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 27. June 20, 2025
- Pontifications: A Personal Note June 19, 2025
- Airbus books 142 firm orders as Boeing retracts from the Paris Air Show June 19, 2025
- AIN Media Group Agrees to Acquire Leeham News & Analysis June 17, 2025
- Five for Five: Air India crash points to systemic problems at Boeing that CEO Ortberg must fix June 15, 2025
Pontifications: Next steps in Boeing-Bombardier trade complaint
By Scott Hamilton
Sept. 18, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The US Department of Commerce is due next Monday to hand down its preliminary decision on whether to impose tariffs on Bombardier’s C Series sold to Delta Air Lines.
The price dumping complaint, filed by Boeing earlier this year, cleared the US International Trade Commission on a 5-0 vote. The ITC found probable cause (my words) to proceed with the complaint. From there, investigation shifted to the DOC.
- Update: Boeing UK responds to UK criticism.
- Update: Bombardier responds to Boeing’s response.
The details are complex and need not be recapped here. What is important are the next steps, assuming—as widely expected—DOC sides with Boeing.
Bjorn’s Corner: Electric aircraft, Part 12
By Bjorn Fehrm
September 15, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: Last week we compared the energy economics of our 10-seater electric commuter to an equivalent commuter with gas turbine power.
Now we dig a bit deeper in the operational costs of the two aircraft. Is the electric commuter cheaper to operate over short sectors than a gas turbine driven variant? For the energy costs, it could be the fact. What about other operational costs?
The commuter designs we discuss would be similar to the Zunum Aero 10-seater commuter in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Zunum Aero’s short-haul turbofan commuter. Source: Zunum Aero.
Pratt & Whitney Canada continues development of new airliner turboprop
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Introduction
Sept. 14, 2017, © Leeham Co., Montreal: The prospect of a clean-sheet design turboprop to replace the Bombardier Q400 and ATR series likely has moved to the right by two to three years,
Frederic Lefebvre, Pratt & Whitney Canada.
and the total market remains small, but Pratt & Whitney Canada is forging ahead with development of the next generation engine.
- Update: Embraer is considering reentering the turboprop market, reports The Wall Street Journal.
The goal is to reduce fuel consumption by 15%-20% compared with today’s ubiquitous PW127 and PW150, which continue to see reductions in fuel burn through product improvement packages.
Frederic Lefebvre, VP-Marketing for Regional Airlines, now sees development of the new turboprop slipping to 2022-2026 compared with previous forecasts of an EIS in 2020-2023.
Summary
- The Next Generation Regional Turboprop (NGRT) has major challenges to improve upon the current generation of engines.
- PWC sees a much larger market for a 90-seat turboprop than others.
- Emerging markets key to new opportunities.
Bombardier concedes likely loss in trade complaint, looks to next phase
Sept. 14, 2017, © Leeham Co., Montréal: Bombardier officials conceded Tuesday that they are likely to lose the price dumping complaint filed by Boeing with the US Department of Commerce.
Fred Cromer. Photo via Google images.
This is the phase in which DOC determines if tariffs (penalties) should be imposed because Bombardier sold its CS100 to Delta Air Lines at a price so low it constitutes dumping under US law. Boeing is asking the department to impose a tariff of 79%, the difference between the sales price estimated by Boeing (which Bombardier and Delta dispute) and the production cost. Boeing cited LNC’s cost estimate, which was made before BBD wrote off several billion dollars of the program and cut costs through a financial restructuring.
Boeing ignored the well-known fact (which itself experiences) that production costs for early orders exceed sales price. DOC seems unlikely to make this distinction, based on filings reviewed by LNC.
A preliminary decision is expected Sept. 25.
Boeing to boost 787 rate to 14/mo
Sept. 13, 2017, (c) Leeham Co.: Boeing announced today it will boost the production rate of the 787
to 14/mo in 2019, confounding analysts who believe the rate is not warranted.
LNC‘s own analysis agrees. The backlog through Aug. 31 is 700, down 20 airplanes from Dec. 31. The book:bill rate has not exceeded one since 2013.
The rate is not sustainable, LNC believes, beyond 2020.
British PM seeks Trump help in Boeing-Bombardier complaint
Sept. 12, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Montreal: Bombardier is holding a media day today and an investors day Thursday, focusing on its commercial airplane division.
Theresa May
Today The Times of London revealed that British Prime Minister Theresa May called President Donald Trump asking him to intervene in the trade complaint by Boeing over the Bombardier C Series.
The story is largely behind a paywall, but other outlets picked up the story.
May is concerned because Bombardier makes the C Series wings in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom.
A preliminary decision on the complaint is due from the US Department of Commerce Sept. 25. LNC and most others predict a decision in favor of Boeing.
Boeing asked Commerce to impose penalties of more than 79% under each of two provisions concerning anti-dumping, the basis for Boeing’s complaint.
Assessing the United A350-900 order
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Introduction
United Airlines last week returned to the Airbus A350-900 it originally ordered. It will replace Boeing 777-200ERs beginning in 2022. Image via Google.
Sept. 11, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The deal last week between United Airlines and Airbus was a winner for the carrier and a mixed win for the OEM.
Boeing was also a mixed winner.
Summary
- United was in the best position to come out ahead, and it did.
- Airbus kept a high-profile US customer, but the A350-1000 program took a hit.
- Boeing’s strategy of putting 777-300ERs into United hurt the A350-1000, but UAL remained an A350 customer.
Pontifications: Boeing’s sense of invincibility
By Scott Hamilton
Sept. 11, 2017, © Leeham Co.: I can’t help but get the feeling that Boeing feels it’s invincible these days.
And why not?
Boeing racked up some impressive victories and took some hardline positions in recent months that move it forward for its corporate goals.