India’s Spicejet big turnaround

May 2, 2018, © Leeham News: Spicejet, the Indian low-cost airline, in its 2016-2017 Annual Report (to March 31) didn’t mince words or try to parse over its troubled history: “Back after near shutdown. Restoring confidence. Organisational restructuring…. Read More

32 Boeing 787s are AOG due to Rolls-Royce Trent issues; number will climb

April 27, 2018 © Leeham Co.: There are 32 Boeing 787s grounded because of problems with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-C engines and the number will rise “a bit,” LNC has confirmed. The US Federal Aviation Administration and Europe’s… Read More

Is Long-Haul LCC viable? Part 4

By Bjorn Fehrm April 24, 2018, © Leeham News: In the third article about Long-Haul LCC and if it’s a viable business, we described the operational costs for typical aircraft used by a Long-Haul LCC. We now look… Read More

Engine makers may face stiffer future ETOPS certification requirements

Subscription Required Introduction April 23, 2018, © Leeham News: Even before last week’s Southwest Airlines accident raised the focus on aircraft engines, industry officials were becoming worried that problems with engines powering the Boeing 747-8, 787, 737 MAX… Read More

Boeing faces 787 deliveries slow down with Rolls-Royce problems; earnings call April 25

April 21, 2018 © Leeham News: On the eve of the Boeing first quarter earnings call Wednesday, the company faces a slow-down in 787 deliveries at a time when it is gearing to ramp up production to 14/mo… Read More

Air Canada sees secondary airport need for NMA

Special to Leeham News  By Olivier Bonnassies Airfinance Journal April 16, 2018, (c) Airfinance Journal, Montreal: Air Canada sees the potential of a new midsize aircraft (NMA) in its fleet to avoid congested airport. “There is a difficulty… Read More

FAA AD may severely limit ETOPS of some RR-powered 787s: sources

April 14, 2018, © Leeham News: An airworthiness directive from the US Federal Aviation Administration is expected as early as Tuesday that could severely restrict flight operations some of Rolls-Royce-powered Boeing 787s. The AD is expected to require… Read More

Narrowbody and Widebody engine developments

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction April 12, 2018, © Leeham News: In an article yesterday about Long-Haul LCC costs we observed how the new Narrowbody engines are catching up to the fuel efficiencies of the Widebody engines…. Read More

Boeing’s strategy to de-risk design, production

Subscription Required Introduction April 2, 2018, © Leeham News: Boeing’s painful experience the with the development, design, production and grounding of the 787—costing billions of dollars in overruns and penalties with a delay of nearly four years—led to… Read More

Spies and industrial spying

By Scott Hamilton March 27, 2018, © Leeham News, Bainbridge Island (WA): The unexpected US order to close the Russian Consulate in Seattle this week set off a media frenzy in this city because two reasons cited were… Read More