Showing posts with label 737 - Max. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 737 - Max. Show all posts

14 March, 2024

Boeing's records of who worked on the doorplug that blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet deleted

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy has written a letter to a Senate committee that is investigating the Alaska Airlines 737 MAX doorplug blow out on 5th January, informing them of Boeing's lack of records.

Homendy stated that the NTSB doesn’t know who worked on the panel that blew off a 737 MAX 9 because Boeing’s CEO told her that he couldn’t provide the information because the company has no records about the job.  “The absence of those records will complicate the NTSB’s investigation moving forward,”

Homendy told senators last week that the NTSB asked Boeing for security camera footage that might help identify who worked on the panel in September, but was told the video was overwritten after 30 days — months before the blowout. Boeing delayed weeks before providing the names of 25 employees that work on doors at the manufacturer's Seattle facility, only handing over the information after Homendy had started giving her statement.  

Former Boeing whistleblower found dead


Police are still investigating the death of a former Boeing employee and whistleblower, John Barnett. Initial reports indicated that Barnett had died from what appeared to be "self-inflicted" gunshot wounds on 9th March.  

Airlines try to leverage Boeing woes despite lack of alternatives

United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 10.
Airline executives are frustrated with Boeing as its safety crisis has upended their business plans. But in a tight market for large aircraft supplied by two companies, they have little choice but do business with the U.S. planemaker, reports Rajesh Kumar Singh from Reuters.

Despite some public displays of alarm - United Airlines  CEO Scott Kirby flew to France to talk with Airbus as Boeing's latest crisis erupted - carriers are still negotiating new plane orders, looking to leverage Boeing's delays to secure better terms.

Boeing's delivery schedule faces extended delays following a Jan. 5 mid-flight cabin blowout that exposed problems with safety and quality control in its manufacturing processes. But rival Airbus already has a backlog of orders that makes shifting over a non-starter.

Instead, airlines are adopting a variety of strategies to try to stay in the game with Boeing, using orders of one type of plane as a placeholder to possibly take deliveries of a different model. They also are negotiating harder, looking to use production delays to get discounts from the planemaker on new orders and compensation for financial losses.

"Boeing customers don't have much option but to stick with Boeing whether they like it or not," said Scott Hamilton, managing director at aviation consulting firm Leeham Company.
Kirby has been among the most vocal in expressing frustrations with Boeing. He met with Airbus after regulators grounded all of United's Boeing 737 MAX 9 fleet and put a big question mark over certification of the larger variant MAX 10, which was due for deliveries this year and was to be the cornerstone of United's fleet.

07 March, 2024

NTSB investigating 'stuck' rudder pedals on United Airlines 737 MAX jet

NTSB investigating 'stuck' rudder pedals on United Airlines 737 MAX jet
Investigators at the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board  -  NTSB are looking into another incident involving the troubled 737 MAX aircraft, following an incident when the rudder pedals stopped working on a United Airlines plane last month.

The aircraft was performing flight UA1539, from Nassau, Bahamas, to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on 6th February 2024 when the incident occurred.  According to the preliminary report,  before the aircraft had reduced to taxing speed,  the rudder pedals for both the captain and the first officer stopped working. "The captain used the nose wheel steering tiller to keep the airplane near the runway centerline while slowing to a safe taxi speed before exiting the runway onto a high-speed turn-off," the report documented.  


The flight data recorder showed that the rudder surface position remained near its neutral position as the plane landed and during its rollout, despite the crew putting force on the rudder pedals, which was increasing.  The report said "Significant pedal force input was observed along with corresponding rudder surface movement. Afterward, the rudder pedals and rudder surface began moving as commanded and continued to function normally for the remainder of the taxi."  

737 MAX plane maker Boeing issued a statement this week,  "We worked closely with United Airlines to diagnose the rudder response issue observed during two 737-MAX 8 flights in early February. With coordination with United, the issue was successfully resolved with the replacement of three parts and the airplane returned to service last month."






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04 March, 2024

American Airlines has placed an order for 85 Boeing 737 MAX jets.

American Airlines orders Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets
Boeing is celebrating a new order from American Airlines for its troubled 737 MAX jets, just at a time when the manufacturer needs some good news. 


It was confirmed today, that the U.S. mega-carrier is amending a previous order for 737 MAX 8 planes to the bigger version of the type the MAX 10. Plus it is further ordering 85 aircraft, with an option for another 75 MAX 10 jets.  

"Over the past decade, we have invested heavily to modernize and simplify our fleet, which is the largest and youngest among U.S. network carriers," said American's CEO Robert Isom. "These orders will continue to fuel our fleet with newer, more efficient aircraft so we can continue to deliver the best network and record-setting operational reliability for our customers."

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 can carry up to 230 passengers and is said to offer a range of up to 3,100 nautical miles with a full load. 

The whole MAX programme has been beset with problems since its inception and maiden flight back on 29th January 2016. Two fatal crashes of this type - Lion Air Flight 610 in late 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in early 2019, took the lives of 346 leading to a worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX jets.  More recently, loose and missing bolts on door plugs have been found after urgent inspections were carried out after an Alaska Airlines' jet suffered a major blowout mid-flight. The programme has also suffered from issues relating to fuel tank debris, wing spur cracks, misaligned holes, fuselage quality issues and supply chain delays are all taking their toll. 

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Monday that an audit into Boeing and supplier Spirit AeroSystems regarding the 737 MAX programme found multiple instances where the companies allegedly failed to comply with manufacturing quality control requirements. There were "non-compliance issues in Boeing’s manufacturing process control, parts handling and storage, and product control."

Last week, the FAA ordered Boeing to develop and present a comprehensive plan to address "systemic quality-control issues within 90 days.  







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26 February, 2024

Ryanair may have to cut summer flights due to further Boeing delays

Ryanair may have to cut summer flights due to further Boeing delays, reports Joanna Plucinska of Reuters. 

Ryanair will receive even fewer Boeing aircraft by the end of June than previously expected, CEO Michael O'Leary said on Friday, potentially causing the budget carrier to cut its summer schedule at the busiest time of the year.

The Dublin-based airline is the first in Europe to warn of disruption due a deepening crisis at Boeing, which has been mired in a regulatory audit and has been prohibited from ramping up 737 MAX production since the Jan. 5 mid-air panel blowout of a new Alaska Airlines MAX 9.

Ryanair was due to receive 57 Boeing MAX 8-200 planes by end-April, but just over a week ago Boeing told the airline it would receive around 50 aircraft by end-June, O'Leary said. That could now change.  "We don't really know how many aircraft we're going to get from Boeing," O'Leary told a media briefing. "We're pretty sure we're going to get 30 to 40. We're reasonably confident we're between 40 and 45. And now we are far less confident we're going to get between 45 and 50."

In a statement to Reuters, Boeing confirmed it had told some airlines that deliveries could be delayed as the company ensures planes meet all regulatory standards.  "We deeply regret the impact this is having on our valued customer Ryanair," Boeing said. "We're working to address their concerns and taking action on a comprehensive plan to strengthen 737 quality and delivery performance." 

The delays mean Ryanair might have to remove some flights from its summer schedule, O'Leary said, cutting capacity for what is expected to be a record summer of travel.  "If we only get 40, by the end of March we will have to announce some minor schedule cuts," he said.  That means Ryanair is likely to carry only 200 million passengers for the financial year beginning in April, versus the 205 million previously forecast.  Further capacity constraints could make the carrier less competitive against low-cost rivals like easyJet,  Ryanair's stock has risen by a quarter over the past two years, making it the best-performing European airline as the industry rides a post-pandemic boom in travel.

06 February, 2024

Four bolts missing from door plug of Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9...

The U.S. FAA has confirmed that not one, not two, not three, but four bolts used to hold a door plug on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet belonging to Alaska Airlines were missing, allowing the door panel to fall off during a flight in January.

The U.S. Safety Board investigating the incident said that evidence released this week shows bolts were missing from the door plug, which had been removed to fix rivets that were damaged in the production process.

The NTSB had previously remained silent on the cause for the panel to rip off during a flight operated by Alaska Airlines, but now it has confirmed that "The investigation continues to determine what manufacturing documents were used to authorize the opening and closing" of the plug during the rivet rework,"  The troubled aircraft had recently experienced pressurisation warnings on previous flights had climbed to around 16,000 feet following departure from Portland, Oregon.

The NTSB said it had been focused on how this panel or door plug which is fitted into a number of Boeing 737 MAX 9 models as a replacement for an optional emergency exit - detached from the Alaska Air plane. The report indicates that the plug is held down by four bolts, and then secured by "stop fittings" at 12 different locations along the side of the plug and the door frame.

26 January, 2024

Boeing's MAX production issues ripple across aerospace industry

Boeing's troubles with its 737 MAX jets are upending the aerospace industry's 2024 plans,
changing airlines' fleet and expansion goals as U.S. regulators froze production of the best-selling jets.

The FAA ramped up scrutiny of Boeing after a frightening Jan. 5 incident when a cabin panel tore off of an Alaska Airlines jet mid-flight. The plane landed safely with only minor injuries to people on board - but that experience has forced the industry to grapple with problems with Boeing's manufacturing and quality control processes.


The FAA late Wednesday froze increases in production of the single-aisle 737 MAX due to the issues, which have frustrated executives dependent on Boeing, one of only two major global plane manufacturers.

"Boeing needs to get their act together," said American Airlines CEO Robert Isom. "It is hard enough running an airline. We need quality product, and that's what we demand."

The FAA's order means Boeing can continue producing MAX jets at its current monthly rate, but it cannot increase that rate. It offered no estimate of how long the limitation would last and did not specify the number of planes Boeing can produce each month.

The FAA's unprecedented intervention in production schedules could further delay some deliveries of new planes to airlines and hurt suppliers already reeling from an earlier MAX crisis and the pandemic.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun told Reuters on Thursday that he supported the FAA decision. "We all want safe airplanes. This is a safe aeroplane," he said in Washington, where he has been meeting with U.S. legislators.

08 January, 2024

United Airlines finds loose bolts during inspections of 737 MAX 9 planes....


United Airlines says it has found bolts in need of "additional tightening" during inspections of Boeing 737 MAX 9 which had been removed from service following the blowout of a doorplug on an Alaska Airlines aircraft last week. 

United Airlines said it believed these to be "installation issues" relating to door plugs and these will be "remedied" before the aircraft type can return to operational use. 

"Since we began preliminary inspections on Saturday, we have found instances that appear to relate to installation issues in the door plug - for example, bolts that needed additional tightening." the statement said. 

The grounding of the 737 MAX 9 jets has caused United to cancel over 200 flights as of Monday and the U.S. mega-carrier expects a significant number of cancellations on Tuesday.  "We have been able to operate some planned flights by switching to other aircraft types, avoiding about 30 cancellations each on Monday and Tuesday,". 



Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 had three previous pressure warnings before blowout flight.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said today that the Boeing 737 MAX 9 that suffered a blowout had been restricted by the carrier, Alaska Airlines from doing long flights over water because of three previous warnings of potential pressurization problems

According to Homendy, the warning light illuminated on three different occasions - 7 December, 3 January and 4 January leading the airline to restrict it from operating flights to Hawaii or other long flights over water so the 737 MAX 9 “could return very quickly to an airport” if the warning light reappeared

Whilst it is unclear if the previous warnings were connected with the incident on Friday when a plug covering an unused emergency exit door blew off the plane as it flew over Oregon.  The door plug is 26 by 48 inches and weighs 63 pounds / 28.5 kilograms. The NTSB confirmed the lost door plug had been found in the garden of a teacher from Portland and would soon be examined by investigators.

Homendy also said that the depressurization and rush of air damaged a number of seats, pulled insulation from the walls, and caused the cockpit door to flew open. She said the force of air also ripped the headset off the co-pilot and the captain lost part of her headset. A quick reference checklist flew out of the open cockpit. The cockpit doors are supposed to be incredibly strong and locked at all times during a flight following the 9/11 hijackings, so shouldn't have been able to be opened by the wind. 

 Aviation services provider AAR Corp confirmed that it had worked on the aircraft for Alaska Airlines, but had not worked on that area of the aircraft.  "AAR was contracted by Alaska Airlines to perform a 2KU Modification (WiFi modification) on the aircraft that was performed from Nov. 27 to Dec. 7, 2023," AAR said in a statement on Monday. 

Airlines have now been cleared to carry out urgent checks on the 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets that are in service after Boeing issued detailed instructions on Monday, which were approved by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. These checks, rapidly introduced before the cause of the plug blowing out is known are said to take between 4 and 8 hours could be an indication of the pressure being brought by the manufacturer to stem the damage to the reputation of the MAX series of aircraft. 

 




Cockpit voice recorder data on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet which lost a panel mid-flight on Friday was overwritten.....

The cockpit voice recorder data on the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet which lost a panel mid-flight on Friday was overwritten, U.S. authorities said, renewing attention on an industry call for longer in-flight recordings. By Valerie Insinna, David Shepardson and Lisa Barrington for Reuters. 

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy said on Sunday no data was available on the cockpit voice recorder because it was not retrieved within two hours - when recording restarts, erasing previous data.

The U.S. requires cockpit voice recorders to log two hours of data versus 25 hours in Europe for planes made after 2021.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has since 2016 called for 25-hour recording on planes manufactured from 2021.

"There was a lot going on, on the flight deck and on the plane. It's a very chaotic event. The circuit breaker for the CVR (cockpit voice recorder) was not pulled. The maintenance team went out to get it, but it was right at about the two-hour mark," Homendy said.

The plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were sent to NTSB labs on Sunday to be read but no voice data was available, she said.

07 January, 2024

Boeing 737 MAX - US grounds some Boeing MAX planes for safety checks following Alaska Airlines aircraft suffers blowout


U.S. regulators on Saturday temporarily grounded 171 Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliners for safety checks following a cabin panel blowout that forced a new Alaska Airlines jet carrying passengers to make an emergency landing, reports Reuters. 

A piece of fuselage tore off the left side of the jet as it climbed following takeoff from Portland, Oregon, en route to Ontario, California, on Friday, forcing pilots to turn back and land safely with all 171 passengers and six crew on board.

Several passengers suffered injuries. The plane had been in service for just eight weeks.

Late on Saturday, both Alaska Air and United Airlines (UAL.O) said they would halt use of some MAX 9 planes they had resumed using that day after inspections they believed would answer the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s concerns.

Alaska said it was in talks "to determine what, if any, further work is required before these aircraft are returned to service."

The FAA decision is well short of the global grounding of Boeing (BA.N) MAX jets almost five years ago after two crashes that killed nearly 350 people.

Still, it is a blow to Boeing as it tries to recover from back-to-back crises over safety and the pandemic under heavy debt.

The FAA did not rule out further action as a probe began into the apparent structural failure, which left a rectangular hole in an area of fuselage reserved for an optional extra door but which is deactivated on Alaska's aircraft.

The Boeing 737 MAX 9s fitted with a special door replacement "plug" cannot fly until they are inspected and repaired if necessary, the FAA said.

"The FAA is requiring immediate inspections of certain Boeing 737 MAX 9 planes before they can return to flight," FAA chief Mike Whitaker said.

Social media posts of the Alaska Airlines jet showed oxygen masks deployed and a portion of the aircraft's side wall missing.

A section of the fuselage reserved for the optional door had vanished, leaving a neat door-shaped gap. The seat next to the panel, which contained an ordinary window, had been unoccupied.

10 December, 2023

Boeing delays 737 ramp up.

Boeing has signalled to suppliers that plans to ramp up production of its bestselling 737 narrowbody jetliner will move about two months more slowly than originally anticipated, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The U.S. planemaker now expects it will produce 42 of its 737s per month starting in February 2024, according to a new master schedule that Boeing briefed to its suppliers over the past week, the sources said, reports Valerie Insinna, Reuters. 


Both Boeing and its European rival Airbus (AIR.PA) have laid out ambitious plans to increase production, particularly for popular single-aisle models, to meet soaring customer demand. However, both planemakers have had to battle supply chain bottlenecks and production disruptions.

Analysts had already suspected Boeing would alter its on-paper schedule, which targeted the end of 2023 to reach 42 jets produced per month, after a supplier error slowed ramp-up plans this autumn.

The new schedule pushes subsequent rate increases as well, shifting Boeing's plan for 47.2 jets a month from June to August 2024, while its target to increase 737 production to 52.5 jets a month was moved from December 2024 to February 2025.

21 November, 2023

WestJet confirms summer services between Halifax and Dublin, Edinburgh and London will return next year.


The Canadian airline WestJet has confirmed it will restart seasonal services between  Halifax and Dublin, Edinburgh and London next year.


WestJet Vice-President External Affairs, Andrew Gibbons said:  "In service of our valued relationship with the province, airport, partners and guests, we are thrilled to resume service between Halifax and Europe, strengthening the region's critical connections to global hubs, tourism and business economies. The celebration reaffirms our commitment to the city of Halifax and surrounding region, bringing to life our promise of bolstering leisure travel options in Atlantic Canada and further connecting our guests with the people and places they love most."

WestJet Route

Frequency

Start Date

Departure

time (local) 

Arrival time

(local) 

Halifax – London

(Gatwick)

4x/week

April 28

11:00 p.m.

9:04 a.m.

London (Gatwick)

- Halifax 

4x/week

April 29

11:00 a.m.

1:46 p.m.

Halifax – Dublin

4x/week

June 19

10:30 p.m.

7:55 a.m.

Dublin – Halifax

4x/week

June 20

9:30 a.m.

11:32 a.m.

Halifax –

Edinburgh* 

3x/week

June 20

10:40 p.m.

8:04 a.m.

Edinburgh –

Halifax* 

3x/week

June 21

9:30 a.m.

11:38 a.m.

*New route not previously operated 


"WestJet has connected Halifax Stanfield and key European destinations for several years, and we're thrilled they plan to offer three non-stop transatlantic routes again next summer," said Joyce Carter, President & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority. "Dublin and London Gatwick were popular routes in the past, both for Atlantic Canadians and Europeans, and we're delighted to add Edinburgh to our route map in 2024."

"We are thrilled to see the return of WestJet's non-stop flights to these key destinations. Europe is an important market for Nova Scotia, and direct flights play a key role in leveraging these markets as people want to spend less time in transit and more time at their destination. The return of these routes help connect us to the global marketplace, bring new investment, support tourism growth and promote our province as a great place to visit, live and invest," said Honourable Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Economic Development.

"We are delighted West Jet is renewing its commitment to Halifax and the Martimes by adding new direct flights across the pond, a valued travel destination for so many, with the promise of a boon for tourism in our region. Kudos to Joyce Carter and her team for the exceptional work to increase air access to and from Halifax Stanfield International Airport," said Mayor Mike Savage.

20 November, 2023

WestJet powers intercontinental expansion

Leading Canadian airline, WestJet has announced an expansion of its European summer 2024 network. Propelled by its growing 737 MAX fleet, the airline reintroduced sought-after service connecting Eastern Canada and Europe and introduced new service from Calgary to Reykjavik (Keflavik). As WestJet continues to strengthen its presence in Western Canada, the airline is also enhancing its 787 Dreamliner hub, increasing frequencies for international routes and adding daily exclusive service to Japan.

"Today's announcement underscores our commitment to affordably connecting Canadians from coast-to-coast to some of the world's most popular destinations," said John Weatherill, WestJet Group Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial Officer. "As we continue to expand upon our growth story, we are not only providing increased accessibility to Canadians but fostering crucial connectivity between communities and driving economic growth through inbound leisure and business travel."

Western Canada's gateway to Iceland, unlocked

With four-times weekly service, beginning May 15, 2023, WestJet will be the only airline providing direct connectivity to Iceland from Calgary.

"In consultation with local partners, we agreed to announce our intention to begin service to Keflavik in May; we will continue to closely monitor volcanic activity in the region and follow the recommendations of local authorities," continued Weatherill.



Route

Service start
date

Peak frequency

Departure time
(local)

Arrival time
(local)

Halifax –
Dublin

June 19

4x weekly

10:30 p.m.

7:55 a.m.

Dublin –
Halifax

June 20

4x weekly

9:30 a.m.

11:32 a.m.

Halifax –
Edinburgh*

June 20

3x weekly

10:40 p.m.

8:04 a.m.

Edinburgh –
Halifax*

June 21

3x weekly

9:30 a.m.

11:38 a.m.

Halifax –
London
(Gatwick)

April 28

4x weekly

11:00 p.m.

9:04 a.m.

London
(Gatwick) -
Halifax

April 29

4x weekly

11:00 a.m.

1:46 p.m.

Toronto -
Dublin

March 1

Daily

9:45 p.m.

9:39 a.m.

Dublin -
Toronto

March 2

Daily

11:00 a.m.

1:54 p.m.

Toronto –
Edinburgh

May 14

Daily

10:15 p.m.

10:05 a.m.

Edinburgh -
Toronto

May 15

Daily

11:25 a.m.

1:59 p.m.

St. John's –
London
(Gatwick)

May 1

3x weekly

12:15 a.m.

9:00 a.m.

London
(Gatwick) -
St. John's

May 1

3x weekly

11:00 a.m.

1:15 p.m.

*New route not previously operated

 

Increased intercontinental frequencies bolster Calgary's position as a convenient two-way tourism gateway for Western Canada.

15 November, 2023

Ethiopian and Boeing working on deal for 31 aircraft - plus options.


At the Dubai Air Show this week Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to buy more Boeing jets to fulfil its long-term fleet goals.  The African carrier has confirmed it will order 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX aircraft. Sources close to the deal say the airline is paying less than half the list price for each of the MAX aircraft, but the final Dreamliner price is still being negotiated. 

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said,  "We are pleased to announce that Ethiopian Airlines has reached a deal with Boeing to place a firm order for 31 ultra-modern aeroplanes, with the opportunity for 36 additional jets.  This order will enable us to modernize and increase our fleet in support of Ethiopian Airlines' growth plan and our Vision 2035 Strategy. Through this deal, we have solidified our decades-old exemplary business partnership with Boeing. The 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX demonstrate Ethiopian Airlines' environmentally conscious decisions and its commitment to serve passengers with the latest technologically advanced aeroplanes."

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also agreed to work together to provide cabin modification services for the carrier's existing 787 Dreamliners. The retrofits are designed to enhance the passenger experience with advanced in-flight entertainment and new seats in all cabins, including lie-flat business-class seats from Boeing's joint venture Adient Aerospace.

"Ethiopian Airlines continues its leadership as one of Africa's preeminent airlines with this landmark commitment to expand their 787 and 737 MAX fleets," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.



14 November, 2023

Ethiopian Airlines orders more Boeing planes


At the Dubai Air Show this week Ethiopian Airlines has agreed to buy more Boeing jets to fulfil its long-term fleet goals.  The African carrier has confirmed it will order 11 787 Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX aircraft. Sources close to the deal say the airline is paying less than half the list price for each of the MAX aircraft, but the final Dreamliner price is still being negotiated. 

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew said,  "We are pleased to announce that Ethiopian Airlines has reached a deal with Boeing to place a firm order for 31 ultra-modern aeroplanes, with the opportunity for 36 additional jets.  This order will enable us to modernize and increase our fleet in support of Ethiopian Airlines' growth plan and our Vision 2035 Strategy. Through this deal, we have solidified our decades-old exemplary business partnership with Boeing. The 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX demonstrate Ethiopian Airlines' environmentally conscious decisions and its commitment to serve passengers with the latest technologically advanced aeroplanes."

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also agreed to work together to provide cabin modification services for the carrier's existing 787 Dreamliners. The retrofits are designed to enhance the passenger experience with advanced in-flight entertainment and new seats in all cabins, including lie-flat business-class seats from Boeing's joint venture Adient Aerospace.

"Ethiopian Airlines continues its leadership as one of Africa's preeminent airlines with this landmark commitment to expand their 787 and 737 MAX fleets," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.



Air Lease Corporation has agreed lease deal for 18 new Boeing 737- MAX 8 jets to EGYPTAIR

Air Lease Corporation announced long-term lease contracts for 18 new Boeing 737- MAX 8 aircraft with EGYPTAIR. These new Boeing aircraft are confirmed to be delivered to the airline beginning in 2025 through 2026 from ALC’s order book with Boeing. This is the first deal between ALC and the Egyptian flag carrier and the first 737- MAX 8 addition to the EGYPTAIR fleet.


“We are pleased to announce this deal for 18 new Boeing 737- MAX 8 aircraft with ALC’s new customer, EGYPTAIR, and be the first to lease the 737- MAX 8 to the airline,” said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “As a leading carrier in North Africa, EGYPTAIR will continue to excel in the market with these 18 new generation Boeing 737-MAX 8 aircraft that will replace EGYPTAIR’s aging narrowbody fleet with the most advanced, fuel-efficient Boeing aircraft and will significantly enhance the airline’s fleet operations and competitiveness.”

“Our team is honoured to conclude this important transaction with EGYPTAIR and support the airline with their single-aisle fleet development. We thank our friends at EGYPTAIR for choosing to partner with ALC on this major investment to modernize and grow the carrier's narrowbody fleet and look forward to a successful longstanding relationship between ALC and EGYPTAIR,” added Afeef Louis, Assistant Vice President of Air Lease Corporation

“This major deal with ALC for 18 new Boeing 737-8 aircraft demonstrates EGYPTAIR’s commitment to fleet modernization, environment sustainability and future growth plans. The 737-8 will greatly benefit EGYPTAIR’s operating efficiency and our passenger experience far into the future,” said Yehia Zakaria, Chairman and CEO of EGYPTAIR HOLDING. “We are thrilled to partner with a pioneering lessor such as Air Lease Corporation on this strategic initiative to support EGYPTAIR’s fleet renewal and growth plans.”

04 October, 2023

Air Tanzania gets its first Boeing 737 MAX

First African airline to receive the 737-MAX 9
The new jet will enable Air Tanzania to open new routes within the continent and to India



Boeing and Air Tanzania celebrated the arrival of the airline's first fuel-efficient 737 MAX single-aisle jet this week. The East African airline is the first carrier in Africa to receive the larger 737- MAX 9 model as it aims to meet growing travel demand in West Africa, Southern Africa and India.

Boeing and Air Tanzania celebrated the arrival today of the airline’s first fuel-efficient 737 MAX single-aisle jet. (Image: Boeing)

"The acquisition of our first Boeing 737- MAX 9 marks a significant milestone for Air Tanzania, a momentous occasion that echoes the spirit of the Wings of Kilimanjaro," said Eng. Ladislaus Matindi, Managing Director of Air Tanzania. "This advanced airplane is fulfilling our promise to deliver an extraordinary experience to our customer. As we ascend to new heights, Air Tanzania enhances the fleet's capabilities and exemplifies its commitment while extending our appreciation to Boeing as invaluable partners in enabling our vision."

Air Tanzania currently operates commercial service across Africa and to destinations in Asia with a fleet that includes two 787-8 Dreamliners and one 767-300 Freighter. Since its delivery in June 2023, the 767-300 Freighter has solved critical cargo challenges across Africa while opening opportunities to move business globally. The airline has an additional 787- MAX 8 on order.

"Today marks an important milestone for Air Tanzania with the delivery of its 737 MAX, which is perfectly suited to connect the airline to prominent markets in Africa, providing it with enhanced capability and flexibility across its network," said Anbessie Yitbarek, Boeing vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for Africa. "The 737- MAX 9, with its versatility and fuel efficiency, will support Air Tanzania's goal of opening new opportunities and expanding its network."

29 September, 2023

Ryanair axes winter flights following Boeing MAX delays

The low-fare-high-fee carrier Ryanair has axed a number of flights from its winter schedules because of a delay in aircraft deliveries from Boeing, UK travel trade magazine, TTG reported on Thursday. 

The airline will only receive 14 of the 27 new 737 MAX jets that it was due to receive between September and December this year. Boeing claims the delays are due to production issues at its Kansas factory and repair and delivery delays in Seattle.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:  "We are working closely with Boeing and their supplier, Spirit, to minimise these delivery delays. It is deeply regrettable that production problems in Wichita, and in Seattle, have yet again delayed Boeing’s contracted deliveries to Ryanair this winter. We are in regular dialogue with Boeing, and our primary objective is to ensure we get delivery of all 57 contracted B737 aircraft before the end of May 2024, so that Ryanair’s fleet can grow to over 600 aircraft for what will be our largest ever summer flight programme. These flight cancellations will take effect from the end of Oct, and will be communicated to all affected passengers by email over the coming days. Passengers will be offered reaccommodation on alternative flights or full refunds as they so wish. We apologise sincerely to passengers for any inconvenience caused by these delivery delays this winter."




 


 

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