Singapore 777-9 order pressures, but does not kill A380

Feb. 16, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Last week’s order by Singapore Airlines for 20 Boeing 777-9s and 19 Boeing 787-10s immediately was viewed by some as the death knell for the Airbus A380. The 777-9 order would start… Read More

Norwegian’s risky fleet expansion

By Bjorn Fehrm Subscription Required Introduction February 15, 2017, © Leeham Co.: In our review of Norwegian Air Shuttle last week (Norwegian from now on), we pointed out the company’s relatively weak balance sheet. It’s considerably weaker than… Read More

Long, bitter history precedes union vote at Boeing Charleston today

Feb. 15, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Boeing’s touch-labor workers at its 787 assembly plant in North Charleston (SC) will vote today on whether to become represented by the International Association of Machinists (IAM). It’s a vote with huge… Read More

Analyst puts Sell on Boeing stock in unusally bearish report

Feb. 13, 2017, © Leeham Co.: In an extraordinarily bearish research note, boutique Buckingham Research Group (BRG) downgraded Boeing stock to Underperform (Sell) from Neutral (Hold) today. BRG, which agrees with other aerospace analysts that Boeing stock is… Read More

Assessing the MC-21 future

Subscription Required Introduction Feb. 9, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Russia’s Irkut designed a mainline jet to compete with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families that, from a passenger experience Irkut MC-21 at roll-out. Photo via Google images…. Read More

Pontifications: Alaska’s A321neo test drive

Feb. 13, 2017, © Leeham Co.: It was subtle, but it was there: Alaska Airlines will take the Airbus A321neo for a test drive. This will happen via its new sibling, Virgin America, which has 10 A321neos on… Read More

Bjorn’s Corner: Aircraft engines in operation, Part 4

February 10, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: We now continue our journey how an airline engine is operated during a typical mission. Last week we explained basics for engine control and Take-Off flat-rating. We now continue with Climb, Cruise and… Read More

Norwegian, from regional to mainline competitor

By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction February 8, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: When SAS (Scandinavian Airlines Systems) canceled Norwegian Air Shuttle’s (NAS) contract to feed its Norwegian network 2002, it had no idea the former feeder would almost run it out… Read More

Assessing the future of COMAC programs

Subscription Required Introduction Feb. 6, 2017, © Leeham Co.: China’s effort to become a viable commercial aerospace alternative was filled with rocky fits and starts for its two signature airliner programs, the AVIC ARJ-21 and the COMAC C919…. Read More

United: the road back

By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction February 1, 2017, ©. Leeham Co: A headline from one year ago read: “UNITED’S QUEST TO BE LESS AWFUL: A bungled merger. A corruption scandal. Three CEOs in a year. But hey, at least the snacks… Read More