Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Leeham News and Analysis
- Bjorn’s Corner: Air Transport’s route to 2050. Part 19. April 25, 2025
- How good is the C929? Part 2. April 24, 2025
- Boeing First Quarter Results Update: China is 10% of the backlog, with 500 in “Unidentified” April 24, 2025
- Boeing First Quarter Results: Tariffs, Return flights, $10.55bn asset sale April 23, 2025
- RTX Q1 2025 Earnings: GTF Talk Takes A Back Seat To Tariffs April 22, 2025
Economics of CS300 versus A319neo and 737 MAX 7
By Bjorn Fehrm
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Introduction
October 18, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: We looked at what Airbus got when it acquired Bombardier’s CSeries yesterday. Now we continue the analysis by looking at the economics of Bombardier’s CS300 versus Airbus A319neo and Boeing 737 MAX 7.
The CS300 has entered service and A319neo is flying in tests. The 737 MAX 7 will fly next year, for a service entry 2019.
We use our aircraft performance model to compare the aircraft.
Summary:
- The A319neo has 126 seats in our normalized domestic cabin, the CS300 132 seats and the 737 MAX 7 138 seats.
- The CSeries is more fuel efficient, both on a trip basis and on a per seat basis, than the smaller A319neo and the larger 737 MAX 7.
- On a total cost basis, the CS300 is the lower cost aircraft (as long as normal net pricing prevails, it’s best to add). Read more
Trump decertifies Iran nuke deal, throws Airbus, Boeing orders in doubt
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Introduction
Oct. 16, 2017, © Leeham Co.: President Donald Trump announced Friday he will decertify the Iran nuclear deal, throwing into doubt a host of related commercial deals, including huge aircraft orders.
Iran Air Airbus A330. Photo via Google.
Trump hasn’t gone so far as to withdraw from the pact, but he still threatens to do so unless Congress makes changes he wants.
Here in the US, focus is, of course, on the commitment by Iran for Boeing aircraft—none of which are firm contracts, but “commitments” to order.
Of less focus here, if any, is on the outstanding orders placed by Iran for Airbus and ATR aircraft, which are subject to US licensing.
Summary
- 30 Boeing 777s, including 15 Classics are at stake.
- 50 Boeing 737 MAXes to Iran Air and 30 to Iran Asesman are also at stake.
- ATR has 11 aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2018.
- Airbus sold 114 A320s/321s, A330s and A350s to Iran Air. A few white tails already have been delivered.
Boeing’s Bold Ambition, Part 2
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Introduction
Oct. 9, 2017, © Leeham Co.: When Boeing launched the 787 program in 2003, an after-market maintenance program called Gold Care followed.
It wasn’t successful. Few customers signed up for it.
Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Global Services.
But the lessons learned are important for Boeing’s drive to vastly expand its presence in the global commercial airplane after-market business.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Defense, Space & Security (and the latter’s predecessor, Integrated Defense Systems) provided services to the airlines, lessors and government customers, but now there is a dedicated business unit.
Boeing Global Services was announced nearly one year ago, on Nov. 21. When Boeing reports its third quarter earnings at the end of this month, for the first time revenues and profits for BGS and its predecessors will be a line-item in the earnings statements.
Stan Deal, the CEO of BGS, acknowledged the poor start of Gold Care in an interview with LNC. But from this unhappy experience, Boeing learned what officials hope lays the foundation of a new, robust business.
Summary
- 787 Gold Care didn’t start out well.
- Gold Care is rejigged and rebranded.
- BGS services Airbus aircraft, too.
Airbus preparing to hike A350 production rate
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Introduction
Oct. 5, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Airbus is gearing up to increase the production rate of the A350 from 2018’s planned 10/mo to 13/mo, perhaps as early as the following
year, LNC has learned.
The move follows Boeing’s announcement in September that it will increase the production of the 787 from the current 12/mo to 14/mo in 2019.
Airbus is producing the A330 at a rate of 6/mo.
American hopeful Trump Administration will take on Mid-East 3 airlines
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Introduction
Oct. 2, 2017, © Leeham Co., Grapevine (TX): American Airlines officials dodged commenting about the specifics of the Boeing-Bombardier trade dispute when asked about it at the investors/media day last week in this Dallas suburb.
Instead, the general counsel, Steve Johnson, offered up only a general statement supporting the Trump Administration’s hard line on trade.
The reason for this generality is obvious: American, along with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, is engaged in its own trade war and needs support from the Administration.
AA, DL and UA are battling Big Three airlines from the Middle East over being subsidized and abusing Open Skies treaties. The US carriers want Trump to knock down the ME3, Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways.
Oddly, no question was asked of the American officials about the current state of the battle during the day.
LNC asked American CEO Doug Parker about the issue following the event, however.
Summary
- Recent meeting with US was encouraging.
- No commitment yet from Trump Administration.
- Market conditions don’t matter to ME3, American says
Airbus is working on a 7,000nm A330-900
By Bjorn Fehrm
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Introduction
September 28, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Airbus is working on increasing the range of the larger variant of the A330neo to 7,000nm. The present version, A330-900, flies 287 passengers 6,550nm, according to Airbus.
The range increase, which comes about from a take-off weight increase, is designed to make the A330-900 more of a competitor to the best-selling Boeing 787-9.
But the Airbus 7,000nm is not comparable to the 787-9’s 7,635nm with 290 passengers. The companies disagree on most principles on how to measure an airliner’s maximum range.
We use our aircraft model to weed out the differences and tell what is the comparable capabilities of the new A330-900neo variant compared with its main competitor, 787-9.
Summary
- The A330-900 is capable of transporting 287 passengers 7,000nm when using Airbus rules.
- When using rules closer to the ones used by airlines, the range is shorter.
- We apply airline rules to A330-900 and 787-9 and compare their capabilities using our performance model.
Read more
VLA sector dead, Boeing claims, but Large Wide Body also struggles
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Introduction
Sept. 26, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Boeing declared the Very Large Aircraft sector dead in its most recent Current Market Outlook, removing the category entirely when the 2017 CMO was revealed at the Paris Air Show.
Airbus A350-1000. Sales are slow–is the 350-450 seat sector the next VLA? Airbus photo.
But the Large Wide Body (LWB) category appears to be on life support.
The LWB is 350-seats and above. This includes the Boeing 777-300ER, which is already on its way out, the 777-8, the 777-9 and the Airbus A350-1000.
The Medium Wide Body (MWB) category centers around 300 seats. This includes the A330-900, A350-900, 777-200LR and 787-10.
The Small Wide Body (SWB) includes the 787-8, 787-9, A330-200 and A330-800 in the 220-275 seat sector, twin-aisle aircraft. This does not include the 220-240 seat high density Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737-10 single-aisle aircraft.
Boeing’s CMO defines the twin-aisle markets differently: Small wide-body: <300 seats, Large wide-body: >300 seats.
Summary
- Airlines prefer smaller wide bodies.
- Downsizing trend begun with 787 continues.
- Smaller outsells larger in seven of last 10 years.
- Two of the three years involved extraordinary events.
Boeing’s bold ambition
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Introduction
Sept. 25, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The ambitious plan of Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg to grow after-market services from today’s $14bn in revenues to $50bn in 5-10
Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing Global Services.
years was announced nearly a year ago—Nov. 21.
Boeing Global Services, or BGS, combines separate operations in Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BCA and BDS respectively).
The growth depends on a combination of improving its current operations, growing organically and through mergers and acquisitions.
Wall Street aerospace analysts generally regard the timeline as ambitious.
In an interview with LNC, the CEO of BGS, Stan Deal, agreed.
Summary
- Muilenburg’s bold ambition.
- The next 100 years.
- Creating a value proposition.
Assessing the 25 YOA aircraft factor
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Introduction
Click on image to enlarge.
Sept. 21, 2017 © Leeham Co.: Airbus and Boeing look ahead to 2021 and the next several years when wide-body aircraft begin turning 25 years old to spur orders for this sector.
Boeing specifically points to this period as one reason for the announcement last week that it will boost production of the 787 to 14/mo beginning in 2019.
Summary
- There already are 1.4 times more wide-body airplanes scheduled for delivery in 2021-2025 than there are aircraft turning 25 years old.
- The next surge in aging aircraft comes ~2030.
- Middle of the Market aircraft isn’t factored in.
Assessing the 787 production rate increase
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Introduction
Sept. 18, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Boeing last week announced it will take the production rate of the 787 from 12/mo to 14/mo in 2019.
Boeing 787-9. Source: Boeing.
The decision to do so was couched in a strong backlog and strong forthcoming demand by CEO Dennis Muilenburg at a Morgan Stanley conference.
But analysts think the move is more about boosting free cash flow and hitting margins than it is about demand.
Summary
- Boeing sees demand surging from 2019 for widebodies generally and the 787 specifically.
- Muilenburg says Boeing is working “skyline” positions in 2019 and 2020 (LNC saw these years as already filled).
- Widebody jets hitting 25 years old early next decade.
- Airbus concurs.