Here’s why Boeing won’t do a “757 MAX”

Feb. 12, 2015, c. 2015 Leeham News and Comment: Boeing appeared to put to bed once and for all any prospect of reviving the 757 to fill a product gap between the 737-9 and the 787-8. Randy Tinseth,… Read More

Regional operations with the Turboprop, prop-jet or Jet

We examined the future of turboprop airliners Jan. 5, 2015, analyzing the backlogs of Bombardier and ATR–and the ATR overwhelming dominance of the current turboprop sector. This is the second of a series looking at this sector. By… Read More

Exclusive: Emirates Airlines gets pitch for 100 Boeing 747-8s

Update, 3:30pm PST: For those who may not be adept at reading literally what was written, we did not say Boeing made the pitch. Feb. 4, 2015: In a pitch designed to save the Boeing 747-8 and simultaneously… Read More

First analysis of Mitsubishi Regional Jet, MRJ

Subscription required By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction 25 Jan 2015: Japan has not produced a commercial aircraft since 1973, when the last YS-11 twin engined turboprop rolled off the assembly line. The YS-11 was developed by a consortium of Japanese “heavies,”… Read More

Fundamentals of airliner performance, Part 6; The engine

By Bjorn Fehrm 19 Jan 2015: There is a lot written about the fundamentals of how aircraft fly. It is something that fascinates people and it generates a high level of understanding of these fundamentals. The same is… Read More

Airbus reveals record orders at annual press conference

By Bjorn Fehrm Toulouse 13 Jan 2015: Airbus today held their annual press conference where they among other things revealed their final numbers for orders and deliveries. The press conference was hosted by Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier accompanied by COO… Read More

A380neo decision likely this year, triggering the next widebody engine project

Subscription required By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction Jan. 12, 2015: One of the subjects which is sure to come up on Airbus annual press conference on Tuesday the 13th in Toulouse will be when and how Airbus will re-engine the A380…. Read More

Aging Boeing 757 engines skew operating expenses

Jan. 8, 2015: Engines on the aging fleet of Boeing 757s are a key reason operating costs of this rather unique airplane are between 20% and 30% more than a Boeing 737-9 or an Airbus A321neo. “The thing… Read More

Airbus/Boeing duopoly single-aisle is safe well into 2030 decade

Subscription Required Introduction Dec. 28, 2014: Two challenges to the duopoly of Airbus and Boeing in the 150-220 seat single-aisle sector move forward in development in 2015, but neither is in a position to be a threat for… Read More

Looking ahead in 2015 in commercial aviation

Here’s a visualization of events to look for in commercial aviation in 2015.