, up from 4,100nm, according to information widely leaked at the air show.
Summary
- Airbus looks to squeeze Boeing from the bottom of the NMA market with A321neo improvements.
- Boeing sales chief dismisses A321XLR as a sub-set of a sub-set.
- But others see the basic A321 design as more flexible than the 737 MAX.
- Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury
Related stories
Pontifications: Digital transformation picks up steam
By Scott Hamilton
July 23, 2018, © Leeham News, Farnborough: Digital technology, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Digital Thread and Digital Factory technologies continue to gain momentum for aerospace production as companies throughout the supply chain strive to cut costs.
The consulting firm Accenture, in advance of the international air shows in Paris or Farnborough, identifies that it sees as the key stories that will come out of the show.
Accenture was on target for Farnborough.
Indeed, the show was low energy, with fewer orders than many past shows. The largest orders came from that ubiquitous company, Unidentified (though more than 200 airplanes are believed to be destined for China).
Some companies sent smaller delegations or didn’t come at all.
The headline out of United Technologies was about digital. It was just one example of the digital stories at Farnborough this year.
Farnborough: Day 4 orders
July 19, 2018, (c) Airfinance Journal: Announcements at today’s show followed the same pattern as earlier in the week a fair
amount of undisclosed orders. The first three days of the air show saw 292 aircraft orders undisclosed.
Of today’s total, undisclosed orders represented 125 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, while AirAsia X, Hawaiian Airlines, Vietjet and lessor Novus Aviation Capital announced commitments for 108 aircraft.
Farnborough: A320 engine suppliers roughly on recovery plan
July 19, 2018, © Leeham News, Farnborough: The engine suppliers for the Airbus A320 family are roughly keeping to their recovery plan designed to catch up late deliveries and fix technical problems, a top official said this week.
Guillaume Faury, is the new president and CEO of the Airbus Commercial unit in Airbus Group.
“We look at short-term, medium- and long-term. Short-term, we had an H1 (first half) that was OK for all programs, but the single-aisle was a difficulty with all the engines. We will have a very strong H2 and this is obviously very high on my agenda.
US seeks arbitration for Boeing “harm” in WTO subsidies case
July 19, 2018, © Leeham News, Farnborough: Without fanfare and with no announcement from Boeing or the US Trade
Representative, an official request has been filed with the World Trade Organization to commence arbitration in the 14-year trade dispute between the US and Europe over subsidies to Airbus.
In a short filing Friday, as the international press and international aviation community moved to Farnborough for the 2018 international air show, the US filed its request to begin arbitration.
Farnborough: Boeing Global Services on trajectory for 9% YOY growth
July 19, 2018, © Leeham Co.: Boeing Global Services picked up more than $2bn in new contracts at the Farnborough Air Show, a good boost as it moves into its second year as a stand-alone business unit within The Boeing Co.
BGS provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services; technical support; supply chain engineering; and passenger-to-freighter conversions, among other things.
Stan Deal, CEO of BGS, said 2017’s revenues were $14.5bn and $16.5bn of orders. Last year was the first BGS financial data was segmented from consolidated earnings data. This represented a 6.5% growth over 2016.
In the first quarter this year, revenue grew again, “pointing to a trajectory of growth of 8.8% year-over-year,” Deal said.
Second quarter numbers will be released next week.
BGS combined Boeing Commercial Aviation Services and a similar unit in its defense unit.
Mitsubishi shouldn’t be worried over support following Boeing-Embraer deal: BGS chief
July 18, 2018, © Leeham News, Farnborough: Mitsubishi’s MRJ will be supported even if Boeing and Embraer complete a deal to form a new company in which Boeing is an 80% shareholder.
Embraer’s E175 and E190 jets will compete with Mitsubishi’s MRJ70 and MRJ90 respectively. Boeing entered into a product and parts support agreement with Mitsubishi when the MRJ program was launched.
Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Global Services, said in an interview with LNC that despite the competition, BGS will honor the Boeing commitment to Mitsubishi.
BGS already supports Airbus aircraft, which of course fiercely compete with Boeing.
Farnborough: Orders on Day 3
July 18, 2018, (c) Airfinance Journal: Firm orders had largely dried up by day three of Farnborough 2018, although Boeing could celebrate some big commitments for its Max narrowbody from Vietjet and four undisclosed customers. Elsewhere Bombardier won its first order of the show after Uganda’s flag carrier signed for CRJ900s.
Farnborough: NMA business case appears to weaken, evidence at air show indicates
Analysis
July 18, 2018, © Leeham News, Farnborough: The biggest, longest-running story at this year’s Farnborough Air Show is about an airplane that doesn’t exist: the prospective Boeing New Midmarket Aircraft (NMA or 797).
And the underlying story that’s emerging from the buzz on the sidelines and interviews with key observers and industry participants is that Boeing’s business case for the airplane appears to be getting weaker, not stronger.
Farnborough: Day 2 orders tally
July 17, 2018 (c) Airfinance Journal: Day two of the Farnborough air show saw David Neeleman’s new US airline commitment for 60 Airbus A220-300 aircraft, a story that was first revealed by Airfinance Journal on 11 June. Embraer announced commitments for 270 aircraft from six customers.