Pontifications: GTF faces steep learning curve on costs

June 13, 2016, © Leeham Co.: The current cost to build the new Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engine is $10m per engine. This has to come down by a factor of five, said Greg Hayes, the… Read More

Irkut MC-21 rolls out

June 9, 2016: Irkut rolled out its challenger to the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800/8 yesterday the MC-21-300. The new airplane is powered by either the Pratt & Whitney GTF or a Russian engine. A report from a… Read More

Airbus aircraft programs in review

By Bjorn Fehrm in Hamburg Introduction May 31, 2016, ©. Leeham Co: Airbus went through a complete review of all their aircraft programs as part of their yearly briefing for media in Hamburg today. A lot was said… Read More

E190-E2’s first flight

May 24, 2016: Embraer’s E190-E2 had its first flight yesterday, several months ahead of the internal schedule (original plan was September) making it the only new airplane program in recent history to be significantly ahead. Boeing’s 737 MAX… Read More

Pontifications: Earnings week for Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer

April 25, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer having their first quarter earnings call this week. Bombardier also has its Annual General Meeting concurrent with its 1Q earnings on Friday. The big anticipation will be… Read More

Alcoa lowers guidance, cites slowing jet sales, production ramp up

April 13, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Alcoa, a major supplier to Airbus and Boeing, lowered its 2016 guidance on anticipated lower demand for aluminum on lower orders for legacy commercial airliners and a slower than expected transition to… Read More

Virgin America does have some attractive attributes

March 29, 2016, © Leeham Co.: A report that JetBlue and Alaska Airlines submitted bids to buy Virgin America spurs the thought: this isn’t as wacky as it appears on the surface. When news emerged last week that… Read More

PW’s Geared Turbo Fan was catalyst for MRJ90 order

March 8, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbo Fan technology was what prompted a used airplane lessor to place its first new airplane order, selecting the Mitsubishi MRJ90 in the process. Jep Thornton is a… Read More

Airbus needs more vertical integration, says official

Subscription Required Introduction John Leahy, chief operating officer-customers. Airbus photo. March 3, 2016, © Leeham Co.: Airbus may well have avoided the supplier-driven delivery delays on its A350s had the company brought some key work in-house and become… Read More

Air Canada orders up to 75 C Series; announced with BBD 2015 financial results

Feb. 17, 2016: The long drought is over. Air Canada has ordered up to 75 Bombardier C Series.The press conference is at 11am EST today. These will replace 25 Embraer E-190s. BBD now has orders and commitments for… Read More