Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Leeham News and Analysis
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- Does an Airbus A220-500 need a new wing and engines? May 1, 2025
From war to partner: Airbus and the CSeries
John Leahy
Oct. 18, 2017, © Leeham Co.: It was the annual media day in 2010 that Airbus declared war on the Bombardier CSeries.
Lufthansa Group in 2009 was the launch customer of the CSeries with an order for 30 CS100s and options for 30 more.
Bombardier had won a major order from Republic Airways Holdings, which then owned Frontier Airlines, an exclusive A319/320 operator. Republic ordered 40 CS300s and optioned 40 more. It was this order that spurred Airbus’ wrath. It was this order that would push Airbus into launching the re-engined A320neo family.
John Leahy, Airbus COO-customers, and Tom Williams, then EVP of programs, declared to the assembled international media that Airbus would aggressively compete against Bombardier.
Now, seven years later, Airbus and Bombardier are partners.
What has Airbus got in the CSeries?
By Bjorn Fehrm
October 18, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: Bombardier and Airbus changed the airliner landscape yesterday. Analysts say it’s the largest industry change since Boeing bought McDonnell Douglas in 1997.
So, what has Airbus bought for no money? A me-too, or a world-beater?
Assessing the Airbus-Bombardier deal
Oct. 17, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The Airbus-Bombardier transaction announced yesterday has implications well beyond the United States, which has been much of the focus of analysis post-announcement.
The analysis focused on the US is natural, given the Boeing trade complaint involving the CSeries sale to Delta Air Lines.
But it’s important to step back to see what this means for CSeries.
Airbus-Bombardier CSeries deal means no tariffs on US-assembled aircraft, says CEO
Oct. 16, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The stunning Airbus-Bombardier partnership for the CSeries program guarantees the future of the new airplane, kills off the A319 and thrusts a big stick up Boeing’s tailpipe.
Boeing won big victories in its trade complaint filed with the US government, winning 300% tariffs on every CSeries imported into the US, throwing into doubt a big deal with Delta Air Lines for up to 125 aircraft.
Airbus buys majority stake in CSeries–details to come
Press Release
Airbus and Bombardier Announce C Series Partnership
Airbus to acquire majority stake in the C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership
Partnership brings together two complementary product lines, with 100-150 seat
market segment expected to represent more than 6,000 new aircraft over the next 20
years
Combination of Airbus’ global reach and scale with Bombardier’s newest aircraft family
to create significant value for customers, suppliers, employees and shareholders
Significant C Series production costs savings anticipated by leveraging Airbus’ supply
chain expertise
Commitment to Québec: C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership headquarters and
primary assembly to remain in Québec, with the support of both companies’ global
supply chains
Airbus’ global industrial footprint expands with the C Series Final Assembly Line in
Canada, resulting in a positive impact on operations in Québec and across the country
Growing market for C Series results in second Final Assembly Line in Mobile,
Alabama, serving U.S. customers.
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.
Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft drag reduction
By Bjorn Fehrm
October 06, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: In the last several Corners, we wrote about research around laminar flow for aircraft. It’s research to lower the aircraft’s drag. Why is this important? How large are the different drag types and what can be done about them?
To find out, we will spend some Corners looking into the drag of an aircraft and what is done to optimize the drag for different aircraft types.
Figure 1. The “Blade” equipped A340-300, researching into lower drag for an airliner. Source: Airbus.
Shakeout for Europe’s low-cost airlines
By Bjorn Fehrm
October 11, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: Alitalia, Air Berlin and now Monarch have all filed for insolvency since the start of 2017. These are all airlines with an emphasis on low cost flying, with an important leisure part. Alitalia and Air Berlin had histories as network carriers, which hasn’t helped.
What happened in summary; When the European low-cost market got rough, their cost levels weren’t tough enough.