Boeing, GECAS Announce Order for 20 737 MAXs and 20 Next-Generation 737s

Highlights

• GECAS orders for 737 MAX grow to 95
• Demand for 737 MAX continues to grow in leasing industry

SEATTLE, Jan. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric (NYSE: GE), announced today an order for 40 737s. The order, valued at $3.9 billion at list prices, consists of 20 737 MAX 8s and 20 Next-Generation 737-800s. The order, booked in 2013, was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website.
"We ordered more 737 MAX 8s and Next-Generation 737-800s because demand continues to grow as our airline customers require more fuel-efficient aircraft to compete in the marketplace," said Norman C.T. Liu, president and chief executive officer, GECAS. "This order further strengthens the large GECAS order book."

SEATTLE, Jan. 20, 2014 – Boeing (NYSE: BA) and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric (NYSE: GE), announced today an order for 40 737s. The order, valued at $3.9 billion at list prices, consists of 20 737 MAX 8s and 20 Next-Generation 737-800s. The order, booked in 2013, was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website.
Pictured here is a 737 MAX 8 and Next-Generation 737-800 in GECAS livery.

The follow-on order increases the GECAS order book for the 737 MAX to 95 airplanes and the Next-Generation 737 to 387 airplanes, the most for both models by any company in the leasing industry.
"GECAS is an industry leader and this follow-on order reinforces the value of the Next-Generation 737 and 737 MAX in the leasing market," said John Wojick, senior vice president of Global Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 737 MAX will provide GECAS's airline customers with the best-in-class operating efficiencies and passenger amenities."

The Boeing 737-800 is one of the best-selling versions of the highly successful Next-Generation 737 family, the most technologically advanced airplanes in the single-aisle market. The Next-Generation 737's market success has been confirmed by investors who consistently rank it as the most preferred single-aisle airplane due to its wide market base, superior performance efficiency and lowest operating costs in its class.

The 737 MAX brings the most advanced engine technologies to the world's best-selling airplane, building on the strengths of today's Next-Generation 737. The 737 MAX incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. Airlines operating the 737 MAX will see an 8 percent operating cost per seat advantage over tomorrow's competition. To date, 32 customers have ordered 1,763 MAX airplanes.
With today's announcement, GECAS has ordered 638 airplanes directly from Boeing, which includes 737s, 747s, 757s, 767s, 777s and 787s. To date, GECAS has taken delivery of 459 of the airplanes.   

About GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
GECAS, the U.S. and Irish commercial aircraft financing and leasing business of GE, has a fleet of over 1,630 owned and serviced aircraft with over 230 airlines. With 40+ years of industry experience, GECAS is recognized as the pre-eminent airline leasing company in the world, offering a wide range of aircraft types and financing options, including operating leases and secured debt financing. GECAS also provides an ever expanding array of productivity solutions including spare engine leasing, airport and airline consulting services, and spare parts financing and management. GECAS, a unit of GE Capital, has offices in 23 cities around the world, and services customers in over 75 countries. (www.GECAS.com)


GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com. Please sign up to follow us on Facebook (GE Capital Aviation Services) and on Twitter (GECASNews).

Boeing Media

Boeing Delivers First Next-Generation 737-800 to Iraqi Airways

Delivery marks milestone in Boeing's efforts to help rebuild Iraq's aviation infrastructure

SEATTLE, Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered a Next-Generation 737-800 to Iraqi Airways, the first of 30 that the airline ordered in 2008, marking a milestone in its relationship with the airline.

"The Next-Generation 737-800 will play a key role in helping us modernize our fleet and integrate into the regional and international commercial aviation system," said H.E. Hadi Al Ameri, Iraq's Minister of Transportation. "Boeing has played a pivotal role in our growth plan and the Next-Generation 737 has earned an excellent reputation for reliability and operational efficiency."

With this delivery, Iraqi Airways currently has 39 Boeing airplanes on order, including 29 Next-Generation 737-800s and 10 787 Dreamliners.

"This is a historic milestone in our relationship with Iraqi Airways and a testament to the value that the Next-Generation 737-800 will bring to the airline's fleet," said Marty Bentrott, vice president for Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Middle East, Russia and Central Asia. "Boeing is proud of the confidence that Iraqi Airways has in its products and we look forward to further strengthening this relationship to fulfill the airline's future commercial aviation needs."

The Next-Generation 737 family has won orders for more than 6,500 airplanes, while the 737 family has surpassed 11,000 orders to date. Boeing has delivered more than 7,600 737s – including more than 4,500 Next-Generation 737s – and currently has more than 3,400 unfilled orders for 737s (through July 2013).

Source - Boeing Corp.

NextGen procedures underway at Charlotte, Atlanta metroplexes

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Delta Air Lines, US Airways and other stakeholders have officially kicked off an airspace and flight procedures modernization project for the high density Atlanta and Charlotte area metroplexes, regions where several airports service one main metropolitan area.

Part of the FAA's optimization of airspace and procedures in the metroplex (OAPM) programme, Atlanta and Charlotte will follow the Washington DC metro area and Dallas/Fort Worth in becoming the beneficiaries of the government and industry effort to increase capacity while cutting flight time, delays, fuel burn and noise. Metroplex initiatives are underway or planned for 21 metropolitan areas, said the FAA.

Procedures in the Washington region, which include idling descents from as far out as 120nm from the landing destinations, will go live in stages starting in September. Along with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (Natca), partners in the Washington metroplex programme include the local airports as well as US Airways for Washington DC Reagan National airport procedures, United for Dulles and Southwest for Baltimore.

Once the performance-based navigation (PBN) procedures are in place, the FAA estimates that airlines will be able to cut 1.2 million nautical miles per year from their routes into and out of Atlanta, Delta's hub, equating to 2.9 million fewer gallons of fuel burned and 30,000t of carbon emissions not emitted. For Charlotte, US Airways' hub, the FAA estimates there will be 2.5 million fewer nautical miles flown annually, with 3.7 million gallons of fuel saved and carbon emissions reduced by 35,000t annually.

With more than 630 flights per day at Charlotte, US Airways chief operating officer Robert Isom said the carrier will save $17 million a year in fuel costs and emit 59,000t fewer carbon emissions.
Strategies the FAA will study with the airlines, air traffic controllers and local airports in Atlanta and

Charlotte include creating separate high-altitude flight tracks for Atlanta departures and Charlotte arrivals to allow aircraft to climb and descend without levelling off; expanding optimised profile descent (OPD) procedures (idling approaches) into the Atlanta and Charlotte airports, and shortening flight tracks by making them more direct.

Reliever airports in the areas should also benefit from the work. The FAA said the team will design satellite-based flight paths that separate traffic destined for reliever airports from those flights heading for the main Atlanta and Charlotte airports.

"The end result for travellers will be fewer delays, quicker flights and an even safer, greener flying experience," said acting Federal Aviation Administrator Michael Huerta.

Flight Global

Exciting and Productive Week for Bombardier Aerospace at the Singapore Airshow

• Confirms two previously unidentified airlines: Garuda Indonesia and Ethiopian Airlines
• Announces OEM-owned service centre in Singapore for business aircraft; and Singapore-based commercial aircraft sales office
• Also announces order for two Q400 NextGen by Horizon Air
• Attracts significant interest with its business aircraft on static 

Bombardier Aerospace wrapped up its participation at the Singapore Airshow after an exciting and busy week during which it revealed the identity of two key airlines that had placed orders for its proven CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet and fuel-efficient Q400 NextGen turboprop as well as announced an order for two Q400 NextGen aircraft. It also took advantage of the airshow to announce the establishment of a Bombardier-owned service centre in Singapore for business aircraft, as well as the official opening of a sales and marketing office in Singapore for commercial aircraft.

Key commercial aircraft airlines identified

On February 15, during a joint press briefing in its CSeries aircraft dome filled to capacity, Bombardier and Indonesian flag carrier PT. Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. confirmed that the airline is the unidentified customer whose order for six CRJ1000 NextGen regional jets and 18 options was announced on February 10, 2012. The aircraft’s superior economics, outstanding fuel economy and excellent passenger comfort will meet the airline’s requirement for 100-seat aircraft to service domestic and regional markets from its five regional hubs and will be integral to its expansion and growing markets. Garuda Indonesia also took the opportunity to announce that it plans to acquire an additional 12 CRJ1000 NextGen aircraft from a lessor.

This announcement was followed the next day, on February 16 with the confirmation that Ethiopian Airlines,
one of Africa’s leading airlines, is the customer that placed the firm order for five Q400 NextGen airliners announced on February 13, 2012. The modern turboprop’s high rate of climb, single-engine service ceiling and higher take-off weight, thus greater payload, were key attributes for the airline which flies out of high altitude-hot weather airports.

On February 16, Bombardier also announced that Horizon Air of Seattle, Washington had signed a firm purchase agreement for two Q400 NextGen airliners. The airline, member of the Alaska Air Group, is the largest operator of Q400 and Q400 NextGen aircraft in the Americas. With this order, it is restating its long-standing confidence in the aircraft’s superior fuel efficiency as well as its jet-like comfort.

“Key to our success this year will be our ability to expand our global reach and gain traction in new and exciting markets,” said Guy C. Hachey, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “Our success at the Singapore Airshow is a testament to the results being achieved in this regard. I am very proud of the results our team has achieved so early on in the year. Our prospects for the rest of the year look great,” he added.

Opening of OEM-owned service centre in Singapore

On February 15, Bombardier announced that it will open a full-scale company-owned and operated service centre in Singapore in 2013. This new service center will ensure that Bombardier Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets customers have an even broader access to Original Equipment Manufacturer-backed service in the Asia-Pacific region in their own time zone and in their own region.

Sustained activity for Bombardier business aircraft

Bombardier Business Aircraft attracted continued significant interest in the region, reflecting the dynamism and rapid growth of the business jet market in the Asia-Pacific region. A Learjet 60 XR aircraft, a Challenger 605 jet and a Global 5000 jet from its product portfolio were on static display at the airshow, drawing the crowd’s attention.

Bombardier Media



The Q400 NexGen (Next Generation) is a fuel-efficient, regional size turboprop jet. Get More information on the Q400 Next gen webpage

With President's Signature, FAA Reauthorization Official

After five years of trying to get a long-term FAA funding bill passed, President Obama's signature on Tuesday was the last step required to create a new four-year authorization bill. The $63.6 billion bill, which runs until 2015, aims to provide consistent funding and support to help upgrade to NextGen.

"This is a great day for our National Airspace System," said Paul Rinaldi, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. "This four-year bill will provide the funding stability we need to develop and train our next generation of controllers along with the next generation of equipment and procedures."

Besides providing the long-awaited funding for NextGen, the bill accelerates the integration of drones into the domestic airspace, and makes it harder for airline workers to unionize. General aviation groups were generally pleased with the bill, which left out user fees and requires no tax increase for avgas or jet fuel. The bill also makes it possible for the government to create an incentive program to help general aviation pilots equip for NextGen, authorizes $13.4 billion for airport improvement projects, and allows airports to grant access to adjacent property owners.

Avweb