Boeing 777X takes to the skies

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The Boeing 777X takes off from Everett, Wash., on Saturday.

SEATTLE, Wash. — “The 777X flew beautifully,” said Capt. Van Chaney after successfully flying Boeing’s newest aircraft Saturday.

“Thank you to all the teams who made today possible. I can’t wait to go fly your airplane again,” added the chief pilot for 777X test and evaluation

With that first flight, the world’s longest and largest twin-engine airliner entered the next phase of its test program.

The 777-9X is based on the popular 777.

The aircraft took off in front of thousands at Paine Field in Everett, Wash., at 10:09 a.m. local time for a three-hour, 51-minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle’s Boeing Field, the company said.

Chaney called the flight very productive.

The first of four dedicated 777-9 flight test airplanes, WH001 will now undergo checks before resuming testing in the coming days, Boeing said.

“Our Boeing team has taken the most successful twin-aisle jet of all time and made it even more efficient, more capable and more comfortable for all,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“Today’s safe first flight of the 777X is a tribute to the years of hard work and dedication from our teammates, our suppliers and our community partners in Washington state and across the globe.”

Boeing has won 340 orders and commitments for the 777X from leading carriers, including Emirates, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.

The first delivery is expected in 2021.

Images are courtesy of Boeing.

 

Emirates hits back in Open Skies battle

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Dubai’s Emirates airline has released a 400-page rebuttal to claims by three major U.S. airlines that it is enjoying an unfair advantage through state subsidies.

In a white paper issued in January, U.S. legacy airlines Delta, United and American had accused Emirates of receiving more than $6 billion in subsidies from the Dubai government.

On Tuesday, Emirates hit back.

“Their argument is nothing more than a mess of legal distortions and factual errors,” the U.A.E. national carrier said in the document posted on its website.

“What the legacy carriers want is protection from competition. Such protection would do irreparable harm to U.S. cities and airports, America’s world-leading aerospace industry, U.S. exports and jobs, U.S. air cargo carriers, and most of all, U.S. consumers, including passengers and shippers,” the document said.

“It would also undermine America’s leadership in international aviation — leadership that has made Open Skies the global template for air services.”

The document was also presented to U.S. officials in Washington by Emirates president Sir Tim Clark.

“The legacy carriers have received more than $100 billion in government support since 2002,” Clark told reporters after his meeting.

“In sum, there is no factual or legal justification for U.S. unilateral action against Emirates,” the document said.

“Such a step by the United States would seriously disadvantage other U.S. stakeholders, sound the death knell for Open Skies, and send a very negative signal about the value of U.S. trade, diplomatic, and security commitments,” the airline warned.

“For these reasons, the legacy carriers’ demands for protection should be firmly rejected.”

Images are courtesy of Emirates.

Finnair, South African set high environmental standard

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The organization that represents global airlines says Finnair and South African Airways have become the first carriers to complete the highest level of its environmental assessment program.

The International Air Transport Association said Tuesday they completed State 2 of the IATA Environmental Assessment, or IEnvA, program, aimed at improving an airline’s environmental management.

“This ensures that an airline has implemented all of the IEnvA program standards, identified and mitigated its significant environmental impacts, and has set performance targets,” IATA said.

“Stage 2 also certifies that an airline has developed processes for monitoring and reviewing its performance against its environmental targets and objectives.”

Meanwhile, Icelandair, Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines completed IEnvA Stage 1, joining Air Transat, Kenya Airways, LATAM, LATAM Cargo and Malaysia Airlines.

Five years ago, the industry agreed to cut net carbon emissions by 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2050.

“This certification is proof of our commitment to environmental leadership within the aviation industry,” says Pekka Vauramo, Finnair’s CEO.

“Environmental sustainability is at the core of Finnair’s operations and we are continuously working to improve our environmental performance.”

There was no immediate comment from South African Airways.

Images are courtesy of IATA, Finnair and South African Airways.

A350 moves closer towards certification

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The A350 water test. Airbus photo.

The Airbus A350 XWB, which is due to enter service with Qatar Airways in the fourth quarter of this year, has completed the latest test in its certification process.

Last week, the extra-body jet tested its ability to operate on wet runways at Istres, France, travelling successfully through water troughs.

“This test validates how the aircraft would behave on a very rain-soaked runway, and verifies that neither the water under the aircraft nor the spray generated by the nose landing gear will enter the engines or APU (auxiliary power unit),” the European manufacturer said.

The four A350 test aircraft have now accumulated about 1,600 hours in over 350 flights, Airbus added.

The A350 features an extra wide cabin with a non-stop flying capability of more than 15,000 kilometres.

It will be built in three versions – A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000. Qatar Airways, with an order for 80 A350s, is the top customer.

In all, Airbus has received 812 orders from 39 customers worldwide.

A380 set to join Qatar Airways fleet

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A model of the Qatar Airways  A380 (from my collection.)

The first of 13 Airbus A380s Qatar Airways ordered will join its fleet on June 17, the state-owned carrier announced today.

It will operate on the Doha-London (DOH-LHR) route.

“These aircraft, with their customized cabins, will set a new level of comfort for our passengers, who will also benefit from a smooth and pleasant passenger experience at the world’s newest airport, Hamad International Airport, the soon to be opened new home of Qatar Airways,” said CEO Akbar Al Baker.

The A380 is the world’s largest passenger aircraft.

Emirates, based in neighbouring Dubai, is the largest operator of A380s with 47 aircraft in service and another 93 on order. It flies to more than 20 cities, including Toronto.

With a fleet of 131 various aircraft, Qatar Airways flies to 137 destinations.

 

Sorry, Business Class only…

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The A319 cabin. Qatar Airways Photo.

All-business class flights have been operating in several parts of the world for years.

Now Qatar Airways is set to become the first airline in the Middle East to offer the service.

The airline says it will operate a daily business-class only flight from its hub in Doha (DOH) to London Heathrow (LHR) this spring.

“The new service will be the first of its kind in the Middle East, commencing from 15 May 2014, with an Airbus A319 aircraft fitted with an all-business class, single aisle, 2–2 seating configuration offering 40 seats,” the airline said Tuesday.

Qatar Airways already operates five daily flights to Heathrow.

“Today’s announcement reaffirms Qatar Airways’ determination to continue its expansion drive by improving an already superior in-flight product,” said CEO Akbar Al Baker.

Al Baker: A350 program well on track

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Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker with Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Bregier and Didier Evrard, Executive Vice-President of the A350 XWB program. Airbus Photo.

With an order for 80 Airbus A350s, Qatar Airways is the top customer of the new extra wide body aircraft.

The airline’s CEO, Akbar Al Baker, was in Toulouse, France, this week to witness the production of the airplane.

“I am pleased with what I have seen during my visit,” Al Baker said.

“It gives me every confidence that the program is well on track for our first delivery in 2014.”

The European manufacturer also marked his visit by unveiling the newest A350 flight test aircraft, called MSN4, in Qatar Airways livery. It will soon join the rest of the A350 test fleet.

The A350 in Qatar Airways livery. Airbus Photo.

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways said in a release that an A350 will fly to the airline’s home base of Doha on Wednesday for a grand welcome at the new Hamad International Airport.  A test aircrft will also go on display at next week’s Singapore Airshow. 

The A350 features an extra wide cabin with a non-stop flying capability of more than 15,000 kilometres.

It will be built in three versions – A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000. In all, Airbus has received 812 orders from 39 customers worldwide.

The A350 is currently at an advanced phase of flight tests and is due to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Last week, a test aircraft was in Canada’s Arctic city of Iqaluit for cold weather trials.

Boeing 777X takes off with record orders

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Boeing’s newest aircraft – the 777-8X and 777-9X. Boeing photo.

Boeing made history on the opening day of the Dubai Airshow, announcing record-breaking orders worth almost $100 billion for its new 777X airplanes. The American aircraft maker said Sunday the orders for 259 airplanes represented the largest product launch in commercial jetliner history by dollar value.

Dubai flag carrier Emirates led the way with an order for 150 of the aircraft. Other Gulf airlines followed suit, with Etihad of Abu Dhabi ordering 25 and Qatar Airways 50. Joining them was the German airline Lufthansa with a commitment for 34 aircraft.

“We are proud to partner with each of these esteemed airlines to launch the 777X – the largest and most-efficient twin-engine jetliner in the world,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Ray Conner.

“Its ground-breaking engine technologies and all-new composite wing will deliver unsurpassed value and growth potential to our customers.”

The 777X is the newest member of the highly successful 777 family of long-haul airliners. It will be built in two versions: the 777-9X that offers seating for more than 400 passengers and the 777-8X, which will seat 350 passengers.

Boeing’s European rival, Airbus, also won a major order at the show, again from Emirates for 50 A380s worth $23 billion, boosting the airline’s fleet of the superjumbos to 140.

“The A380 continues to be the flagship of our fleet and after five years in operation it remains highly popular with our passengers,” said Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum.

The Airbus A380 in Dubai. Airbus photo.

He added that the latest order will help the airline meet both fleet expansion and fleet replacement needs.

“By strategically placing the A380 at the centre of its business, Emirates is maximizing its leading position with each day of operations,” said Airbus president Fabrice Bregier.

The airshow has attracted some 1,000 exhibitors from around the world. It runs through Nov. 21 and more orders are expected in the next few days.