First flight for Boeing’s KC-46A tanker program launched Sunday

Dec. 28, 2014: Boeing launched the first flight of its KC-46A tanker program on Sunday. The flight, with a 767-2C and not a tanker-configured KC-46A, was with what’s known as EMD 1. EMD stands for Engineering, Manufacturing and… Read More

EU files subsidy complaint over 777X WA State tax breaks; we raised issue at the time

The European Union has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over $8.7bn in tax breaks offered by Washington State to Boeing in exchange for locating the 777X assembly site and wing production plant in the state…. Read More

Odds and Ends: U-Turn Al does it again, delays A350; rate cuts for 747-8, A330; A380 future delivery

A350 delivery delayed: U-Turn Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways, has once again become a pain in the tailpipe to an OEM. The delivery of the first Airbus A350-900, set for Saturday, has been indefinitely postponed. Qatar… Read More

737 MAX 8 could be enabler for some LCC Long Haul

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton and Bjorn Fehrm Introduction Figure 1. Nominal range of 737 MAX 8 from Oslo Source: Great circle mapper, Boeing. Click on Image to enlarge Dec, 8, 2014:The Boeing 737-8 MAX is the successor… Read More

Boeing and Washington State; and: Congressional meddling may threaten KC-46A

The Washington State Legislature may consider implementing a mechanism to track the benefits of the Boeing 777X tax incentives granted last year, according to the on-line news service Crosscut. Boeing opposes the measure, according to the report.

Boeing remains confident it will fill 777 production gap; cash flow to remain strong

Dec. 3, 2014: Boeing remains “confident” it will be able to bridge the 777 Classic production line at current rates to the introduction of the 777X in 2020, including some “feathering” of the two airplanes. Boeing president and… Read More

Air Canada: 787s have 29% lower costs than older 767s (before the latter’s reconfiguration)

Dec. 2, 2014: Air Canada says its new Boeing 787s will have 29% lower fuel, maintenance and per-seat costs than the old Boeing 767-300ERs being replaced. Part of this is because the 787s seat more passengers. But the… Read More

Oil heading toward $40? Economist still thinks so, with caveats; and: NTSB issues 787 battery report, Azul’s A320/CFM order

Dec. 1, 2014: Adam Pilarski, an economist for the consulting firm Avitas, predicted several years ago that the price of oil would drop to $40bbl. Few believed him. Oil hit $66 this week, on a steady decline over… Read More

Odds and Ends: E-175s for Alaska; AirAsia X and Norwegian Air; Production rates

Nov. 25, 2014: E-175s for Alaska Airlines: SkyWest Airlines of the USA, a provider of contract service to several US carriers, ordered seven Embraer E-175s for planned service for Alaska Airlines. Simultaneously, Alaska announced new service from its… Read More

Odds and Ends: No Boeing response to A321neoLR; After DL loss, Boeing wins Kuwait; It’s ‘huge’

No response to A321neoLR: Reuters reports that Boeing isn’t going to respond to the Airbus A321neoLR, the airplane intended to be a bonafide replacement for the Boeing 757. “We are very happy with where the MAX 9 sits… Read More