Pontifications: Certification timing may push EIS for 777X

Nov. 2, 2020, © Leeham News: Throughout the 737 MAX investigations and recertification process, former Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said there would be no delay on 777X certification. On Boeing’s earnings call last week, Muilenburg’s successor, David Calhoun,… Read More

Boeing seeks to cut production costs of 787-8 to boost sales

By Scott Hamilton Sept. 2, 2020, © Leeham News: Boeing is considering production changes to the slow-selling 787-8 to lower costs and boost sales. The effort comes at a time when global passenger traffic is at record lows… Read More

R&D spending at Boeing plunges; Airbus yet to kick in

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Introduction Aug. 24, 2020, © Leeham News: Research and development spending at Boeing Commercial Airplanes declined 21% in the first half this year compared with 2019. From 2017 through 2019, BCA’s R&D spending… Read More

Boeing’s big opportunity

Subscription Required Now open to all Readers. By Scott Hamilton Analysis Introduction Aug. 3, 2020, © Leeham News: Boeing has one of the biggest opportunities in decades. This is counter-intuitive, given the disaster it faces with the COVID-19… Read More

How much life is left in the Boeing 737 MAX after recertification?

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Introduction June 29, 2020, © Leeham News: As Boeing narrows in on recertification of the 737 MAX, one of the questions that is unanswered, but forward-reaching is, how much life is left in… Read More

Looking ahead for 2020 and 2030 decades: Airbus

First in a series of reports. Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton and Vincent Valery June 17, 2020, © Leeham News: Airbus was riding high in February. The A321XLR was a clear winner. An important order was won from… Read More

Pontifications: bleak near- to mid-term future for Rolls-Royce engine unit

June 15, 2020, © Leeham News: The jet engine division of Rolls-Royce faces an uncertain future because of its own problems, exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 on commercial airlines. Beset by problems with its Trent 1000, Boeing… Read More

Pontifications: There is no good news

May 18, 2020, © Leeham News: There simply is no good news in commercial aviation right now. Yes, airport traffic is upticking in the USA (and elsewhere) slightly. But in the USA, it’s still less than 10% of… Read More

Bringing back long-haul capacity with narrowbody aircraft

Subscription Required By Vincent Valery Introduction   May 11, 2020, © Leeham News: The timeline for a passenger traffic recovery is highly uncertain. Major OEMs and some airlines expect a return to 2019 passenger traffic levels in two years… Read More

Can the A321XLR fly trans-Oceanic routes, Part 2?

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction March 26, 2020, © Leeham News: We are checking if the Airbus A321XLR is usable for trans-Oceanic routes. It’s a credible trans-Atlantic aircraft, but can it be used effectively over the Pacific… Read More