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. 

 

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.

Lufthansa surprises Airbus by ordering up to 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets

Lufthansa has walked away from ordering more Airbus A320neo jets partly because of a long order backlog and jumped at a massive discount offered by U.S. planemaker Boeing for agreeing to buy up to 100 737-MAX jets.

Europe's largest airline group has placed a firm order of 40 Boeing 737-MAX 8 aeroplanes with an option to purchase up to 60 frames. Lufthansa is understood to have secured a discount of over 40% on the list price for the MAX 8 aircraft. Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG said the order was a strategic decision for the Lufthansa Group as it had been co-developer and launch customer of the 737.  

"Our relationship with the Lufthansa Group has led to a number of industry-changing achievements and we are delighted to see the 737 return to an original launch customer's fleet," said Stan Deal, president and CEO, of Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes. 

However, the German love for Airbus has not been lost completely,  the group has placed an order for an additional 40 A220-300s to bolster its short and medium-haul fleet. The A220 has been in service with the Group since 2016 when SWISS put the first aircraft into scheduled service.

Carsten Spohr said that with the order of 40 A220s, the group was "continuing our unique partnership with Airbus, just a few months ago, as the largest airline customer, we received our 600th aircraft from Airbus, and we look forward to taking delivery of number 700. Our customers are looking forward to these additional modern, economical, and fuel-efficient aircraft."

"The Lufthansa Group was one of the first customers for the A220 and has successfully operated the aircraft in its SWISS route network ever since. We are delighted by this testimony of confidence from our long-standing partner and customer," said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International. “As the only clean sheet design aircraft and specifically designed for the 100-150 seat market the A220 is the most efficient solution in its category to support Lufthansa Group meeting its exciting airline development and sustainability objectives.”

The latest state-of-the-art A220-300 is the larger sibling of the successful A220 Family, carrying between 120 to 150 passengers on flights of up to 3,400 nautical miles (6,300 km). The aircraft offers 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat compared to previous-generation aircraft. It also has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, ensuring superior comfort. As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). 

By the end of November, Airbus won 849 orders from 31 customers for the A220, of which 303 have been delivered. The A220 is already in successful service with 18 airlines worldwide on 1,350+ routes.

Avolon continues to drive growth with orders for additional 140 aircraft

Avolon, a leading global aviation finance company, has agreed to order 100 A321neo aircraft from Airbus and 40 737 MAX aircraft from Boeing. These aircraft are scheduled for delivery out to 2032.

Avolon has added 200 new technology aircraft to its orderbook this year direct from OEMs, building on previous orders for 20 Airbus A330neos in September and 40 737 MAXs from Boeing in June. The orderbook expansion increases Avolon’s owned, managed and committed fleet from 897 at September 30 2023 to 1037 aircraft.

Orders for 100 Airbus A321neos and 40 Boeing 737 MAXs

A total of 200 aircraft were ordered directly from Boeing and Airbus this year

The A320neo and 737 MAX family of aircraft reduce fuel use and carbon emissions by up to 20% compared to the older generation aircraft that they will replace.

The scale of these new commitments supports Avolon’s ability to provide customers with fuel-efficient aircraft into the next decade.

Andy Cronin, CEO of Avolon, commented:  “Today’s orders strengthen our delivery pipeline and reflect our confidence in the long-term outlook for aviation. We have committed to direct orders for 200 new, fuel-efficient aircraft this year, supporting the transformation of our fleet to lower-emissions aircraft. The scale of our orderbook reflects the strength of Avolon’s balance sheet, our proven ability to execute swiftly, and the longstanding relationships we have with both Airbus and Boeing.”

Both orders are binding contracts subject only to approval by shareholders of Bohai Leasing Co., Ltd., Avolon’s 70% shareholder, which is anticipated before year end.

Avolon is a leading global aviation finance company connecting capital with customers to drive the transformation of aviation and the economic and social benefits of global travel. We pride ourselves on our deep customer relationships, our collaborative team approach, and our fast execution. We invest with a long-term perspective, diversifying risk and managing capital efficiently to maintain our strong balance sheet. Working with 147 airlines in 65 countries, Avolon has an owned, managed, and committed fleet of 897 aircraft, as of 30 September 2023.

Boeing Names Stephanie Pope Chief Operating Officer

Boeing has named Stephanie Pope as executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Boeing Company. In this newly created position, effective January 1, 2024, Pope will report to Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun. 

As Boeing COO, Pope will oversee the performance of the company's three business units with responsibility for driving supply chain, quality, manufacturing and engineering excellence across the company. The business unit Chief Executive Officers, the Boeing Chief Engineer and the President of Boeing Global will report directly to Pope. Senior corporate functional leaders will continue reporting to Calhoun.

"Stephanie brings tremendous operational, financial and customer experience to this role, as well as a proven record of performance across our commercial, defence and services business units," said Calhoun. "Next year will be a significant transitional year in our performance as we continue to restore our operational and financial strength; and Stephanie will help drive the stability and predictability necessary to ensure we deliver on our customer, employee, regulatory, investor and other stakeholder commitments."

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.

Canada is purchasing 14 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force

Earlier this week Canadian officials confirmed the country had finalized a deal with Boeing to buy up to 16 P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Fourteen multi-mission aircraft will be procured, with options for an additional two jets. 

The P-8A will replace Canada’s current maritime patrol aircraft, the CP-140 Aurora, which has been in service for more than 40 years. As it ages, the CP-140 aircraft is becoming increasingly difficult to support, expensive to sustain, and less operationally relevant in comparison to the threats against which it must defend. The purchase of the P-8A aircraft will allow Canada to seamlessly transition to the replacement capability, ensuring the nation can continue to meet its domestic needs and international obligations.

After significant engagement and thorough analysis, we are confident that the P-8A delivers the best anti-submarine and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for our country. The aircraft will operate seamlessly with allies. This platform is a proven capability that is operated by all our Five Eyes allies—the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand—as well as other defence partners.

Atlas Air Worldwide Orders Two New Boeing 777 Freighters

Atlas Air Worldwide Inc. has announced it has ordered two new Boeing 777 Freighters driven by ongoing strong customer demand for dedicated large widebody airfreight capacity, particularly for cross border e-Commerce shipping.

The two new 777 Freighters, which were booked earlier this quarter, are expected to be delivered in the second half of 2024. This strategic investment underscores the Company’s commitment to growing its 777F platform, and for providing leading-edge aircraft and service offerings to its customers, as well as creating more long-haul flying opportunities for its pilots.

As previously announced, the Company most recently ordered four 777 Freighters in 2021, which are placed on a long-term ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) agreement with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA. Three of these aircraft have been delivered, with the fourth 777 expected to be delivered in December 2023.

“We are excited to add these aircraft to our leading world-class fleet. These come at a time when retirements of older widebody freighters will significantly increase and when the introduction of new widebody freighter capacity will be limited. We have a deep pipeline of prospective customers interested in these 777 Freighters, and we’re confident in our ability to place them under long-term agreements,” said Michael Steen, Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Air Worldwide.

Boeing shifts toward production of MH-139A Grey Wolf

Boeing continues to transition towards low rate initial production of the MH-139A Grey Wolf after completing the program’s Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) phase, delivering the sixth and final test aircraft to the U.S. Air Force last month.

“Delivering all of the RDT&E aircraft to the Air Force enables them to continue critical operational testing and allows Boeing to focus on building the first production aircraft.” said Azeem Khan, MH-139 program director. “The Grey Wolf will provide crucial national security capability improvements to the Air Force. This is an important step in getting the aircraft into service.”

Boeing expects to provide the first low rate production aircraft to the customer in 2024. To date, the Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract to build the first 13, with the first aircraft already in final assembly. Ultimately, Boeing will provide up to 80 MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters to the Air Force.

Malaysia Airlines gets the first of 25 new Boeing 737- MAX 8 jets from Air Lease Corp

Global leasing giant Air Lease Corporation has confirmed the first of 25 new Boeing 737- MAX 8 aircraft has been delivered to Malaysia Airlines Berhad from ALC’s order book with Boeing. Featuring CFM LEAP 1B-27 engines, this new Boeing aircraft is the first 737- MAX 8 addition to Malaysia Airlines’ fleet.

“We are thrilled to announce ALC’s first of 25 new Boeing 737- MAX 8 aircraft delivered to Malaysia Airlines,” said Steven Udvar-Házy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. “Our significant deal for 25 new Boeing 737- MAX 8 aircraft with MAB is a milestone transaction that demonstrates ALC’s commitment to the national carrier’s long-term fleet modernization and sustainability program. We are honoured to be the first to introduce the 737-8 to the airline.”

This Boeing 737 aircraft joins six Airbus A350-900 aircraft currently on long-term lease to the airline from ALC.

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.

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.

SCAT Airlines orders seven 737-MAX 8

SCAT Airlines orders seven 737-MAX 8 aircraft to expand its 737 MAX fleet. The latest order will nearly double SCAT's 737 fleet as the airline looks to open new routes to European destinations.

"SCAT Airlines is the most dynamically developing airline in Kazakhstan, and it has the largest aircraft fleet in the country," said Vladimir Denissov, president of JSC SCAT Airlines, adding "Replenishing the fleet with seven more Boeing 737-MAX 8 will increase the airline's carrying capacity. It will also positively affect the timely execution of flight schedules. The company will get an opportunity to expand its route network and offer passengers even more travel destinations."

Based in Şhymkent, Kazakhstan, SCAT serves an extensive network of domestic and international destinations in the Commonwealth of Independent States and Central Asia. SCAT was the first airline in Central Asia to fly the 737 MAX and currently operates three 737-8 and five 737-9 aeroplanes. This order was previously unidentified on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website.

"This repeat order is a testament to SCAT's confidence in the value, performance and reliability of the 737 MAX family," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "We look forward to supporting their network expansion and continuing to play an integral role in their long-term success."

Emirates to order 90 Boeing 777 jets

Dubai-based mega-carrier, Emirates will order 55 Boeing 777-9 and 35 examples of the 777-8 jets, it was announced during the Dubai Airshow at a signing event attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group; and Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

In addition, Emirates updated its 787 Dreamliner order book to better align future capacity to demand. The airline is buying five more 787 jets – growing its 787 backlog to 35 – while converting 30 787-9s to 20 787-8 and 10 787-10 aeroplanes.

"Emirates is the biggest operator of Boeing 777 aircraft, and today's order cements that position," said HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group. "We've been closely involved in the 777 program since its start up until this latest generation of 777X aircraft. The 777 has been central to Emirates' fleet and network strategy of connecting cities on all continents non-stop to Dubai. We are pleased to extend our relationship with Boeing and look forward to the first 777-9 joining our fleet in 2025." 

Boeing's relationship with Emirates dates back to the airline's first 777 order in 1992. Today, Emirates has nearly 150 777 jets in its fleet. Based on the most successful twin-aisle airplane ever, the 777, the 777X family is designed to maximize efficiency and environmental performance by 25%, while providing an exceptional onboard experience.

"This order is an incredible vote of confidence in Boeing's highly efficient widebody family and the versatility of our 777X and 787 airplanes to meet Emirates' needs for global long-haul travel," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 777-9 and 777-8 are the perfect airplanes to support Emirates' growth, improving environmental performance and unmatched payload capability along the way."

The 777-9 will be the largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet in the world, with the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial airplane. Opening new growth opportunities for airlines, the 777-9 seats 426 passengers in a typical two-class configuration, with a range of 13,510 km (7,295 nautical miles).

The 777-8 seats 395 passengers with a range capability of up to 16,190 km (8,745 nautical miles). The 777-8 also offers airlines more revenue potential through more payload and improved fuel efficiency on short and long flights.

flydubai puts in order for 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliners,

The Dubai-based carrier to add 787-9s to its all 737 fleet to open new routes and serve more destinations

UAE budget airline flydubai has put in an agreement to buy 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners as the carrier wants to diversify its short and medium-haul 737 fleet with the introduction of widebody long-haul aircraft.  The agreement was during the Dubai Air Show.

"In 2008 when we placed our first-ever order for 50 Boeing 737 aircraft, we were confident of the vital role flydubai would play in supporting Dubai's aviation hub," said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of flydubai. "I am proud today to see flydubai evolve further, surpassing labels and challenging the traditional conventions around travel. Today's order reaffirms flydubai's commitment to enabling more people to travel across its expanding network. The highly fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner will allow flydubai to expand its horizon and cater to the growing demand on existing routes."

"Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at flydubai. We are committed to offering the right product at the right time to cater to the changing market and customer needs," said Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai. "The Boeing 787 Dreamliner offers a perfect combination of operational excellence, fuel efficiency as well as passenger appeal."

The 787-9 can fly 296 passengers 14,010 km (7,565 nautical miles) in addition to more cargo. Since revenue service began in 2011, the 787 family has launched more than 380 new nonstop routes around the world. Half of all 787 Dreamliner flights are operated in short- and medium-haul markets below 5,000 km (2,700 nautical miles), demonstrating its versatility and efficiency across all network segments.

"The 787-9 is perfectly suited for the needs of flydubai as it looks to open up longer-range routes and add capacity across its network," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "flydubai passengers will enjoy the Dreamliner effect, an experience like no other in the air, flying with more comfort and arriving at their destinations feeling more refreshed."

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.

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.

Two more Boeing 787 aircraft for Royal Air Maroc

Boeing and Royal Air Maroc announced the North African carrier placed a repeat order for the 787 Dreamliner, confirming two 787-9s in its order book as the airline grows its widebody fleet. The carrier, which currently operates nine Dreamliners, leverages the 787 family's efficiency and flexibility to expand its long-haul network.

Boeing and Morocco's flag carrier enjoy more than 55 years of partnership

"The two Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will enable Royal Air Maroc to expand in the short-term its long-haul network in response to the highly favourable market conditions in 2023," said Abdelhamid Addou, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Air Maroc. "Simultaneously, the company is actively pursuing a significant tender to quadruple the fleet before 2037."

Royal Air Maroc has added to its widebody aeroplane count with a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s over the last nine years. This order was previously unidentified on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website.

"The 787 Dreamliner is perfectly suited to support Royal Air Maroc's growth and modernization plans," said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "Boeing's relationship with the airline spans more than five decades, and we look forward to more opportunities to strengthen our partnership with Royal Air Maroc."

Royal Air Maroc, the national carrier of Morocco, is a member of the oneworld Alliance and flies to 82 destinations in 41 territories around the world, including frequent departures to the biggest capitals in Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East. Its fleet of Boeing aeroplanes includes 737s, in addition to 787s.

Since revenue service began in 2011, the 787 family has launched more than 380 new nonstop routes around the world and reduces fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to the aeroplanes it replaces. Passengers enjoy a better experience with the largest windows of any jet, air that is more humid and pressurized at a lower cabin altitude for greater comfort, large overhead bins, soothing LED lighting, and technology that senses and counters turbulence for a smoother ride.