Malaysia Airlines eyes A350 but wants first deliveries in 2017.

Malaysia Airlines could decide between the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 as its future of its long-range fleet as early as March/2015 for delivery in 2017 as a first step in a sweeping restructuring of the airline.

The Malaysian flag-carrier is preparing to be nationalised under full control of state-run Khazanah Nasional by year’s end and choosing a fuel-efficient replacement for its ageing Boeing 777 fleet is now a high priority for the airline.

“We definitely see an urgent need to have a long-term fleet plan for MAS” said Mr PK Lee, Regional Senior Vice President of Malaysia Airlines.

Source: publico.pt

“Once we establish a new business model consistent with our aspirations as a premium airline, we need to align this to our fleet plan” Lee told Australian Business Traveller in Kuala Lumpur.

“In March/2015 we will have an accurate picture of our first design for the new business – including fleet size, fleet types and fleet plan – so this will be an important milestone for making that decision so that in 2-3 years time we have the best aircraft for the long term.”

Lee said that while replacing the Boeing 777s had previously been discussed, “the total revamp of the organisation is an opportunity for MAS to seriously look at the fleet type”, adding that the issue was “definitely more important” in light of the pending nationalisation.

“The A350 and 787 are both very good aircraft, as to which we choose, it depends whether Airbus and  Boeing can convince us which is the better fit” Lee said, “but so far we have not looked into the 777X.”

Source: publico.pt

Lee said that despite Malaysia Airlines’ financial woes – the airline airline has racked up debts of $1.5 billion since 2011 – bulking up the fleet with factory-fresh aircraft would not be beyond the airline once its nationalisations is complete.

“Definitely we will have the money to buy them” Lee says. “As the national carrier we have 100% support from the Government”.

Based on the article “Malaysia Airlines eyes Airbus A350, Boeing 787 but unsure of 777X” published in Australian Business Traveller

A350 finishes Asian demo-tour.

The A350 XWB took centre stage in the fast-growing Asian market during its successful 11-day demonstration tour, which was performed ahead of the first customer delivery, planned for coming weeks.

Source: Airbus

Using its MSN005 A350-900 developmental aircraft, Airbus debuted the A350 XWB in 5 new Asian destinations: Seoul, Tokyo, Hanoi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, before returning back in Toulouse on Black-Friday.

Source: JangSu Lee

Throughout this trip, Airbus underscored the highly-efficient widebody jetliner’s superior operating economics and high levels of passenger comfort, which was highlighted during the visits of key customers, invited airline guests, industry officials, journalists and bloggers.

More than 4.000 people came aboard the aircraft during its Asian stopovers, with 375 of them given the A350 XWB experience during demonstration flights.

Source: Airbus

Visitors to MSN005 were able to experience first-hand the A350 XWB’s “xtra” wide cabin, which provides more personal space in all classes, the latest in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems, wide panoramic windows, large overhead stowage compartments and precise temperature control. 

Based on the press release “The A350 XWB makes a big impression during its Asian demonstration tour”

American wheels & carbon brakes for Chinese A350s

UTC Aerospace Systems has been selected by China Airlines to supply the wheels and carbon brakes for its fleet of 14 Airbus A350-900 aircraft.  The company will provide the equipment through its Landing Systems facility in Troy, Ohio.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramis-photos/15041492804/in/pool-1297388@N21

The A350-900 carbon brakes use proprietary DURACARB® carbon heat sink material whichprovides exceptional brake performance and a 35% brake life advantage over competitive products, producing significant cost savings for operators.

"China Airlines' selection of our A350 wheels and brakes demonstrates their confidence in our product innovation and adds to the portfolio of equipment we already provide to this key customer," said Jim Wharton, Senior Vice President, Landing Systems for UTC Aerospace Systems.

Source: Toze Batista

"During our long-term relationship UTC Aerospace Systems has provided industry-leading products and customer support.  We are counting on their superior brake life and reduced maintenance costs for our new A350 fleet," said Joseph Chou, General Manager, Supplies Department, China Airlines.

Based on the press release “UTC Aerospace Systems Selected by China Airlines to Provide Wheels and Carbon Brakes for their Airbus A350-900 Fleet”

Reason behind Delta-decision to order A350.

AirwaysNews has conducted an economic analysis of the 787-9, A350-900 and 777-200LRs trying to analyze the reasons behind Deltas decision to order A350s and A330neos instead of 787.

Source: Airbus

The route used for the comparison has been a representative one: Seattle-Shanghai Pudong, from Delta’s trans-Pacific network. The distance for the route is 4.972 nautical miles, and operating cost calculations were made based on a variable fuel cost scenarios (jet fuel at $3.50, $3.00, and $2.50 per gallon). The A350-900 and 787-9 are assumed to sport identical 46% discounts with a 60% discount for the 777-200LR (as Boeing attempts to fill its production gap). A 12-year depreciation schedule is used.

As the data illustrates, the A350-900′s higher seating capacity gives it only a narrow disadvantage in cash operating cost per seat mile, but in terms of total CASM, the 787-9 has a small (<3 .5="" advantage.="" nbsp="" o:p="">

Both aircraft are close enough in terms of operating cost that non-operating factors (commonality with the A330-900neo, availability, etc.) won the day for the A350-900.

Furthermore, the analysis clearly illustrates why Delta rejected the stopgap 777-200LRs; a 16-20% operating cost disadvantage inclusive of capital costs is too large to stomach in a low margin hub like present day Seattle.

Source: publico.pt

As the operating economics are close enough to each other, “availability carried the day”; delivery slots offered to Delta in the 2016-2018 timeframe by Airbus (combined delivery slots for the A330-900neo and A350-900) have made the difference.

Based on the article “ANALYSIS: Delta Order for A350; A330neo Hinged on Pricing, Availability.” Published in AirwaysNews

Kuwait Airways orders 10 777-300ERs because there isn´t any white-tail A350 available for 2016.

Kuwait Airways has confirmed it is buying 10 Boeing 777-300ERs. The preliminary agreement means the state-owned flag carrier (with a nearly all-Airbus fleet) is greatly expanding its ties with Boeing.

Source: Airbus

“We appreciate the start of a new partnership with Kuwait Airways,” said Marty Bentrott, Boeing’s vice-president of sales for Middle East, Russia and Central Asia.

This long awaited decision has a key lever; deliveries will begin in two years, in November/2016. And there are no A350s available for 2016. Airbus has preferred to secure the order of 25 A350s from Delta (deliveries beginning in 2017) than selling 10 aircraft more to Kuwait Airways that has already 10 A350 (deliveries beginning in 2019).  

Source: Airbus

The offer was accepted after securing all necessary official approvals and the contract will be signed soon, chairwoman Rasha al-Rumi said.

In February, loss-making KAC signed contracts with Airbus to buy 25 planes in the first order for new aircraft in more than 20 years; 15 A320neo and 10 A350-900s, with an option to buy 5 more of each. Under a second contract, KAC will lease 7 A320s and 5 A330s, with delivery due to start next month.

Source: publico.pt

The airline, which is slated for eventual privatization, has an ageing fleet of 12 Airbuses (5 A300-600Rs, 3 A310-300s and 4 A340-300s) and 3 Boeings (2 777-200ERs and one 747-400 Combi). It has posted losses in all but one of the past 21 years, amounting to a total of more than $2.7 billion, which has been covered by the government.

Based on the article “Kuwait Airways confirms decision to opt Boeing 777-300ERs” published in Arabian Aerospace

"We will look at the A350 again” said Emirates president.

Emirates hopes to talk to Airbus in the next few months over possibly buying A350 planes after it unexpectedly cancelled an order for 70 in June, said the airline's president Tim Clark.

The cancellation of the wide-body planes was a blow for Airbus and Clark acknowledged he was not "flavour of the month" with the plane maker.

Source: flyteam.jp

He said Emirates had cancelled the order after Airbus changed the plane's specifications but it would look closely at how the aircraft - which should enter service this year with Qatar Airways - performs once it starts flying.

"I've said the company will look at the A350 again. It will be done when we can align a contract to the performance of the aircraft," Clark said.

Clark said Emirates would need new widebody planes from 2019, although it could also keep older planes in service for longer. He added by that time the A350 would be in competition with Boeing's 787-10 jet, which is due to enter service in 2018.

Based on the article “Emirates hopes for talks with Airbus on A350 in next few months” published in Reuters.

Rusia and China keep on working on the A350 competitor.

In the Zhuhai China-airshow held in the second week of November the Chinese aircraft manufacturer Comac and Russian UAC unveiled to an audience of 150 suppliers some general view of a future long-haul wide body aircraft significantly more ambitious than expected.

Source: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA

While Western specialists evoked a similar to A330 project, China and Russia target the new aircraft as A350 competitor. The target would be an entry in service as early as 2023, which would mean a first flight in 2021.

Source: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA

No public information was unveiled at this stage as the program is even not officially launched. But according to information known from participants at the presentation, the future SRLRWB (Sino-Russian Long Range Wide-Body) would be available in 3 versions, from 250 to 350 seats, with a first baseline with more than 300 seats, with a 50% composite components, including the wing. Very similar to A350 program.

Source: Tadayuki YOSHIKAWA

The development “plateau” will be at Moscow and the corporate headquarters will be based in China, as the joint venture between Russian UAC and Chinese COMAC will be 50-50. It is planned to manufacture the wings in Russia and the future Final Assembly Line (FAL) would be close to Shanghai leaded by COMAC.

However, the future program should have a large participation of Western equipment manufacturers; starting with the engines -which will be probably selected between the American GE and the British Rolls-Royce-, avionics, distribution and electricity generation, electronics and computing. According to the indications provided in the presentation, a Call for Applications procedure should be launched in 1Q/2015 and the first "request for information" one year later.

Source: Yumihiko Ogawa

According to market forecasts announced, UAC and Comac would build on a potential market of less than 1000 aircraft. Which suggests that the 2 groups would be limited to the needs of their 2 national markets and at least initially avoid competing with the A350 and future 777 X on international markets.

Based on the article “La Chine et la Russie veulent lancer un concurrent de l’Airbus A350” published in Les Echos