Jaunted - Tag: Dreamliner

Air China Didn't Get the Memo

pbb — 2008-07-17T11:33:55-05:00

The near-term future of Chinese aviation is all about smaller planes, so when Air China needed some big jets, it had to look elsewhere. The state-owned carrier just announced that it plans to buy 45 new aircraft from Boeing, growing its fleet by 35 percent with the purchase.

Most of the new 777s and 737s will fly out of Beijing, further entrenching the airline at PEK. (You know the flag carrier gets that sweet real estate in T3.) Also on the horizon for Air China are 15 787s, if and when those next-generation jets roll off the line.

What we're still wondering about, though, is when these new planes will be delivered. After all, another carrier just jumped to the front of the Boeing production queue.

Related Stories:
· Air China Announces $6.3 Billion Deal [AP, via Google]
· Happily Welcoming Our New Chinese Aviation Overlords [Jaunted]
· Boeing coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Air China's Olympics livery: Wikimedia]

Adventures of Link: A380 Coming Stateside

pbb — 2008-06-09T18:05:01-05:00

The A380 is finally coming to America! Emirates will run flights between New York and Dubai, starting August 1.

The massive aircraft won't be making all the runs between the two cities, but it will be the first time the A380 flies into the US in commercial service. Elsewhere, you can ride it between Singapore and both Sydney and London on Singapore Airlines.

Related Stories:
· If You Want to See a Really Big Airplane [Airline Biz Blog]
· Emirates to Launch First Service to US with A380 [AFP, via Google]
· Dreamliner to Fly by End of 2008 [BBC]
· Coming Soon: A380 Kangaroos [Jaunted]
· A380 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Cranky Flier]

If You Haven't Flown 'Em, They're New to You

pbb — 2008-06-09T16:30:01-05:00

We're a bit embarrassed to admit that today was the first we'd ever heard of Hainan Airlines. We're clearly behind the times on this one, as the carrier is China's fourth-largest and the country's biggest privately-owned airline.

Hainan is now making its first flights to America, with four-times-a-week service between Seattle and Beijing, giving you another non-stop option between the US and the Olympics. (Don't get your hopes up, though: Hainan doesn't use the new Terminal 3.)

For now, Hainan is flying Airbus A330s, but once Boeing finally rolls out the Dreamliner, you'll be able to fly SEA-PEK in carbon fiber bliss.

Related Stories:
· Airport Check-in: Seattle Beijing Service Starts [USAToday]
· New Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of a 737: Drewski2112]

Boeing Announces More 787 Delays

pbb — 2008-04-09T10:06:39-05:00

We're beginning to think we may never fly on one of Boeing's new Dreamliners. The company announced this morning that it's yet again pushing back the debut of its fancy, fuel-efficient 787s, saying it'll get them off the ground by the end of 2008. That means the first commercial flights won't happen until well into 2009.

The news is sad for plane geeks like us, but it could be worse. Some airlines, like Australia's Jetstar, have tied their expansion plans to the 787. No new planes means no new routes--and no new cash rolling in.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are also among the carriers affected. No doubt all three airlines are hoping this is the last of the game-killing delays.

Related Stories:
· More Delays for Launch of Dreamliner [CBC]
· Dreamliner Delays Killing Jetstar's Game [Jaunted]
· Dreamliner Makes Emperor Palpatine-Style Entrance [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikipedia]

Dreamliner Delays Totally Killing Jetstar's Game

pbb — 2008-01-24T10:02:27-05:00

Airlines the world over are waiting for Boeing to finish building its new 787s, and with delivery now set for 2009 at the earliest, Jetstar, for one, is canceling flights. The Qantas spinoff that's supposed to challenge Virgin Blue will have to wait until 2010 to start flying its European service.

But the carrier won't simply stand for these business-killing delays; Qantas is seeking damages from Boeing, which said it would have the first 15 787s out to Australia by May 2009. We don't know how much cash the airline will be asking for, but CEO Alan Joyce cares about more than just money:

We will get compensation from Boeing for the delay. [But] we are disappointed because we would rather be flying the aircraft.

Related Stories:
· Dreamliner Delay Sets Back Expansion [SMH]
· Jetstar Delays Its European Launch [FT]
· Jetstar coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jp3g]

Boeing's Dreamliner Not Happening Until 2009

juliana — 2008-01-16T16:00:01-05:00

Yes, Dreamliners in 2008 was just a dream.

The eagerly anticipated Dreamliner airplane from Boeing (also known as the 787) won't be in service until sometime in 2009.

Test flights for the massive plane were delayed again until July, the second such delay for the Dreamliner. Deliveries won't happen until early 2009, meaning you won't fly one of these bad boys 'til mid-2009 at the earliest.

Production delays and parts shortages are mostly to blame for the push-back.

Boeing is building more than half of the plane with carbon- fiber composites instead of aluminum, making it the first airliner of its kind. The Dreamliner is also Boeing's first attempt at a production process where suppliers deliver fully completed wing and fuselage parts.

"Completing the first plane is setting the pace to first flight,'' 787 program manager Pat Shanahan said on the call.``If anything has been learned here, it's how long it will take to complete somebody else's work. We thought we could modify our final assembly system to accommodate suppliers' work. We were wrong.''

Meanwhile Airbus SAS has some company in the mega-airplane delays department. Their widebody A350 (an answer to the Dreamliner) won't deliver until 2013. But at least they still have the A380.

[Photo: Life of Luxury]

Adventures of Link: Countdown to the A380

pbb — 2007-10-11T17:00:01-05:00

We should all fit on board, right?

Singapore Airlines' first flight of the superjumbo A380 takes off in a little over two weeks, and Airbus must be chilling the champagne. After years of delays, controversy and throwing money down what seemed to be a bottomless pit, the aerospace company can now focus on selling these planes rather than building them.

In the meantime, Boeing is still struggling to get its 787 off the ground. After taking more than 800 orders, the firm has pushed the first deliveries back to late 2008. That said, airlines are still on board to use Boeing's new, high-tech jet, which has a range of over 10,000 miles and, perhaps more importantly, gets great gas mileage.

Related Stories:
· The Giant on the Runway [Economist]
· Boeing Delays Dreamliner [WSJ]
· Delta Adding New Seats and TVs to its Transcons [Official Site]
· iPhones Don't Fly with ATA [Consumerist]
· Steve Fossett and his Plane Still Missing [AP, via Google]

[Photo: af.wikipedia.org]