Norwegian, others have vision; US airlines don’t

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Introduction

Dec. 5, 2016, © Leeham Co. Last weeks’ approval by the US Department of Transportation of a license for Norwegian Air Shuttle to operate long-haul, low-cost service to and from the US drew immediate fire from labor unions over anticipated US job losses.

Iceland's Loftleider Airlines, one of the first trans-Atlantic low-cost carriers. Photo via Google images.

Iceland’s Loftleider Airlines, one of the first trans-Atlantic low-cost carriers. Photo via Google images.

But their view is too narrow.

It means more jobs for Boeing and its supply chain, which are also heavily unionized. It means benefits to US exports.

But overlooked is the next evolution in long haul travel that starts next year.

Summary
  • Legacy airlines always object to new competition. It doesn’t matter when or from where.
  • Open skies and free market is a great concept—until someone actually takes advantage of it.
  • The 737 MAX and A321neo present new threats to US airlines.
  • Lack of vision and foresight are the US airlines’ own worst enemy.

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Resurgence for ERJ-145

Note: Nov. 24 and 25 are Thanksgiving Holidays in the US. Our next post will be Monday.

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Introduction

Nov. 23, 2016, © Leeham Co.: The 50-seat regional jet market is dead.

That’s the conventional wisdom.

Well, not quite.

Embraer ERJ-145 is finding new life with regional airlines.

Embraer ERJ-145 is finding new life with regional airlines.

Piedmont Airlines, a unit of American Airlines, is adding the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 to its fleet. Eleven joined so far and next year the company plans to add 24 more.

CommutAir, an operator for United Airlines, is adding the same aircraft type to its fleet. Forty of them.

Why the mini-resurgence?

Low fuel prices and cheap airplanes.

Summary
  • 50-seat regional jets were considered economically obsolete with high fuel prices.
  • Sustain low prices provided a boost to the Embraer ERJ-145.
  • Bombardier’s CRJ-200 hasn’t seen a similar resurgence.

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Airbus, Boeing deferrals may indicate slowing global economy

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Introduction

Boeing 737 flightline at Boeing Field: 737s awaiting delivery. Seattle Times photo via Google images.

Boeing 737 flightline at Boeing Field: 737s awaiting delivery. Seattle Times photo via Google images.

Nov. 17, 2016, © Leeham Co.: The deferral by United Airlines of 65 Boeing 737-700s announced Tuesday caused some observers to conclude this has a negative impact on the manufacturer, but this may well overlook a larger issue.

UAL is the latest “quality” airline to announce deferrals to reschedule capital expenditures or because of not needing the aircraft now.

Softening yields, particularly among US airlines, indicate over-capacity despite load factors of 85% or more, say industry observers.

While the backlogs of Boeing and Airbus remain solid today, do the actions of several major airlines indicate the leading edge of a global economy that’s beginning to soften?

Summary

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CSeries out of London City Airport, Part 2. UPDATED 2017.01.24

By Bjorn Fehrm

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Introduction

This article, which was published on the 14 November, has been updated with new information from Bombardier. The range of the CS100 from London City airport has increased due to improved performance from the aircraft and a new engine version with more thrust, the PW1535G engine.

November 14, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: In the last article about operating the Bombardier (BBD) CS100 from London City Airport (LCY), we could see that the runway is about half the length of an international airport’s runways. This will have a significant impact on the Take Off Weight (TOW) that can be used when commencing a route from London City.

aerial_view_of_london_city_airport_2007

Figure 1. London City airport, housed in the docklands of London’s east end. Source: Wikipedia.

The manufacturers have data in their aircraft brochures that state that one should be able to takeoff with e.g. the CS100 at Maximum Take Off Weight (MTOW) from a runway which is 1,463m/4,800ft long. London City Airport’s runway is 1,508m/4950ft long, so then things should be fine?

No, the figures from the OEMs is the planning figure for actual runway used and London City airports usable take-off Runway is given as 3,934ft. In addition there is 394ft stopping distance available.

To understand how this can be used required a bit of information that we did not have at the time of writing the original article. Some of the information we used was not up to date and we did not use the strongest engine available (PW1535G) when analyzing if an operator could fly direct between New York from London City.

Bombardier came to our help and we have now been able to update the data with which to feed our performance model. This shows among other things that it’s possible to operate a direct connection between London City airport and New York, given that the number of passengers (the payload) is restricted to around 50 passengers or below.

We have revisited the two cases, SWISS European operations from London City and how would a direct operation London-New York work. You find the updated article below.

Summary:

  • London City Airport puts special requirements on the aircraft serving it.
  • It puts stringent requirement for takeoff and approach/landing.
  • We use new information and our performance model to present what routes can be served with a CS100 from the London City Airport.

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Clouds overhang Bombardier ahead of earnings call

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Introduction

Nov. 9, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Bombardier reports its 3Q2016 and nine month earnings Thursday and as the year prepares to enter its last 45 days, disappointment hangs over the company and the stock.

Summary
  • Despite winning firm orders for the CSeries from Air Canada and Delta Air Lines early in the year, no other new orders have been announced.
  • Deliveries of the CSeries will only be about half those projected, due to engine delivery delays from Pratt & Whitney.
  • The $1bn investment from the federal Canadian government hasn’t been achieved, but an announcement may come as early as next week that an agreement has been reached.
  • Boeing revised the design of the 737-7 to sit “right on top of” the CS300.
  • Embraer (Brazil) is taking the government bailout of CSeries to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in inquiries, with the USA lending support.

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CSeries out of London City Airport

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Introduction

By Bjorn Fehrm

November 07, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: When we visited Bombardier (BBD) in Montreal recently, we learned new information about how the CSeries would operate from London City Airport. This unique airport served 4.3m passengers last year and have expansion plans for more passengers up to 2030.

Bombardier’s first CSeries operator, SWISS Airlines, configured all its CS100 aircraft to operate from London City. This requires special engine selections and certification of aircraft and crews. The certification of the aircraft, CS100 is ongoing and will be finished at the turn of the year.

aerial_view_of_london_city_airport_2007

Figure 1. London City Airport, housed in the docklands of London’s east end. Source: Wikipedia.

We take a look at what is required for London City and how far the CS100, appropriately configured, can serve destinations from this special airport. We will use a combination of Bombardier data and our own performance model to reach the conclusions.

Summary

  • London City Airport put special requirements on the aircraft serving it.
  • The CSeries will be one of the most potent types allowed at London City.
  • We use BBD data and our performance model to understand at what range destinations can be served.

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Boeing sees wide-body market recovery from 2020

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Introduction

Nov. 3, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Boeing may have solved its pressing problem of largely filling the production gap for the 747-8, but there is still a long way to go for the

Boeing 777X. Boeing's view of the wide-body market has shifted. Once it thought a strong market through 2020. Now it sees recovery in demand from 2020. Boeing photo via Google images.

Boeing 777X. Boeing’s view of the wide-body market has shifted. Once it thought a strong market through 2020. Now it sees recovery in demand from 2020. Boeing photo via Google images.

777.

Boeing Co. CEO Dennis Muilenburg said last week the production rate for the 777 Classic may need to come down another 1-2 per month from the previously announced 5.5/mo if sales don’t pick up.

Despite a pending order for 15 from Iran Air and the perpetual sales campaigns, Muilenburg otherwise painted a picture about wide-body demand that is anything but rosy.

Summary

  • Boeing no longer sees strong demand for wide-bodies through this decade. Recovery won’t resume until the start of the next decade.
  • Thus, successfully bridging the 777 Classic to the 777X becomes more challenging.
  • Investors yawn at more potential 777 production rate cuts.

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UPS order tops off 747-8 line through 2020

UPS Boeing 747-8F. Source: Boeing.

UPS Boeing 747-8F. Source: Boeing.

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Introduction

Oct. 31, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Last week’s order for 14 Boeing 747-8Fs and 14 options by UPS assures continuation of the program through 2020.

If options are exercised, and if previously announced deals with other customers finally are consummated, the program should continue at least well into the 2020 decade.

Summary

  • UPS (but not Boeing) revealed the delivery timeline for the order.
  • The mysterious Volga-Dnepr/AirBridgeCargo that was announced at the Paris and Farnborough air shows for up to 20 747-8Fs still hasn’t been firmed up. Only four are listed on the Boeing website this year.
  • Iran Air will order four 747-8s under the reported terms of the agreement with Boeing. The US government blessed the deal recently.
  • The first of three 747-8s for the presidential fleet is now scheduled for delivery in October 2017, it’s believed.

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Less desirable aircraft for lessors

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Introduction

Part 3: Oct. 24, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Lessors select aircraft to add to their portfolios based on several basic criteria:

  • Is it a good airplane?
  • How are the economics?
  • Is there, or will there be, a broad customer base?
  • How “liquid” is the airplane?
  • How broad is the customer base?
  • Reconfiguration costs.
  • Commercial terms of the acquisition.

Lessors often conclude that while an airplane may be good technically and perfectly acceptable for airline use, failure to meet their specialized key criteria—notably liquidity and customer base—they may pass on the aircraft.

Summary

  • A surprising number of in-production jets and those in development don’t make a lessor’s list of desirable leasing assets.
  • The planes all are technically good aircraft.
  • Markets may evolve for some of the aircraft on the list.

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Seventeen new, derivative aircraft to see EIS through 2020

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Introduction

Delivery of the first Bombardier CS300, to AirBaltic, next week kicks off entry-into-service for 17 airplanes through 2020. Bombardier photo.

Delivery of the first Bombardier CS300, to AirBaltic, next week kicks off entry-into-service for 17 airplanes through 2020. Bombardier photo.

Oct. 20, 2016, © Leeham Co.: The past decade was a hive of activity as the Big Four OEMs launched new airplane programs and put the aircraft into service.

Airbus launched the A320neo, A330neo and A350 families. The A330neo is under production; the other two entered service early this year.

Boeing launched the 787 in late 2003 (outside the decade mark), rolled it out in 2007 and entered service with it in 2013. The 737 MAX was launched in 2011 and is in flight testing. The 777X was launched in 2013; components are in production.

Bombardier launched the CSeries in 2008; it entered service this year, after three years of delays.

Embraer launched the E-Jet E2 om 2013. Flight testing began this year.

New Entrants

These were supplemented by new entrants into commercial aviation: COMAC with its C919; Irkut with the MC-21; and Mitsubishi with the MRJ90. Of these, only the MRJ90 is flying. After more than two years of delays and several false starts, flight testing began in earnest this week at Moses Lake (WA) with FTA-1 (Flight Test Aircraft 1).

Development and new program launches have slowed, but the next decade is hardly going to be idle.

Summary

  • Seventeen new aircraft or derivatives are scheduled to enter service through 2020.
  • Five potential derivatives might see EIS through the same period.
  • Three to five new or potential derivative aircraft might see EIS 2021-2025.

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