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Less than two years after Airbus delivered the first A320 Family aircraft from its Airbus A320 Family U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama, the company delivered its 50th aircraft. The A321, designated MSN 7943, was delivered to Delta Air Lines. The milestone was celebrated by the facility’s employees, as well as Airbus Americas Chairman Allan McArtor and members of the Delta Air Lines delivery team. “The 50th delivery is a real point of pride not only for our team here in Mobile, but also for tens of thousands of employees from the hundreds of U.S. suppliers that contribute to these aircraft,” said McArtor. “We said in 2012 that we were going to build Airbus aircraft in the U.S. for our U.S.-based customers. We delivered the first aircraft in 2016, and today we stand here celebrating the 50th. We’ve met our originally announced schedule, and we’ve fulfilled the commitment we made to our customers, our suppliers across the country, and this Gulf Coast community.” Daryl Taylor, Vice President & General Manager of the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility praised the team that builds the aircraft. “Team Mobile’s hard work and dedication have brought us to this milestone. We’ve built a great team who together are building great aircraft, meeting challenges head-on and continually seeking ways to improve.” With the delivery this week, the facility also meets its goal to produce four A320 family aircraft a month – known in the aircraft industry as “rate four.” Airbus has three other A320 Family production facilities around the world: Toulouse, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Tianjin, China. Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 12/18/17

LE BOURGET, France, PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and United Airlines [NYSE: UAL] announced an agreement at the 2017 Paris Air Show to convert 100 of its current 737 MAX orders into 737 MAX 10s, becoming the largest single 737 MAX 10 customer in the world.

United also announced an order for four additional 777-300ER aircraft.

“The 737 MAX 10 will enable us to continue using larger and more efficient aircraft within our domestic network and better meet the needs of our customers today and into the future,” said Andrew Levy, United Airlines executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“The addition of this advanced aircraft to our fleet will enable us to continue to offer the state-of-the-art flying experience our customers expect when traveling with us,” said Gerry Laderman, United Airlines senior vice president of finance, procurement and treasurer. United expects to begin taking delivery of the 737 MAX 10 in late 2020.

United has flown nearly every version of the 737 that Boeing has produced. The new 737 MAX 10 will add to that legacy, providing United with another in a long line of highly successful aircraft.

United has now ordered a total of 18 777-300ERs and began taking delivery of the aircraft last year. The 777-300ERs feature the airline’s all-new United Polaris business class, featuring custom-designed, exclusive-to-United seats, an elevated dining experience, new custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue and new amenity kits.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

LE BOURGET, France, PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Tokyo-based Japan Investment Adviser Co., Ltd., (JIA) [TSE: 7172 announced at the Paris Air Show a commitment to purchase 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8s.

The commitment, valued at $1.12 billion at current list prices, will become JIA’s first direct purchase of new airplanes. The order will be reflected on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website once it has been finalized.

“With its clear performance advantages, the 737 MAX will make a great addition to our single aisle aircraft assets and will diversify our operating lease portfolio,” said JIA president and CEO Naoto Shiraiwa. “We are proud to be here to deliver this message with Boeing and are convinced that the 737 MAX will provide us with a stronger competitive edge to contribute to our existing and future airline clients as an operating lessor.”

JIA is an innovative Financial Solutions Provider, who is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Its Group activities include operating a lease business that manages a fleet of around 60 aircraft worldwide through its operating lease arm, JP Lease Products & Services (JLPS). The current managed fleet includes Next Generation Boeing 737s as well as Boeing 777s.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

LE BOURGET, France, PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for 12 737 MAXs at the Paris Air Show. The MOU includes five 737 MAX 7s and seven 737 MAX 8s.

“With these additional 12 units, ALC’s growing 737 MAX order book now stands at 130 aircraft – and we are placing them rapidly,” said John L. Plueger, Chief Executive Officer and President, Air Lease Corporation. “Clearly the 737 MAX family is a winner for us and for our airline customers.”

“ALC has been a strong supporter of the 737 MAX family since the very beginning,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president, Global Sales and Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 737 MAX 7 will give ALC’s customers the best airplane in that segment, built for long, thin and high-hot routes. The 737 MAX 8 will give them a wide advantage over the competition in the middle of the market.”

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

LE BOURGET, France, PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE: BA] and China Aircraft Leasing Group (CALC) [SEHK stock code: 01848 HK] announced an order for 50 737 MAX airplanes at the 2017 Paris Air Show.

The agreement includes an order for 15 of the new 737 MAX 10, which was launched Monday at the show. This order is CALC’s first direct purchase from Boeing, with a value of $5.8 billion at list prices.

“We are delighted to announce this new engagement with Boeing. This large order of one of the newest and most popular aircraft will support the acceleration of CALC’s business expansion,” said Mike Poon, CEO of CALC. “Over the past decade, CALC has grown from being a market leader in China’s aircraft leasing industry to becoming one of the most important players in the global aviation market, and we are proud of the progress made to enhance and significantly sharpen our financing and placing capabilities. CALC now has a strong team in place that is looking to capture global opportunities, and we are actively expanding and diversifying our fleet portfolio to meet the varying needs of airlines customers in this dynamic market. Our strong order book is a valuable asset that is supporting our global expansion strategy, and we will continue to strengthen our future delivery pipeline in collaboration with aircraft manufacturers, among other aviation partners.”

CALC currently owns a fleet of 89 aircraft. With this new order, its outstanding order book now consists of 139 aircraft, putting the company on track to deliver a total of no less than 230 aircraft by 2023.

CALC has explored a variety of financing channels to ensure flexibility for its global expansion. In addition to its long-standing relationship with Chinese and international banks, CALC has been an active player in the bond market, having issued three batches of senior unsecured bonds in the aggregate amount of US$1.1 billion over the past 18 months. The Group has also made disposal of finance lease receivables a recurrent business, enabling it to efficiently utilize equity and debt financing arrangement.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

LE BOURGET, France, PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) announced a commitment for four 787-8 Dreamliners at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The announcement, valued at $918 million at list prices, will be posted to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website once finalized.

“The decision to order additional 787 Dreamliners represents significant growth opportunities for Azerbaijan Airlines,” said Jahangir Askerov, president of AZAL. “As one of the leading CIS carriers, we look forward to expanding our network with proven performance capabilities that the 787 provides.”

Azerbaijan Airlines is a major air carrier and one of the leaders of the aviation community of the CIS countries. Total route network of the airline is 40 destinations in 25 countries. In 2016, Azerbaijan Airlines carried over two million passengers. Azerbajjan Airlines currently operates two Boeing 787 Dreamliners as well as a fleet of Boeing 757 and 767 airplanes.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

LE BOURGET, France, PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Ryanair finalized an order for 10 additional 737 MAXs at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The order is valued at more than $1.1 billion at current list prices.

The Irish low-cost carrier now has 110 unfilled orders with 100 options for the higher capacity 737 MAX 8, as well as 65 Next-Generation 737-800s.

“We are pleased to announce this purchase of 10 additional Boeing 737 ‘Game changer’ aircraft, on top of our existing firm order for 100 737 MAXs, with a further 100 options remaining,” said Ryanair’s Chief Operations Officer, Mick Hickey. “This all new MAX 737 aircraft has 8 more seats than our current 189 seat Boeing 737-800s and incorporates the latest technology engines and winglets which reduces fuel consumption and noise emissions, ensuring we remain Europe’s greenest, cleanest airline. Ryanair is proud to partner with Boeing and has operated an all-Boeing fleet since 1994.”

Ryanair is an all-Boeing operator and launched the higher capacity 737 MAX 8 in late 2014 with an order for 100 airplanes. The airplane will provide Ryanair with 197 seats, increasing revenue potential and providing airlines like Ryanair with up to 16 percent better fuel efficiency per seat than today’s most efficient single-aisle airplanes.

Ryanair carried 120 million passengers last year with 1,800 daily flights to more than 200 destinations. The Dublin based carrier is the largest 737-800 customer in the world and the largest Boeing operator in Europe. In March this year Ryanair took delivery of its 450th Next-Generation 737-800 and with today’s announcement has ordered a total of more than 640 airplanes from Boeing.

The 737 MAX family has been designed to offer customers exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency, with lower per-seat costs and an extended range that will open up new destinations in the single-aisle market. The MAX 8 and 9 will be followed in 2019 by the smaller MAX 7 and higher capacity MAX 8. The MAX 10 will be introduced in the 2020 time frame.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

Wow air, the Icelandic low-fare carrier, has taken delivery of its first A321neo at a ceremony during the 52nd Le Bourget Paris airshow. The aircraft was officially handed over to the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Skúli Mogensen. The aircraft leased from Air Lease Corporation will join WOW air’s existing all Airbus Fleet of 15 A320 Family aircraft.

The aircraft, powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, is configured in a comfortable 218 seat layout. WOW air’s A321neo will be based at Keflavik airport in Iceland and operate commercial flights from Europe to North America.

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver at least 15 percent fuel savings at delivery and 20 percent by 2020. With more than 5,000 orders received from 92 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured some 60 percent share of the marketmen first A321neo operator in Europe.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa, has placed an order for 10 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft, enabling further development of its fast expanding long-haul route network.

Last June, Ethiopian Airlines became the first African carrier to operate the A350 when it took delivery of the first of 12 aircraft in order. Today the carrier operates a fleet of four A350s, two of which are on lease. Today’s order tops-up the Addis Ababa-based carrier’s fleet, enabling it to pursue its growth strategy and objectives over the coming years.

Ethiopian Airlines’ A350-900s are configured in a two class layout seating 30 passengers in Business Class and 313 in Economy Class. The spacious, quiet interior and mood lighting in the cabin contribute to superior levels of passenger comfort and well-being.

“Operating the youngest fleet in the industry with modern and comfortable customer features in the cabin is one of the four pillars in our 15 years strategic road map, vision 2025, and this order placement for additional A350s is one component of this strategy. The performance, operational and cost efficiencies we have achieved with our initial A350-900s have resulted in these additional ten aircraft order placement and thereby suffice our ever-expanding global network. We will deploy the additional aircraft on our long haul routes connecting Addis Ababa with destinations in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia,” explained Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/26/17

After announcing orders for 30 incremental Airbus A321ceo aircraft just last month, Atlanta, Georgia (U.S.)-based Delta Air Lines has placed an order for 10 more of the aircraft. The agreement was announced at the Paris Air Show.

Like previous Delta orders for the A321, the 10 aircraft announced are for the Current Engine Option version of the largest Airbus A320 Family member. The airline took delivery of its first A321 in March of last year. Delta now has ordered a total of 122 A321s, each powered by CFM56 engines from CFM International.

“The A321 is fast becoming a favorite aircraft of our customers and employees alike,” said Greg May, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Supply Chain Management and Fleet. “Its excellent operating economics and customer capacity also make it a great fit for our U.S. domestic network.”

All of Delta’s A321s feature fuel-saving Sharklets – lightweight composite wingtip devices that offer up to 4 percent fuel-burn savings. This environmental benefit gives airlines the option of extending their range up to 100 nautical miles/185 kilometers or increasing payload capacity by some 1000 pounds/450 kilograms.

Many of Delta’s A321s are being delivered from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama. The airline received its first U.S.-manufactured A321 last year. By the end of 2017, the Airbus facility in Mobile is expected to produce four aircraft per month, most going to Airbus’ U.S. customers.

As of the end of May, Delta was flying a fleet of 188 Airbus aircraft, including 146 A320 Family members and 42 A330 widebodies. Later this year, Delta will become the first U.S. airline to operate the new Airbus A350 XWB, or extra Wide Body aircraft. Delivery of Delta’s first A350 is slated for this summer.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/23/17

Viva Air, the Latin America low cost carrier group owned by Irelandia Aviation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 50 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 35 A320neo and 15 A320ceo. The agreement paves the way for the group’s airlines VivaColombia and Viva Air Peru to base its fleet renewal and network growth on the A320 Family.

“Our customers are at the forefront of everything we do. This new fleet will allow us to continue leading the development of the low cost model throughout Latin America. We will be able to offer even lower fares thanks to further cost savings that these new aircraft will deliver,” said William Shaw, CEO and Founder of VivaColombia, a Viva Air company.

Viva Air recently launched Viva Air Peru, the sister airline of VivaColombia. Medellin-based VivaColombia operates nine A320 aircraft and Lima-based Viva Air Peru currently operates two, all with a capacity of 180 seats.

Viva Air is a Panamanian headquartered group created by Irelandia Aviation and led by Declan Ryan. Irelandia has successfully developed six low cost carriers around the world, namely Allegiant, Ryanair, Tigerair, VivaAerobus, VivaColombia and most recently Viva Air Peru. Combined, the airlines have a fleet of more than 420 aircraft and have carried over a billion passengers.

Source Airbus  / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/23/17

Dublin based CDB Aviation Lease Finance DAC (CDB Aviation) has become Airbus’ latest customer for the A320neo signs a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 45 aircraft, consisting of 30 A320neos and 15 A321neos. Cabin configuration and engine choice will be made at a later date. In addition, 15 A320neo positions from CDB Aviation’s previous order will be converted to A321neo aircraft.

“We are investing in the A320neo because we believe our customers will benefit from such an advanced aircraft. These aircraft will strengthen our overall aircraft portfolio and assist in the growth of our customer base,’’ said Peter Chang, CDB Aviation President & CEO. “Today, our leasing platform is based on a strong funding source, strong team with global reach.”

CDB Aviation is on a fast track to becoming one of the world’s premier Chinese-owned aviation leasing companies.

Source Airbus / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/23/17

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft announced today, from the International Paris Air Show, that it has signed an agreement with Philippine Airlines, Inc. for the exercise of its seven Q400 aircraft purchase rights. This latest rights exercise brings Philippine Airlines’ total firm order to twelve Q400 aircraft. The original order for five firm Q400 with purchase rights for an additional seven was previously announced on December 8, 2016.

Based on the list price of the Q400 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately US $ 235 million. “The Q400 aircraft have helped airlines around the world expand their networks, and capture new opportunities” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

“As we position ourselves for growth, we are pleased to be adding more Q400 to our fleet,” said Jaime J. Bautista, President & Chief Operating Officer, Philippine Airlines. “We are thrilled about the opportunities that lie ahead, and we look forward to offering more capacity and improving connectivity in the region with comfortable, fast and efficient regional aircraft like Bombardier’s 86-seat turboprops.”

The flag carrier of the Philippines is expected to take delivery of the world’s first dual-class, 86-seat Q400 aircraft in July 2017. Including this latest order, Bombardier has now recorded a total of 585 Q400 aircraft on firm order.

Source Bombardier Commercial Aircraft / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/19/17

Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) signed a Framework Purchase Agreement of 30 C919 aircraft with EverBright Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. in Beijing on June 13th, 2017. Thus, COMAC had 24 domestic and foreign customers of C919 aircraft and secured a total of 600 orders.

Mr. Zhang Jinliang, President of China EverBright Bank (CEBB), Mr. Zhang Huayu, Vice President of CEBB and Chairman of EverBright Financial Leasing, Mr. Pan Mingzhong, President of EverBright Financial Leasing, and Mr. Tian Min, CFO of COMAC, attended the signing ceremony.

The first flight of C919 on May 5th was salient and inspiring, and was a milestone in the history of China’s aviation industry. EverBright Financial Leasing would support the development of the China-made civil aircraft as always, and would accelerate the development of China’s aviation manufacturing and transportation industry with the opportunity of the take-off of C919. EverBright Financial Leasing would continue to develop more extensive and in-depth cooperation with COMAC on the research and development, domestic and overseas marketing, etc. of the aircraft.

EverBright Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. is a national financial leasing company jointly established by China EverBright Bank, Wuhan New Harbor Construction & Investment Development Group Co., Ltd., and Wuhan Rail Transit Construction Co., Ltd. subject to the approval of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, and is a subsidiary of China EverBright Bank which has a 90-percent stake. It was incorporated in May 2010 with a registered capital of 3.7 billion yuan, and the registered place is Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Source COMAC / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/19/17

LE BOURGET, France, June 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing [NYSE:BA] and the Lion Air Group today announced a commitment for 50 737 MAX 10 airplanes at the 2017 Paris Air Show. The announcement, valued at approximately $6.24 billion at list prices, will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website once finalized.

“The 737 MAX family of airplanes is the perfect combination of single-aisle aircraft for the Lion Air Group, with their new level fuel-efficiency as well as range and capacity capabilities,” said Lion Air Group President Edward Sirait. “The Lion Air Group was first in the world to put the 737 MAX 8 into service and the first to order the 737 MAX 9, and we continue to lead the way again with this commitment for 50 737 MAX 10s and help launch the latest version of the 737.”

The Lion Air Group is one of the world’s largest Next-Generation 737 operators and previously ordered 201 MAXs. The airline is also the launch customer of the 737 MAX 9 and its subsidiary, Malaysia-based Malindo Air was the first airline to take delivery and operate the 737 MAX 8 in commercial service.

“Boeing is honored that the 737 family of airplanes continues to play an integral role in the Lion Air Group’s fleet and growth strategy,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister. “This commitment is a testament to the capabilities of the 737 MAX family of airplanes and we look forward to delivering both the 737 MAX 9 and MAX 10 to them in the coming years.”

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 06/19/17