Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
Leeham News and Analysis
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- 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
Airbus confirms A380plus study
June 18, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Airbus today confirmed what’s been reported for the better part of two weeks: it’s studying aerodynamic and other improvements to the A380 to make it more attractive to airlines.
LNC first detailed the prospect of a new winglet and interior improvements June 12.
Airbus calls the study for an enhanced airplane the A380plus. With the aerodynamic changes, the most notable of which is the 4.7 meter high winglet, plus more seating, Airbus projects a 13% economic improvement.
Early results show MAX performance better than forecast
June 18, 2017, © Leeham Co.: It’s too soon to draw conclusions, but early indications of in-service operations of the Boeing 737-8 MAX are that it’s slightly bettering performance expectations.
Boeing delivered its first 737-8 MAX May 16 to Lion Air’s Malindo Air subsidiary.
Malindo Air Boeing 737-8 MAX. Photo via Google.
Keith Leverkuhn, VP and GM of the MAX program, said the long-range delivery flight of Malindo’s first MAX impressed the pilots with how little fuel was burned, but the in-service, short-haul operation is too young to draw any definitive conclusions about fuel consumption.
However, early indications are that fuel burn is better than forecast. The engines are the new CFM LEAP-1B.
Dispatch reliability is also meeting plan, he said.
Leverkuhn made the remarks in advance of a media tour of the new MAX 9 and the Boeing 787-10, both on display for the first time at the Paris Air Show.
Commercialized C-130 beats rivals, crew says
June 18, 2017, © Leeham Co.: The commercial offering of the venerable Lockheed Martin C-130J, the LM-100J, is here at the Paris Air Show, along with its rivals, the Embraer KC-390 and Airbus A400M.
The crew with Lockheed Martin waves off the competition.
Neither competitor can match the LM/C-130, they say.
A view around the Paris Air Show
June 17, 2017, (c) Leeham Co.: It’s surprising that many hall and chalet exhibits are still in a state of construction as LNC walked around the Paris Air Show Saturday, but we’ve noted this before.
Meanwhile, here are a few photos:
Bjorn’s Corner: Keeping airliners operational. Part 9.
Bjorn Fehrm
June 16, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: This week we finish our analysis how an operator would keep our tentative airline operational. By now we know the maintenance of the fleet is a critical part of running an airline.
If we miss a beat from our approved operator’s maintenance plan, our airworthiness authority can ground us.
We now finish the series with looking at how some cost-heavy parts are kept fit. We then summarize our costs for keeping our Airbus A320s flying.
Figure 1. The first modern maintenance program was formed around the Boeing 747. Source: Wikipedia.
LNC is off to the Paris Air Show
June 15, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Leeham News and Comment is off to the Paris Air Show.
Coverage will begin Sunday, with several events in advance of the show’s official opening Monday. We’ll be there through Thursday, with the end-of-show press conference by Airbus.
We provided a full preview May 22 for our paywall customers.
Here’s an update, in an abbreviated version:
MC-21 and C919 compared. Part 3.
By Bjorn Fehrm
Subscription required.
Introduction
June 15, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: We continued the comparison of Irkut’s MC-21 and COMAC’s C919 last week with an analysis of the cabins and systems. The week before, we compared project time plans, structures and aerodynamics.
Now we finish with an analysis of the economics of the aircraft.
Summary:
- The MC-21 is the more advanced aircraft of the two. It uses carbon composites for the wings and empennage.
- Coupled with more refined aerodynamics, the MC-21 offers a higher efficiency than the more classical C919.
Digital technology key to future airplane programs
June 14, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Increasing use of digital technology will be one of the stories to watch at the Paris Air Show, says the consulting firm Accenture.
Airbus and Boeing are expanding their use of digital technology. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg told Aviation Week digital will be a key role in development of the next new airplane as a way to reduce costs.
Airbus applied digital technology to the A350 development. But its next new airplane will, like Boeing, be the program to really benefit.
Enders: Airbus has to change
By Bjorn Fehrm
June 14, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: Airbus Group has to change, following the example of SpaceX and similar cultures favoring disruptive technology, says CEO Tom Enders. Staying the same is not an option.
Enders, speaking at the Airbus Media Days last week in advance of the Paris Air Show next week, said Airbus has seen disruptive technologies turning the table on some of its best businesses. This must not happen to its core business in the commercial airplanes unit.
Pivotal year for A380
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Introduction
June 12, 2017, © Leeham Co.: This is a pivotal year for the Airbus A380.
Sales have dried up. Singapore Airlines is retiring five early versions of the airplane and there is no new home for them—these may headed for the scrap heap.
The Middle Eastern carriers, which are the largest users for the airplane, are in turmoil.
The backlog remains weak. Aside from Emirates Airline, which as noted is in turmoil, the other orders are with carriers that are unlikely to take delivery.
Summary
- The A380’s future rests with Emirates Airline.
- Any Performance Improvement Package is dependent upon Emirates placing a new order.
- Boeing’s new 20-year forecast eliminates the passenger 747-8 from the Very Large Aircraft sector. Airbus continues to forecast a need for 1,400 VLAs.
- Airbus to decide this year whether to reduce production rate below 1/mo in 2019.