Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Pontifications: thyssenkrupp’s international expansion
By Scott Hamilton
July 30, 2018, © Leeham News: thyssenkrupp, the German supplier, is a mouthful to say.
Even its name is different, using the small “t” rather than a capital “T”.
Being from Chicago, I suitably butchered it when I met at the Farnborough Air Show with its CEO, American Laura Holmes.
I won’t even attempt to write how I mangled the name, but I didn’t feel too bad when I later discovered there is a 15 second YouTube video on its pronunciation: two-sen croup (in German) or tiss-in krup [as in pup] (in English).
Regardless, the company is in an expansion mode internationally—including in Africa.
The Southeast ramps up to challenge Washington State in aerospace
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Introduction
July 26, 2018, © Leeham News: The US Southeast continues its aggressive expansion in aerospace.
Washington State plots to win the assembly site for the prospective Boeing New Midmarket Aircraft and expand its space footprint.
In a way, it’s a defensive holding game for Washington, which faces competition from more than a half dozen states where the cost of doing business is cheaper and the regulatory environment is friendlier to business.
Summary
- Washington State doesn’t “get it,” say some suppliers and a trade group.
- Gearing up for NMA competition.
- Expanding the Southeast aerospace footprint.
Boeing cash flows generously, KC-46A snarfs up some of it
By Dan Catchpole
July 25, 2018, © Leeham News: The cash keeps flowing at Boeing. The aerospace giant posted free cash flow of $4.3bn for the second quarter of the year, despite recording $426m in costs related to its delay-ridden KC-46 tanker program.
Despite posting strong earnings, the charge rattled investors, who drove Boeing’s share price down in early trading Wednesday.
Boeing continues to work on closing the business case for its New Midsize Airplane (NMA), a business case unlike any the company has done before, Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said in a conference call with reporters and investment analysts.
Leahy, Kirby headline “Plane Truths” conference in Chicago Sept. 11-12
July 24, 2018, © Leeham News: John Leahy, who retired in January after 33 years at Airbus, and Scott Kirby, president of United Airlines, headline the Leeham Co. and Airfinance Journal conference, Plane Truths: The Next 12 Months, Sept. 11-12 in Chicago.
This will be Leahy’s first conference appearance since he retired from Airbus, where he was COO-Customers.
Plane Truths: The Next 12 Months focuses only on the key issues coming up in the next year. Click here for more information.
Officials of American Airlines, Cargolux, HiFly, Rolls-Royce, Skyworks Capital, Collateral Verifications, Embraer and Bombardier are among those who will participate.
More than 1,000 orders, commitments from Farnborough
July 23, 2018: More than 1,000 new orders and commitments were announced at the Farnborough Air Show last week, a final tally shows.
The value was more than $128bn.
Credit Suisse issued its post-air show note today with a complete listing.
Orders announced previously but were listed as Unidentified until the air show were not included.
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
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.
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.