Tag: 737MAX

Delta picks Airbus for new 100 jet order

December 14, 2017 / WIL BALDWIN

Delta Air Lines has come to terms with Airbus for a firm order of 100 new A321NEO aircraft, plus options for up to an additional 100 airplanes. Deliveries are set to begin in 2020, and will be used to replace older, less fuel efficient aircraft. Delta will outfit the new aircraft with a total of 197 seats, including 20 in First Class, 30 in Delta Comfort+, and 147 in economy. The new Airbus aircraft will be powered by fuel efficient Pratt & Whitney geared-turbofan engines. The customer experience will feature on-demand inflight entertainment, Wi-Fi, and power ports at each seat. The cabin will feature full spectrum LED cabin lighting, and new bookshelf-style overhead bins that are 25% bigger than the previous Airbus bins. Deliveries are scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2020, and run through 2023.

Delta also announced that its Delta TechOps Center will become a major maintenance, repair, and overhaul center for the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power PW1100G and PW1500G engines. Pratt & Whitney engines will power both the A321NEO and Bombardier CSeries aircraft that Delta has on order. Deliveries of the new A320NEO family have been severly disrupted this year due to the availability of these latest generation engines from the factory. Airbus had previously announced that its earnings took a hit due to delays in receiving the engines for the A320NEO aircraft type. Airbus has since increased the pressure on engine supplier Pratt & Whitney, which is a unit of United Technologies.

Boeing, which lost out on this order with an offering of its latest generation 737-MAX aircraft, may have been hampered by its decision to object to a sale of Bombardier CSeries aircraft to Delta. Following the Boeing claim that the CSeries received unfair state aid from Canada, the U.S. government levied a 300% tariff on those airplanes. Delta has since vowed not to pay the tariff, and has held talks with its partner Aeromexico about taking delivery of those aircraft. Since that airline is based in Mexico, transferring the order to Aeromexico would circumvent the government tariffs.

Southwest Airlines looks to Hawaii

October 6, 2017 / WIL BALDWIN

The rumors are mounting that Southwest Airlines will start flying to Hawaii as soon as 2018. The airline views Hawaii as an important opportunity for growth, with CEO Gary Kelly stating that “Hawaii is a high priority for the company”. It appeared that an announcement was imminent last month, when Southwest Airlines decorated a gate at the San Jose International Airport in California in a Hawaiian motif. The air carrier was also the lead sponsor for the Hawaii tourism summit held in September.

There has been a large increase in communication between Southwest Airlines and Hawaiian government officials and its Tourism Authority. It could be that they are trying to coordinate an official announcement date, as the airline tries to complete the checklist of requirements needed to commence Hawaiian service. These requirements include ETOPS certification and updating their reservations software. ETOPS certification is required to operate twin engine flights over the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the mainland.The software update is required to include overnight flights and reservations windows in excess of the current six month limit.

Southwest Airlines resolved a couple of other outstanding issues last year. The airline and its pilots ratified a new contract, settling a bitter 4 year dispute. That was critical, as the pilots claimed that the old contract did not allow for the pilots to operate the new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft that were on order. That agreement came on the heels of the Southwest flight attendants also ratifying a new contract. The last obstacle before Southwest’s Hawaiian flights can start is performance testing of the airlines new 737 Max 8 aircraft.

Boeing may deliver 737-MAX aircraft early

February 3, 2016 / WIL BALDWIN

There are reports swirling that Boeing may deliver its first 737-MAX aircraft to Southwest Airlines as much as six months early. This would be a massive improvement over the much delayed 787 deliveries. The 787 was derived completely new from the drawing board, as opposed to an upgrade of the existing 737 platform, as is the case with the Max variant. However, Boeing is still claiming that the first 737-MAX delivery is planned for the third quarter of 2017.

boeing-737-max

Delta picks Airbus for new 100 jet order

Southwest Airlines looks to Hawaii

Boeing may deliver 737-MAX aircraft early

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