- Leeham News and Comment will be on holiday Dec. 24, 2016, through Jan. 2, 2017, barring major breaking news. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

By Scott Hamilton
Dec. 19, 2016, © Leeham Co. Two thousand sixteen is almost over. This will be my last Pontifications of the year.
We approach our job with a little different perspective than the daily newspapers and aviation trades. They have greater resources than we do and have a greater ability to report the news. So LNC tries to bring news with perspective that those outlets don’t.
Analysis, economics, forecasts
We provide analysis of events and of aircraft economics and performance. Not even the trades do the latter. We also make our own forecasts of trends and production rates. Sometimes it takes a few years to be proved right or wrong. So far, we have a good track record of being right.
We’re also not afraid to take on controversy—and be controversial. And we don’t hesitate to call bullshit when we see it.
This gets often us into hot water with the subjects of the controversy.
This is what sets LNC apart.
Read more
Market, other factors emerging, creating Boeing 787 concern
Subscription Required
Introduction
Jan. 4, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Despite a rosy picture painted by Boeing about the future of the 787 and the ability to recover more than $29bn in deferred production
Boeing photo.
and tooling costs, there are signs that cause concerns over the next 3-5 years.
Summary
Read more
2 Comments
Posted on January 4, 2017 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Airlines, Boeing, Etihad Airways, ExIm Bank, Leasing, Leeham News and Comment, Lessors, Premium
787, 787-10, 787-8, 787-9, A330ceo, A330neo, A350, Airbus, Boeing, China, Donald Trump, Etihad Airlines, ExIm Bank
Pontifications: Embraer, contrary to others, looks to momentum in 2017
By Scott Hamilton
Jan. 3, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier look toward 2017 as a bit of a punk year, as detailed in our Look Ahead for subscribers only. Not so by Embraer.
In an exclusive interview, John Slattery, the president of Embraer Commercial, said EMB will gain “momentum” this year. This is at a time where sales at the other three of the Big Four OEMs are expected to slow off an already slow 2016.
Read more
30 Comments
Posted on January 3, 2017 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Boeing, E-Jet, Embraer, Emirates Airlines, Pontifications, Rolls-Royce, Sukhoi
737-900ER, 777, 787-10, 787-8, A330-900, A350-900, A380, Airbus, Boeing, Delta Air Lines, EJet, EJet E2, Ejet-E1, Embraer, John Slattery, Northwest Airlines, Rolls-Royce, Scope clause, SSJ100, Sukhoi
2017: the year ahead
Subscription Required
Introduction
Jan. 3, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The New Year is here and it doesn’t look like a good one for commercial aerospace, if measured against previous outstanding years.
There are some troubling signs ahead, piling on to a slowdown in orders from last year that didn’t even reach a 1:1 book:bill.
This year looks to be worse than last. Airbus and Boeing will give their 2017 guidance on the earnings calls this month and next. Bombardier and Embraer earnings calls are a ways off, when each will provide its guidance.
But LNC believes the Big Two in particular will be hard pressed to hit a 1:1 book:bill this year and may even struggle to match 2016 sales.
Boeing’s year-end order tally comes Thursday. Airbus’ comes on Jan. 11.
Summary
Read more
1 Comment
Posted on January 3, 2017 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, ATR, Boeing, Bombardier, CFM, Comac, CSeries, E-Jet, Embraer, Etihad Airways, Farnborough Air Show, GE Aviation, Irkut, Leeham News and Comment, Middle of the Market, Mitsubishi, Pratt & Whitney, Premium, Rolls-Royce, Sukhoi
Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, CFM, Comac, Embraer, GE Aviation, Irkut, Mitsubishi, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Sukhoi
Airbus, Boeing Top Customers mix of stable, risk and reward
Subscription Required
Introduction
Dec. 22, 2016, © Leeham Co.: When it comes to comparing backlogs of Airbus and Boeing, the latter likes to point to what it calls a better quality of customers.
The fact is, both companies have large orders with airlines that may be characterized as less than top quality, or which appear to have over-ordered.
Summary
Read more
1 Comment
Posted on December 22, 2016 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Airlines, Boeing, Premium
Airbus, airlines, Boeing, Lessors
Boeing announces 2017 job cuts
No number was given by Boeing for the workforce reduction.
Just a week ago, LNC predicted more job cuts would be coming at Boeing–and at Airbus.
Boeing’s message to employees is below.
Read more
50 Comments
Posted on December 20, 2016 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Boeing
Airbus, Boeing, Kevin McAllister, Ray Conner
Pontifications: Leeham News’ approach to the news
By Scott Hamilton
Dec. 19, 2016, © Leeham Co. Two thousand sixteen is almost over. This will be my last Pontifications of the year.
We approach our job with a little different perspective than the daily newspapers and aviation trades. They have greater resources than we do and have a greater ability to report the news. So LNC tries to bring news with perspective that those outlets don’t.
Analysis, economics, forecasts
We provide analysis of events and of aircraft economics and performance. Not even the trades do the latter. We also make our own forecasts of trends and production rates. Sometimes it takes a few years to be proved right or wrong. So far, we have a good track record of being right.
We’re also not afraid to take on controversy—and be controversial. And we don’t hesitate to call bullshit when we see it.
This gets often us into hot water with the subjects of the controversy.
This is what sets LNC apart.
Read more
28 Comments
Posted on December 19, 2016 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Boeing, Pontifications
737 MAX 200, 777 Classic, 777X, 787, A321LR, A321NEO, A330, A350, A380, Airbus, Boeing
US appeals WTO ruling over prohibited subsidies
Dec. 16, 2016: The US filed a notice of appeal today of the WTO ruling that Washington State tax breaks granted to entice Boeing to locate a wing plant for the 777X and assemble the airplane at Everett ((WA) was a prohibited subsidy.
The move was expected.
At issue were $8.7bn in tax breaks.
12 Comments
Posted on December 16, 2016 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Boeing
Airbus, Boeing, World Trade Organization, WTO
Top 10 Leeham News stories of 2016
Dec. 15, 2016, © Leeham Co.: The story about a Boeing official who asserted that the Airbus widebody strategy is a “mess” proved to be LNC’s most read story of 2016.
Our second most-read story is why the 787-8 is no longer favored by Boeing.
We list our Top 10 posts each year as we head for a wrap. LNC plans to finish 2016 on Dec. 23, returning Jan. 3, unless there is major, breaking news.
Here are the Top 10 LNC posts in 2016:
Read more
27 Comments
Posted on December 15, 2016 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Leeham News and Comment, MOM
737-7, 747, 777-10, 777X, 787, A320, A350-1000, A350-2000, A350-800, A350-900, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, CS300, Dennis Muilenburg, Jim McNerney, Kevin McAllister, Leeham News, Middle of the Market
Boeing cuts 777 production rate again
Dec. 13, 2016: Boeing yesterday announced another production rate cut for the 777 Classic, effective next August.
Boeing 777 production rates will decline to 5/mo in August 2017. The delivery rate will fall to 3.5/mo. Photo via Google images.
The rate goes to 5/mo. Because of the transition to the 777X, the actual delivery rate will be 3.5/mo.
Leeham Co. was the first in March 2014 to identify a major production gap and predict rates would have to come down significantly from the then-current 8.3/mo. Aerospace analysts on Wall Street began recognizing the gap shortly after.
Read more
52 Comments
Posted on December 13, 2016 by Scott Hamilton
Boeing
777 Classic, 777X, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo
Boeing faces prospect of China’s political wrath thanks to Trump
Subscription Required
Introduction
Dec. 12, 2016, © Leeham Co.: “China Inc.,” the combined group of airlines and lessors directed or controlled by the government, is Boeing’s largest customer, an
China is Boeing largest single customer. Campaign rhetoric of Donald Trump could prompt the Chinese government to retaliate against Boeing, favoring Airbus for orders instead. Rendering via Google images.
analysis of the company’s’ backlog at Dec. 5 shows.
Boeing’s website lists “China” with 292 orders in backlog. Fifty of these appear to by Unidentified orders. LNC arrived at this figure by viewing the Chinese customers in Boeing’s identified list, which amounts to 242 orders. Some believe the number of Unidentifieds attributable to China may be higher.
The data shows just how much Boeing has at risk with the so-far unpredictable foreign trade policy espoused by President-Elect Donald J. Trump.
Summary
Read more
Leave a Comment
Posted on December 12, 2016 by Scott Hamilton
Airbus, Boeing, Premium
Airbus, Bank of China, BOC Aviation, Boeing, Donald Trump, ExIm Bank, Jim McNerney, Richard Nixon
Email Subscription
Associations
Aviation News-Commercial
Commentaries
Companies-Commercial
Companies-Defense
Engines
Resources
YouTube
Archives