Aircraft

Category Archives for Aircraft.

Here’s The American Airlines Plan For Its Fleet In 2023

by Gary Leff on January 27, 2023

Jan 27 2023

American Airlines still has fewer mainline aircraft flying than they did before the pandemic. They retired their Boeing 757s, 767s, Airbus A330s (that they’ve even still been paying on) and Embraer 190s during the pandemic. And they’ve kept Boeing 737s parked in the desert.

However they’re bringing back some of those 737s this year, and will take delivery of 19 new narrowbody and 4 widebody aircraft in 2023. All told they expect to end 2023 with more active mainline aircraft than their average for 2019, but still fewer aircraft total.

Boeing Succeeds In Lobbying For Exemption To Safety Measures For 737 MAX

by Gary Leff on December 20, 2022

Dec 20 2022

Boeing has reportedly succeeded in lobbying against safety measures for Boeing 737 MAX -7 and -10 aircraft, with Congress sticking the airframe manufacturer’s language into the must-pass year-end budget bill.

Any plane that’s certified starting in 2023 requires new cockpit alerts as a result of legislative reaction to problems with the Boeing 737 MAX. But Boeing is about to get an exemption from this for the new 737 MAX variants.

Why American Airlines Doesn’t Think They Need A Big New Plane Order, Or The 787-10

by Gary Leff on December 18, 2022

Dec 18 2022

So where does American Airlines stand? The topic was addressed at a recent meeting between executives and pilots in Dallas (a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing). CEO Robert Isom began by saying they have enough on their plate with current aircraft deliveries and Vice President Brian Znotins explaining why they don’t want the Boeing 787-10.

How New American Airlines Boeing 787-8s Are Coming Into The Fleet

by Gary Leff on December 17, 2022

Dec 17 2022

At a meeting with pilots in Dallas on December 9th, a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing, Chief Operating Officer David Seymour spoke about Boeing delays and quality control issues that are holding back the airline’s ability to grow its schedule.

Elon Musk’s Twitter Refuses To Pay $200,000 Domestic Roundtrip Private Jet Bill

by Gary Leff on December 14, 2022

Terribly Named Flewber Offers Private Flights for $400 One Way ($700 Roundtrip)

Dec 14 2022

Musk’s twitter has reportedly refused to pay some bills for services provided in the last days of previous management – like a $197,725 roundtrip private jet flight from Teterboro to San Francisco for the executive who served as the company’s Chief Marketing Officer and head of HR the day prior to close of the sale of the company.

The Twitter executive might have chosen one of 21 flights between New York and San Francisco offering flat business class seats instead.

United Places Massive Order Not Just For Boeing 787s, Adds 737 MAXs Too

by Gary Leff on December 13, 2022

Dec 13 2022

United Airlines and Boeing are planning a big announcement today at the airframe manufacturer’s facility in South Carolina. They’ve been expected to announce a huge order for Boeing 787s, which should be line-fit with a new Polaris business class suites with doors.

Ahead of the announcement details of the order have already been released. The Boeing 787 details are correct but they’re ordering MAX aircraft, too.

Leak: Boom Supersonic Comes To Agreement With 3 Small Players On An Engine

by Gary Leff on December 13, 2022

Dec 13 2022

Ahead of Tuesday’s planned announcement, Jon Ostrower breaks news about the identities of Boom Aerospace engine providers.

They couldn’t get any of the big engine manufacturers to bite, because no one thinks this project will succeed commercially. If everyone is wrong, and if the smaller players turn out to have the expertise, this would be a huge win all-around. But probabilities are stacked against success.

Return Of Business Travel Has Plateaued, May Never Return To Pre-Pandemic Levels

by Gary Leff on December 6, 2022

Dec 06 2022

On CNBC this morning United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said he likes that pilot wages are going up, which is really saying he likes pilot shortages, because of what that does to competitors. Low cost carriers can’t hire pilots cheap, eroding their relative cost advantage against United.

He also revealed something interesting about business travel: it’s not continuing its recovery, and specifically that it has “plateaued”.

Trump Force One Returns To The Skies: Gold-Plated 757 Finally Repaired After Supporter Donations

by Gary Leff on October 21, 2022

Oct 21 2022

After former President Trump lost the 2020 election, he no longer had access to Air Force One and his private Boeing 757 was left in disrepair. At the time I wrote that if you wanted to know when he was ready to run again, just watch his private private plane which has gold-plated everything down to the seat belts.

The plane appears to have been repaired and is now flight-worthy.

Regulators Push Back As Boeing Desperately Tries To Avoid Making 737 MAX Safer

by Gary Leff on October 4, 2022

Oct 04 2022

By law, any plane that’s certified starting in 2023 requires new cockpit alerts. That’s part of the U.S. government reaction to problems with the Boeing 737 MAX.

Boeing doesn’t want to implement these new safety requirements for the 737 MAX 10, and as a result has been rushing to either get the largest variant of the MAX certified before the end of 2022, or get legislators to pass an exemption. Certification before end of year is not going to happen.