Leeham News and Analysis
There's more to real news than a news release.
USAF regains tanker competition
Update, May 28: Three KC-767Js are now operational with the Japanese Defense air force. The fourth and final tanker has yet to be delivered. Update, May 26: India reportedly has decided to buy the KC-330 MRTT. It’s widely… Read More
Oil doubles, it’s good for Airbus and Boeing
The price of oil has doubled off its low of only a few months ago, closing Friday (May 23) at around $61bbl. This is actually good news for Airbus and Boeing (and Bombardier and Embraer) as these companies… Read More
777 answer to A350
Flight International has a May 14 story we’ve just seen (we were out of town) about Boeing’s possible response to the Airbus A350-1000. This may be found here. The most interesting thing to us is the timeline: within… Read More
787 program update
Boeing today (May 21) gave aerospace analysts an update on the 787 program at the annual investors’ day. Key points: There are now more engineers working on the -9 than on the -8, a major change; Executing the… Read More
Can split tanker buy save money?
Here is an interesting think piece about the controverisal proposal by some Members of Congress to split the KC-X tanker procurement between Boeing and Northrop Grumman. Aviation Week reports the FAA has certified Boeing’s Wedgetail, the 737-based electronics… Read More
EADS surpasses Boeing
EADS, parent of Airbus, surpassed Boeing last year as the world’s largest aerospace company. With revenues suppressed by the 57 day IAM strike, Boeing slipped to number 2 in a study of 67 companies by Deloitte. If the… Read More
A320 v 737
We’re back from two days at Airbus for its Innovation Days presentations, and the timing couldn’t have worked out better. Less than two weeks before we attended Boeing’s 737 enhancements day, followed by the 787 update day. Both… Read More
Enders on “internationalization”
Tom Enders, the CEO of Airbus, vowed to continue “internationalization” of its production while protecting intellectual property rights and avoiding Boeing’s mistakes with the 787 program. Speaking to a small group of the 90 journalists attending the Airbus… Read More
Airbus sees recovery in 2010
Airbus officials see a recovery in the global economy and passenger traffic next year, they said this week at the Airbus Innovation Days in Hamburg. We were among about 90 journalists to attend the event, formerly known as… Read More
Boeing production cut?
FlightGlobal reported yesterday (May 7) that supplier GKN’s CEO predicted Boeing will cut production next year of the 737 to 21 a month. This would be 32%, roughly in line with a forecast made in January by Steven… Read More