Lion Air’s massive orders continue to raise doubts

The news that Asia’s Lion Air might be planning an order for the Bombardier CS300 energized the media and those that follow the OEM. If Lion Air follows through, this would be a major defection from Airbus and… Read More

Boeing earnings call: 787 accounting block boosted to 1,300

Boeing announced today that the accounting block for the 787 program has been increased by 200 to 1,300. Introduction of the 787-10, boosting the production rate from 10 to 12 to 14 between now and the end of… Read More

Is tide ready to turn for CSeries?

Is the tide ready to turn for the Bombardier CSeries? Following a nine month delay, the CS100 Flight Test Vehicle #1 took to the air September 16. It’s flown only twice since and has been undergoing ground vibration… Read More

757, 737-900ER/9 MAX, A321 replacement should be the next new airplane

The Boeing 757 doesn’t have a true replacement. The Airbus 321neo and Boeing 737-9 fall short. The 9 MAX doesn’t measure up to the A321neo. Boeing has to move toward a program to replace the 757 and the… Read More

Irkut makes 10% fuel advantage claim over NEO, MAX for MC-21

Russia’s Irkurt claims its MC-21 mainline jet, a direct competitor to the Airbus A320/321neo and Boeing 737-8/9 MAX, will be some 10% more economical. Irkut claims the MC-21 will be up to 23% more efficient than the current… Read More

Odds and Ends: Lufthansa’s pending widebody order; MRJ v E-Jet E2; MAXimizing space

Lufthansa’s Pending Order: As we have written on previous occasions, Lufthansa Airlines has been preparing a large order for twin-aisle, twin-engine aircraft: 50 or more. We’d noted that the order was likely due in September. Aviation Week has… Read More

CSeries edges closer to first flight, as payoff for gambles await Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney

The Montreal Gazette did a little digging with Canadian regulators and came up with this interesting piece, deducing the first flight of the Bombardier CSeries will come within the “next 11 days” (the story was dated Aug. 19)…. Read More

China short on re-engine orders, but nearly 400 C919 “commitments”

The Chinese government and airlines have very few orders for the re-engined Airbus A320neo family and Boeing 737 MAX. There are no identified Boeing 737 MAX orders in China and just 19 A320neos. There are 197 Unidentified MAX… Read More

C919 program in trouble

COMAC’s bid to develop a 150-200 passenger jet is in trouble. According to this report, CFM doesn’t plan to proceed with an assembly line within China for the LEAP-1C that will power the C919. Concerns over intellectual property… Read More

Mid-size, Twin-Aisle forecasts: the changing numbers; more Odds and Ends

MId-Size, Twin-Aisle Forecasts: The Blog by Javier has an interesting post about the changing mix in twin-aisle, mid-size aircraft from the Boeing Current Market Outlook over the years. The author works for Airbus, but his opinions and his… Read More