Super-efficient aircraft to help airline modernize fleet, enhance passenger experience

Seattle, WA | April 26, 2018– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Gulf Air celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner for the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The airplane also debuts the carrier’s new livery.

“This delivery is a historic moment for Gulf Air and Bahrain and yet another important step in our strategic direction towards furthering Gulf Air’s fleet modernization process and supporting our network and overall passenger experience enhancement strategies,” said Krešimir Kučko, Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Air.

“The 787-9 Dreamliner orders will ensure we maintain one of the youngest fleets in the region while building upon our award-winning reliability, on time performance and product and service standards,” Kučko.

Gulf Air is set to take delivery of four more Dreamliners this year. The airline plans to introduce the 787 on its twice-daily service between Bahrain and London Heathrow before deploying the long-range efficient jet on other routes.

“Gulf Air joins the growing number of airlines operating the 787 Dreamliner across the Middle East,” said Marty Bentrott, Vice President, Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, for Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Central Asia and Africa. “The demand for the Dreamliner underlines the operational efficiency and travel experience that the airplane brings to the airline and its passengers.”

Boeing has delivered more than 670 787s since deliveries began in 2011. The 787 fleet has flown more than 240 million passengers while saving over 23 billion pounds of fuel and enabling airlines to open more than 180 new nonstop routes around the world.

The first Gulf Air 787 – painted in the airline’s new livery – recently flew a special mission to the airline’s home base to perform a fly pass over the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix. Formula 1 race fans were treated to a dramatic aerial display prior to the start of the championship race.

• World’s largest airline to more than double its Dreamliner fleet with 47 firm orders and 28 options
• Order is valued at $12 billion; includes 787-8 and 787-9 models
• American cites 787 family’s performance, commonality, market success for repeat order

Seattle, WA | April 6, 2018– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and American Airlines today announced the world’s largest airline will more than double its 787 Dreamliner fleet with a new order for 47 of the super-efficient airplane plus 28 options. The 47 787s are valued at more than $12 billion at list prices and makes American Airlines the largest 787 customer in the Western Hemisphere.

“We are extremely honored that American Airlines, is deepening its commitment to the 787 Dreamliner. This new order is a powerful endorsement of the 787 family’s unique passenger appeal and unmatched ability to help airlines open new routes and grow profitably,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister.

Built with lightweight composite materials and powered by advanced engines, the Dreamliner family lowers operating costs by more than 20 percent compared to previous airplanes, and nearly 10 percent compared to today’s competing jets.

American becomes the latest airline to place a repeat order for the 787 Dreamliner. More than half of the program’s 71 customers have done so, which has helped the 787 program achieve more than 1,350 orders to date.

“We are showing again and again that the 787 Dreamliner is the champion in its class. The airplane’s tremendous value proposition explains why it has become the fastest selling twin-aisle jet in history,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales & Marketing for The Boeing Company. “And when we match the Dreamliner with Boeing’s suite of services, it is a combination that delivers unbeatable value for our customers.”

Boeing’s Global Services division provides American Airlines with efficiency tools such as Airplane Health Management and Toolbox, which help the airline improve operational performance and improve dispatch reliability.

The 787-8 Dreamliner can fly 242 passengers up to 7,355 nautical miles (13,620 km) in a typical two-class configuration. The 787-9, a stretch of the 787-8, can fly 290 passengers up to 7,635 nautical miles.

About Boeing and American Airlines’ history

The relationship between Boeing and American Airlines spans over 80 years. Some of the key shared milestones include:

• June 1936: American becomes the first to fly the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service
• January 1959: American uses the Boeing 707 to offer the first coast-to-coast jet service
• March 1961: American is the first in-service with the Boeing 720B
• July 1971: The first DC-10 delivery goes to American
• May 2015: American flies its first revenue flight with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Morocco’s flag carrier expands 787 fleet to enable growth in international routes

Seattle, WA | December 27, 2017– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Royal Air Maroc (RAM) today announced orders for (4) 787-9 Dreamliners – valued at $1.1 billion at list prices – that will enable Morocco’s flag carrier to expand international service.

The orders, previously listed as unidentified on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website, include two 787s purchased in December 2016and two purchased this month.

Royal Air Maroc, which has already taken delivery of five 787-8s, will grow its fleet of fuel-efficient 787s to a total of nine airplanes. Royal Air Maroc flies 787s on international routes from Casablanca to North America, South America, the Middle East and Europe, and with the additional airplanes plans to expand service to these areas.

“Today Royal Air Maroc has direct flights to 80 international destinations. Thanks to our unique position as a geographic hub and high quality of service, we bring customers from all over the world to their destinations. With more than 850 flights per month to Africa, Royal Air Maroc has the broadest presence across the continent of any airline,” said Abdelhamid Addou, CEO and Chairman of Royal Air Maroc. He added, “Our vision is to be the leading airline in Africa in terms of quality of service, quality of planes and connectivity. Ordering new-generation planes such as the Dreamliner puts our airline on the right track to fulfill our vision.”

“Royal Air Maroc’s additional 787 orders are a terrific endorsement of the Dreamliner’s economic performance, fuel efficiency and unrivalled passenger experience,” said Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Expanding the relationship between our companies that began nearly 50 years ago, Boeing is proud to support Royal Air Maroc’s growth plans within Africa and further connect Morocco to the world.”

Royal Air Maroc is celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year. Its fleet includes more than 56 Boeing airplanes, including 737s, 767-300ERs, 787s and a 747-400. The Casablanca-based carrier operates a domestic network throughout Morocco and serves more than 80 destinations across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, North America and South America.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a family of super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. The 787-9’s fuselage is stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8 and can fly 290 passengers up to 14,140 kilometers in a typical two-class configuration. The 787’s unparalleled fuel efficiency – reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20 percent compared to airplanes it replaces – and range flexibility enable carriers to profitably open new routes and optimize fleet and network performance. To serve passengers, the Dreamliner offers large, dimmable windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.

Boeing also is a longstanding partner to Morocco, supporting the country’s development of its aerospace industry and workforce. Boeing and Safran are joint venture partners in Morocco Aero-Technical Interconnect Systems (MATIS) Aerospace in Casablanca, a high-quality supplier that employs more than 1,000 people building wire bundles and wire harnesses for Boeing and other aerospace companies.

• Turkish Airlines announces intent to order 40 787-9 Dreamliners

New York | September 21, 2017— Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Turkish Airlines today announced the airline’s intention to order 40 787-9 Dreamliners. The order will be reflected on the Boeing Orders and Deliveries website once finalized.

“The 787 Dreamliner is the most technologically advanced airplane in the world,” said M. İlker Aycı, chairman of the board and the executive committee, Turkish Airlines. “Our intent to purchase these Dreamliners is to meet the demand for wide-body airplanes at the 3^rd Airport, further strengthen our fleet capacity on the 100th anniversary of the Republic and to enhance passenger satisfaction.”

“Turkish Airlines is a great partner, and we value their confidence in us and the 787 Dreamliner,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Kevin McAllister.

Boeing and the Turkish government also announced the Boeing Turkey National Aerospace Initiative, which is designed to support the growth of the Turkish aerospace industry, in conjunction with the targets set by Turkey’s Vision 2023, and strengthen Boeing’s presence in the market.

“Boeing’s relationship with Turkey spans more than 70 years and we have outstanding long-term partnerships,” said Ray Conner, Boeing vice chairman. “Working together with Turkey, we are now taking our collaboration to the next level, which will accelerate the growth of the Turkish aerospace industry while achieving Boeing’s long-term objective to expand its presence in the marketplace.”

The initiative outlines a strategic framework that aligns Boeing investment and programs with the government, Turkish airlines, aerospace service companies and industry suppliers in the areas of research, engineering and skills development. It reflects Boeing’s confidence in the long-term outlook for Turkey as a significant market and a leading global industry participant.

Boeing has maintained a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey since the 1940s. Boeing is a provider of commercial jetliners to Turkish airlines and a significant and trusted partner of the Turkish aerospace industry.

 

• New airplanes to boost capacity on domestic routes

Seattle, Washington | September 20, 2017–Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Japan Airlines (JAL) announced an order today for four 787-8 Dreamliners. The order, which was previously listed on the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website, attributed to an unidentified customer, is valued at more than $900 million at current list prices and will expand JAL’s Dreamliner fleet to 49 airplanes.

“This order for additional 787 Dreamliners, is a key part of our strategy as we look to bolster our existing route network and strengthen our position ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo,” said Yoshiharu Ueki, President of Japan Airlines. “The superior noise performance of the 787 will play a critical role in meeting our commitment for quieter operations within our domestic network going forward.”

Japan Airlines currently operates the second largest 787 Dreamliner fleet in the world, with 34 airplanes. The carrier is expected to receive its 35^th Dreamliner, a 787-9 later this week. With this new order, Japan Airlines’ 787 fleet include 29 787-8s and 20 787-9 airplanes.

“We are honored to partner with Japan Airlines once again as they further expand their world-class fleet with additional 787 Dreamliners,” said Kevin McAllister, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “JAL has been able to successfully grow its business over the years, while generating healthy profits due to the efficiency and reliability of their 787 fleet.”

Japan Airlines became the first airline in the world to take delivery of a 787 powered by fuel-efficient General Electric GEnx engines in 2012. In addition, JAL was one of the first airlines to launch new routes with the 787, as it launched its Boston and San Diego routes with the Dreamliner that same year.

The 787 Dreamliner family is being operated on more than 530 routes, with 150 brand new nonstop routes planned or in service since the airplane began commercial service in 2011. To date, 69 customers worldwide have placed orders for 1,278 airplanes, making the 787 Dreamliner the fastest selling twin-aisle airplane in Boeing history.

• MOU includes eight 787 Dreamliners and eight 737 MAXs
• Ceremony witnessed by Malaysian Minister of International Trade & Industry; In presence of Malaysian Prime Minister

Washington | September 12, 2017– Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Malaysia Airlines Berhad (Malaysia Airlines) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 16 airplanes during a ceremony at the St. Regis Hotel in Washington D.C.

The signing was witnessed by Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry and in the presence of The Honorable Dato’ Sri Muhammad Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia as well as members from the airline and Boeing.

The announcement includes eight 787-9 Dreamliners by converting eight of Malaysia Airlines’ existing order of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and eight additional purchase rights of the 737 MAX 8s as well as Boeing’s Global Fleet Care service to maintain the national carrier’s current and future Boeing airplanes. Once finalized, the deal will be posted to Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website.

“Malaysia Airlines is proud to sign this MOU for the widebody Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and additional 737 MAXs, building on our more than 40 years of partnership with Boeing,” said Peter Bellew, managing director and chief executive officer of Malaysia Airlines. “New widebody aircraft are a key to making Malaysia Airlines a premium airline offering a five star product again. The extraordinary range of the 787-9 gives an ability to operate to any point in Europe and some USA destinations in the future from Kuala Lumpur. The MOU with Boeing on their Global Fleet Care program will allow the two companies to build a world class MRO for the 737 MAX, 787 and 737NG based on Malaysia’s existing facilities in Kuala Lumpur.”

Malaysia Airlines currently operates more than 50 Next-Generation 737s and has an additional 25 737 MAXs on order, including 10 for the new 737 MAX 10.

“Boeing offers the very best widebody and single aisle airplanes in the world and we are delighted Malaysia Airlines continues to put its trust and confidence in Boeing with this MOU for 16 Boeing airplanes,” said Kevin McAllister, President and Chief Executive Officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The 787 and the 737 MAX will provide Malaysia Airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, economics and a superior passenger experience as they continue to grow their business across Southeast Asia and beyond.”

The 787 is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features and uses 25 percent less fuel and with 20 to 25 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces. The 737 MAX 10 will be the most profitable single-aisle airplane, offering the lowest seat costs ever. The 737 MAX family has been designed to offer customers exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency, with lower per-seat costs and an extended range that will open up new destinations in the single-aisle market.

Boeing Global Fleet Care provides point solutions in the form of Engineering, Materials and Maintenance programs for air operators, accomplished through the use of decades of fleet data management, industry-leading technologies, and proprietary analytics and processes. Tailored to the individual airline, Boeing Global Fleet Care is a high-value, low-risk and efficient fleet maintenance operations solution that gives customers a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Advanced inflight entertainment system to be installed across its fleet of new Dreamliners

Lake Forest, CA | July 18, 2017– EL AL Israel Airlines today announced that it has selected Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s (Panasonic) industry-leading eX3 inflight entertainment (IFE) system for its new fleet of 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

Under terms of its agreement with Panasonic, EL AL will install eX3 across nine Boeing 787-9s and seven B787-8s, with the first aircraft being delivered in August 2017. The agreement also includes a 15-year contract for the provision of system maintenance by Panasonic Technical Services, including spares, repairs and logistics, at an optimized maintenance cost.

EL AL’s eX3 system features an elegant industrial design across all cabin classes. Passengers will be able to view 12, 13 and 16-inch high definition monitors that deliver superior viewing angles and capacitive touch. They also feature proprietary Panasonic technology that functions like the human eye, making dark scenes more visible by improving brightness in dark areas while simultaneously eliminating white saturation. The result is superior picture performance across all media formats including movies, TV shows, games, maps and more.

Hideo Nakano, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation, says: “Our partnership with EL AL continues to go from one successful program to the next and now stretches over a quarter of a century. Our eX3 system will provide EL AL with an industry-leading entertainment experience, delivering a premium service to their passengers traveling across the world.

“Our renewed agreement is testament to the loyalty and opportunity that our continued relationship delivers and we look forward to this new and exciting chapter.”

EL AL Vice President Service Amir Rogovsky adds: “We are focused on delivering a premium inflight experience for our customers. Our long-term partnership with Panasonic continues to be extremely successful and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with Panasonic Avionics as one of the leaders in the IFE industry.

Hamburg, DE | April 4, 2017– STG Aerospace, a world leader in lighting technologies for aircraft interiors, is delighted to announce it has won a major new contract to supply Boeing with its next generation photoluminescent floor path marking system, saf-Tglo® SuperSeal UltraLite (SSUL), for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

This latest contract win builds on the company’s outstanding performance and service delivery as a Tier 1 Boeing supplier, having this year been awarded their eighth consecutive supplier award for superior performance. STG Aerospace has been supplying the photoluminescent floor path marking system to Boeing for the Next-Generation 737 for more than 16 years.

As a line fit option on the 787 Dreamliner fleet, saf-Tglo® SSUL is fully certified by EASA and FAA for virtually every Boeing, Airbus and Embraer airplane model and enables the operators of multiple aircraft type fleets to have a common supplier for its emergency egress marking system. The lightest and most discrete Emergency Escape Path Marking System available, SSUL is also 17% brighter and 70% lighter than the previous SSL system, helping to reduce airline fuel costs.

SSUL’s reduced profile also makes it an optimal match for modern lightweight carpets and with over 300 colour options, and unique blue-glowing and carpet PatternMatch™ options available, airlines are able to co-ordinate the system with their cabin colour scheme and corporate branding without reducing safety.

First introduced in 1995, saf-Tglo® is installed on more than 11,000 aircraft worldwide and is the system of choice for virtually every major aircraft manufacturer and more than 300 airlines worldwide. Needing no power source, the system is 100% reliable, maintenance free and has no life limit thereby eliminating the operational delays and costs associated with electrical systems. Reduced maintenance costs of up to 80% are achieved through a durable material structure.

Marcus Williams, Global Sales and Marketing Director for STG Aerospace, commented:
“We’re thrilled our longstanding relationship with Boeing continues to evolve. This new contract to supply the production line for the 787 Dreamliner is another significant OEM contract win for us in recent months, and another major OEM contract in recent months. As one of Boeing’s worldwide suppliers, an achievement the entire company takes huge pride in, we’re delighted our quality performance and customer service continues to expand our key customer relationships.”

STG Aerospace has been a supplier to Boeing since 2000 and over the years has won a number of supplier awards in recognition of its high performance aircraft cabin lighting technologies. This year, STG Aerospace has won its eighth consecutive Boeing Performance Excellence Award.

Telefonix PDT:

Telefonix PDT(TM) announced that they now have an STC for  Boeing 737NG – 700, 800 & 900 aircraft types for both the CabinPinnacle(TM) server and CabinACe(TM)wireless access point. The STC was just awarded prior to APEX in Singapore, and we understand that Kaiser Charter was the first installation completed in October. This STC represents the first phase of certifications and it is our understanding that phase 2 will include the CabinEdge(TM) content loader. The content loader works while the aircraft is in service and data is trickled, loading into shadow memory, and eventually ending up in the operational memory as the update is installed. Telefonix PDT is also working on garnering a similar STC for the A320 aircraft family. The STC/PMA was strategically planned to grow the company’s customer base for the 737 in the Asia region. The airlines have the data rights to use the system, with the hardware being sold, not leased. Lest you forget, Telefonix(TM) has had a long standing relationship with production in China; and, in 2017, the company has plans to establish a repair station in China, in addition to their current repair station in Waukegan, Illinois. One point that was stressed in our interview at APEX was that Telefonix PDT is not just an equipment provider, but a design and engineering services provider as well. (Editor’s Note: IFExpress has watched Telefonix PDT grow over the past 20+ years and we feel that they have developed excellent, low-cost IFE system components and the China relationships, as well as their involvement with many hardware manufactures within the industry, is proof of this. You should watch this company in the coming year – we think they are going to grow!)

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Industry News:

• Panasonic

Have you heard about the Panasonic Blog? We asked Panasonic how it came about and here is what a spokesperson said: “Matthias Walter and Estel Carbo worked very hard on this and have a plan that we thinks helps give more insights into the IFEC landscape.” Matthias Walther, Senior Manager of Integrated Marketing at Panasonic Avionics said, “Marketing these days has many facets. Hard sales has its place in marketing too but in an industry as relationship-driven as ours it’s essential to engage in a dialog that is more about education than promotion, more about solutions than product and more about value than price. Of course we will occasionally talk about us and what we bring to the table but only if we and what we write adds value to the daily lives of our customers will our blog be successful.”  Noted Panasonic: “One of the business principles of Panasonic’s founder Knosuke Matsushita describes customer focus always trumping sales concerns. In that spirit our blog intends to drive knowledge, our relationship with our customers and the quality of decision making in one direction, UP.” Check it out here.

Panasonic Weather Solution

Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Safety Line unveiled a strategic partnership that will enable airlines to benefit from significant fuel savings. Panasonic Weather Solutions (PWS) provides Safety Line with enhanced global weather forecast through real-time weather data collection from its TAMDAR sensors and FlightLink Iridium system. TAMDAR data provides observations of wind, temperature, and moisture every five seconds as TAMDAR-equipped aircraft descend and ascend at nearly 300 airports across North America. It also collects about 3,500 profiles each day from several hundred additional airports located in East Asia, the Pacific, and Europe. This data is used by Panasonic’s Forecasting Center of Excellence (FCoE), which develops detailed station-based weather forecasting, as well as enhanced weather forecasting. The process is fully automated from the weather live feed to flight plan analysis and climb schedule issuance to the pilot. Airlines can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 percent during ascent thanks to OptiClimb’s unique patented solution, which uses a combination of machine learning performance models for each individual aircraft, and the computing of optimized climb profiles issued ahead of each flight.

Also check this link The Connected Aircraft (Part I) – Curating the Internet of Me – UP – Panasonic Avionics Blog if you want to know a bit more about the connected aircraft.

• Inmarsat

We should note that Hawaiian Airlines has experienced the benefits of SwiftBroadband-Safety delivered through Cobham advanced AVIATOR avionics and has now chosen to expand its commitment to high speed broadband in the flight deck with its A321neo. But to see the features that are provided, you must check out this Inmarsat Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System feature download – this is the future of aviation safety and you need to check it out!

• Boeing

The FAA issued a new rule that forces Boeing 787 operators to periodically shut down and restart airplane power that reboots onboard computers to overcome a glitch that shuts down flight control computers during flight! Finding and fixing this “inconsistency” will be very, very interesting. Stay Tuned!

• Satellite 2017

Be a part of the world’s largest gathering of the international satellite community. Taking place in Washington, D.C. March 6-9, 2017 the SATELLITE 2017 Conference and Exhibition don’t miss this opportunity to hear from executive speakers from commercial airlines, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Air Force!

• THE ‘Donald’
  

Donald Trump says the new Air Force One contract should be cancelled! Perhaps Airbus will make a better offer? Then Boeing put this news release out – Boeing Statement on Air Force One – Dec 6, 2016 Or, you might want to read the following story from Gizmodo – beware there are x-rated words, so watch out!

• Other

If you have been wondering where IoT and cloud computing are going, one answer is ‘physically portable data’. This is going to be one of the markets of the next generation cloud because of security and access as large (and now medium) data portability and cloud interaction become involved. We suspect that the airlines will see value in this if hacking gets any worse Amazon Cloud Gets A Bit More Hybrid  This just may be one futures of the medium and big data cloud storage and security.

In-Flight hook-ups now supported with AirDates “This is achieved using Multipeer WiFi between smartphones, eliminating the need to rely upon the Plane’s WiFi network or other connection.” Check it out here –  but you might need the Trusted Contacts app as well.

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Quick Study: Millennials

While in Singapore, we heard one word over and over – millennial- so we thought after the show we would do the research on who they are and why they are so important to some industries. While this quick bit of data is just a speed read, we think the answers are telling and important to IFEC, especially C (Communications).

First what is a millennial? It is a person ‘reaching young adulthood around the year 2000’ the dictionary said.  Noted Goldman Sachs: “The Millennial generation is the largest in US history and as they reach their prime working and spending years, their impact on the economy is going to be huge. Millennials have come of age during a time of technological change, globalization and economic disruption. That’s given them a different set of behaviors and experiences than their parents.They have been slower to marry and move out on their own, and have shown different attitudes to ownership that have helped spawn what’s being called a ‘sharing economy.’ They’re also the first generation of digital natives, and their affinity for technology helps shape how they shop. They are used to instant access to price comparisons, product information and peer reviews.” Further, a company called iGR interviewed and surveyed millennials to get their views on communication and technology and here is what they said: “As the largest and highly communication-tech-savy generation; they are at the epicenter of our curiosity to drive decision-making for the next wave of innovation in infrastructure. Take note! The most successful service providers over the next 5-10 years will be those who best understand the emerging generations communication behavior, accurately anticipate core service wants and needs, proactively adapt and adjust business strategies, and finally, provide the most relevant solutions and services.” That about says it all and explains why the word ‘millennial’ was so popular in Singapore, especially with those who dealt with communications, connectivity, and cost!

United Kingdom | August 11, 2016– Customers travelling with Virgin Atlantic this summer will now be able to tune in to live television onboard its 787’s, thanks to a partnership with Panasonic Avionics and IMG.

This new service will be available to customers travelling on the state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner and initially three channels will be available – Sport 24 for all the live sporting action from around the world, and BBC World News and CNN International for breaking news around the clock.

Sport 24 will be showing action from the Rio 2016 Olympics Games, Premier League, NFL, UEFA Champions League, NBA, Tennis Grand Slams, Bundesliga, Formula 1, Golf Majors, MotoGP, and the Ryder Cup.

Jill Brady, Executive Vice President of Customer at Virgin Atlantic, said:

“We know staying up to date with current affairs and sporting events is really important to our customers and it’s fantastic we can now offer them the opportunity to view content live. We always put our customers at the heart of everything we do and this is just another example of us being able to expand on our promise of making travelling with us irresistible.”

Virgin Atlantic customers will be able to tune in to live TV via their seat-back screen or via their own devices using the onboard wifi, at no extra cost.

The service is being rolled out to the 787 Dreamliners now, and all thirteen aircraft will be fully equipped by the end of the year.

In 1991 Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to introduce individual seat back screens in all classes, and by Summer 2017 will offer wifi connectivity across all its aircraft.

• Boeing to provide services for carrier’s entire 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner fleet
• Agreement represents largest commercial services order in Boeing history

Farnborough, UK | July 11, 2016– Boeing (NYSE: BA) announced today at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow that Norwegian has committed to GoldCare coverage for its 737 MAX fleet and expanded coverage for the airline’s entire 787 Dreamliner fleet.

The new services agreements represent the largest commercial services order in Boeing history.

Norwegian will launch Boeing’s 737 MAX GoldCare offering when its first airplane is delivered in May 2017. Under the agreement, Boeing will provide coverage through 2034.

“Boeing has proven to us over the past four years the value of GoldCare for our operations,” said Bjorn Kjos, CEO, Norwegian. “The reliability and operational effectiveness of our 787 fleet has never been better. We have great expectations and confidence in what we can accomplish by leveraging GoldCare across our 737 MAX fleet as well.”

Norwegian has 108 737 MAXs on firm order, with commitments for 92 more airplanes. In addition, the airline will continue adding 787-9s to its existing 787 GoldCare agreement. Boeing has provided GoldCare Services for Norwegian’s 787 fleet since 2012.

“This agreement marks a historic moment for Boeing and our services business—one we are proud to share with Norwegian,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “We are honored that Norwegian is expressing its confidence in Boeing’s GoldCare program. We look forward to continuing to build on our long-standing relationship and further prove the advantages and value that our services portfolio brings to their operation.”

With the GoldCare service, Boeing delivers the operational economics committed to customers when they buy Boeing airplanes. Airlines trust Boeing’s GoldCare services to deliver maintenance, engineering and parts required to run their airline’s unique operations.

GoldCare is tailored to the individual airline, providing a high-value, low-risk and efficient fleet maintenance operations that gives customers a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Boeing has substantially grown its GoldCare subscriptions since 2013, providing support for 60 customers and more than 2,200 airplanes.

Boeing is a leader in providing 24/7 support and service to the global aviation industry. In addition to subscription-based maintenance services such as GoldCare, Boeing offers the industry’s largest portfolio of services including aftermarket parts, freighter conversions and interior modifications, engineering support, crew training, route planning, digital crew scheduling, advanced data analytics and software to enhance airlines and leasing company operations.

• Carrier to become the first in China to operate 787-8 and 787-9 variants

Everett, WA | June 8, 2016– Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Hainan Airlines today celebrated the delivery of the carrier’s first 787-9 Dreamliner. Hainan becomes China’s first operator of both the 787-8 and 787-9 variants of the Dreamliner family.

Hainan Airlines, the largest privately owned airline in China, leased the airplane through an agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The delivery is also the first 787-9 Dreamliner to ALC, which has 15 additional 787-9s on order.

“The 787-9 Dreamliner will be a great addition to our long-haul fleet,” said Mou Weingang, Vice Chairman, Hainan Airlines. “The 787-9’s super efficiency, capability and in-flight experience will accelerate our market position internationally.”

As the largest 787 operator in China, Hainan Airlines already has 10 787-8s in service and plans to deploy its first 787-9 Dreamliner on a new route from Beijing to Las Vegas beginning in September.

“We are honored to celebrate this milestone delivery with both ALC and Hainan Airlines,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing Commercial Airplanes senior vice president of Northeast Asia Sales. “The 787-9 will complement Hainan Airlines’ existing 787-8 fleet, enabling the airline to open up new nonstop services for continuous global expansion.”

The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8, the 787-9 will fly over 40 more passengers an additional 280 nautical miles (520 kilometers) with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces.

The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passenger-pleasing features such as large windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.

Hainan Airlines, headquartered in Haikou, is one of only seven airlines, and the first in China, to be rated as a five-star airline by Skytrax, which surveys international travelers to rate and review airlines and airports. Boeing airplanes make up more than 85 percent of Hainan’s current fleet, which serves 500 domestic and international routes.

Lake Forest, CA | March 23, 2016– Panasonic Avionics (Panasonic), the world leader in inflight entertainment and communications, today announced it has been selected to supply the Cabin Services System (CSS) on the new family of Boeing 777X aircraft. Panasonic is currently the supplier of CSS on all Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 747-8 Intercontinental aircraft.

Panasonic’s CSS is a scalable, database driven, Ethernet-based network that provides core cabin functions such as passenger address, cabin interphone and environmental controls. CSS directly integrates with external subsystems such as cabin lighting and other airplane member systems across the airframe networks, including the inflight entertainment and connectivity solutions.

Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics said, “This agreement is the reflection of a growing relationship between Panasonic and Boeing. It shows the success of our efforts to combine reliability crucial for Cabin Services Systems with continued innovation benefitting flight crew and passengers, something that’s core to the 777X program.”

The 777X is the largest and most efficient twin-engine jet in the world with 320 orders and commitments for the aircraft. The cabin interior will include larger windows, a wider cabin, new lighting, and an enhanced architecture with cabin electronics controlled by the Panasonic Cabin Services System.

• ANA becomes the world’s first airline to reach milestone

Seattle, WA | January 11, 2016– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and ANA (All Nippon Airways) today celebrated the airline’s 100,000th revenue flight with the 787 Dreamliner during a gate ceremony at Sea-Tac International Airport. The milestone marks yet another record for ANA as it becomes the first airline in the world to reach 100,000 787 flights.

“The 787 Dreamliner has played an important role especially in forming the backbone of our international fleet,” said Osamu Shinobe, president and CEO, ANA. “Reaching the 100,000th revenue flight milestone with the 787 Dreamliner is a significant milestone for ANA. As the largest customer of the 787, we look to forward to introducing the entire family of Dreamliners into our fleet as we aim to celebrate another 100,000 flights and beyond.”

ANA was the launch customer of the 787 Dreamliner family and in 2011 became the first airline to introduce the innovative airplane to passengers around the world. Since then, the fuel-efficient airplane has enabled ANA to launch new routes worldwide, including North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. With this milestone, ANA has accumulated approximately a quarter of all 787 revenue flights.

“We are honored to celebrate this important milestone with ANA, especially here in Seattle,” said Ray Conner, president and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “ANA is a valued Boeing customer and has been a tremendous partner on the 787 program. This milestone demonstrates the strength of our long-standing relationship and we look forward to celebrating many more milestones with ANA going forward.”

ANA operates the world’s largest Dreamliner fleet with 44 787s, including both the 787-8 and the longer 787-9. The airline has 39 unfilled 787 orders, including for the longest and newest member of the 787 family, the 787-10, in addition to 20 777-9X airplanes.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a family of technologically advanced, super-efficient airplanes that bring big-jet ranges to the middle of the market. To date, the 787 has flown more than 75 million passengers on more than 350 routes around the world, including more than 90 new nonstop routes opened through its efficiency.

Tel Aviv | August 5, 2015– Boeing [NYSE: BA] is pleased that EL AL Israel Airlines has announced its intent to purchase and lease up to 15 787 Dreamliners, with purchase rights for 13 additional airplanes. When finalized, the order will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website.

“We are honored that EL AL has selected the 787 for its fleet renewal plan,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “The Dreamliner will be an excellent addition to EL AL’s all-Boeing fleet and marks another chapter in a partnership between our two companies that spans over half a century.”

• New Dreamliners provide 787-9 launch customer growth, network flexibility

Seattle, WA | January 6, 2015– Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Air New Zealand have finalized an order for two additional 787-9 Dreamliners, valued at $514 million at current list prices. The order, booked in 2014, comes six months after Air New Zealand celebrated the first 787-9 delivery in July.

“The entry into service program has gone very smoothly and we’ve been incredibly pleased with the aircraft’s performance,” said Christopher Luxon, chief executive officer, Air New Zealand. “These new 787-9 Dreamliners will provide us with additional flexibility as we move forward with our growth plans.”

This order will eventually increase the airline’s fleet to a total of 12 787-9s, which will operate alongside 15 777-200ERs (Extended Range) and 777-300ERs.

“Air New Zealand was the first airline in the world to take delivery of a 787-9 and one of the first to recognize the synergies of operating both the 787 and 777. The order shows their confidence in our long-haul products,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “With its new aircraft and superior passenger experience, it is no surprise Air New Zealand was voted Airline of the Year by Airlineratings.com for the second year in a row.”

Air New Zealand is the launch customer of the 787-9 and currently operates three of the aircraft in its fleet. Including today’s announcement, the airline now has nine unfilled 787-9s on order.

The 787-9 complements and extends the 787 family, offering airlines the ability to grow routes opened with the 787-8. With the fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters), the 787-9 can fly up to 40 more passengers an additional 450 nautical miles (830 kilometers) with the same exceptional environmental performance – 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces. The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8, offering passenger-pleasing features such as large, dimmable windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride.

To date, 58 customers around the world have ordered 1,071 787s.

• Donation puts airplane on display for Puget Sound community, Boeing employees who designed, built, tested jetliner

Seattle, WA | November 8, 2014– Boeing (NYSE: BA) and its employees joined the Puget Sound community today in celebrating the donation of one of the original 787-8 Dreamliner flight test airplanes to the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

“Boeing is committed to supporting and giving back to the communities where our employees work and live,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “By placing this airplane in the Puget Sound area, members of the Boeing team and their families will see it displayed locally, and it will hopefully inspire a new generation of aviation enthusiasts here in Washington state.”

The Dreamliner Boeing donated to the museum is known as ZA003, the third 787-8 produced. The airplane has a unique past, first as part of the 787 flight test and certification program and later circumnavigating the globe several times in 2011 and 2012 during the Dream Tour, which introduced the 787 to more than 68,000 visitors in 23 countries.

“This revolutionary airplane caps the museum’s collection of historic commercial airplanes, beginning with our 1932 Boeing 247, which was the first all-metal, modern airliner,” said Doug King, president and CEO, Museum of Flight. “It was followed by our 1969 prototype 747, the first jumbo jet, and now with the first composite airliner, the 787. It’s an incredible addition to our comprehensive display.”

The celebration at the Museum of Flight included several Boeing employees whose work over the years played a role in the design, build and test of the 787 Dreamliner. Each person disembarked the airplane and presented a special artifact tied to the history of the airplane to museum docents and students from local high schools.

The artifacts given by employees ranged from a commemorative cachet carried aboard the 787’s first flight, to early artist renderings of the 7E7. Those artifacts will now be housed at the Museum of Flight.

ZA003 is the first of three flight test 787-8s Boeing plans to share with museums around the world, the aviation community and future generations of employees and airplane enthusiasts.

• Extends preference for all-Boeing single-aisle fleet

Farnborough, UK | July 16, 2014/PRNewswire/– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Hainan Airlines today announced that the two companies are finalizing terms and working toward a purchase agreement for 50 737 MAX 8s, reaffirming the Chinese airline’s preference for an all-Boeing single-aisle fleet.

The commitment, valued at more than $5.1 billion at current list prices, will be subject to the approval of the Chinese government and will be posted on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website once all contingencies are cleared.

“The 737 is the backbone of our single-aisle fleet,” said Adam Tan, vice chairman and president of Hainan Group. “The new 737 MAX will help our airline grow, become more efficient and offer five-star service for our passengers.”

“It is a privilege to welcome Hainan Airlines as Boeing’s newest 737 MAX customer,” said John Wojick, senior vice president of Global Sales and Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “As China’s first Skytrax 5-star airline, Hainan continues to modernize its fleet with market-leading next-generation airplanes, including the 787 Dreamliner and now the 737 MAX. We are confident that the 737 MAX will play a significant role in Hainan’s continued success.”

The 737 MAX has surpassed 2,100 orders from 42 customers worldwide and is the fastest selling airplane in Boeing history. 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.

The 737 MAX 8 provides customers with more flexibility and cost efficiency than the competition in the heart of the single-aisle market. Airlines operating the 737 MAX 8 will see an 8 percent operating cost per seat advantage over the A320neo.

One of the AIX show quotes that stood out was from Aurelie Branchereau-Giles, PR & Comms Officer, OnAir, and she summed up the OnAir ‘difference’ thusly: “What makes OnAir stand apart – consistent coverage, wherever our customers fly. You can see it in our customer base: we have more airline customers in more places than any other connectivity provider. We’ve worked hard to build a network of authorizations from over 100 countries, as well as roaming agreements with more than 350 mobile network operators. No-one else can provide the same coverage and that’s why airlines around the world come to OnAir time after time.” By Aurelie Branchereau-Giles, PR & Comms Officer, OnAir. And while we are on the subject, OnAir released the first customer for OnAir Play – Philippine Airlines is the launch customer of OnAir Play, OnAir’s latest Wireless-IFE product, on all the airline’s new international routes. The company noted: “OnAir Play is revolutionizing the way people consume content during the flight, by combining multimedia inflight entertainment with Internet OnAir. Passengers stream or download the on-demand content they choose to their own personal electronic devices, like they do at home using TV channels’ on-demand apps. And because the W-IFE will be fully integrated with the plane’s connectivity, time-critical information, such as live news and sports highlights, will be constantly updated throughout the flight.”

With regard to Boeing engineering redistribution in the US, one reader wrote in to IFExpress; “Progressive thoughts for decades for manufacturing companies was to have engineers as close as possible to the plant floor – even right on the floor (my idol Kelly Johnson did that 50-60 years ago). When we did the 757, just having half of engineering spread all over Renton in leased buildings was big-time bad news, and the endless teleconferences were more bad than good. Here’s the problem in a nutshell – (today) Boeing thinks that designing and building transport airplanes is an off-the-shelf commodity that can be set up anywhere in a green-field and staffed with local people who last week worked at McDonalds!” For more see this article.

Top 10 best US airlines, in infographic format. (Editor’s Note: This graphic was not developed by the IFExpress team.)

Undoubtedly, airlines with connectivity will see more demand. Then, connectivity is one key to more passengers. Why? One source was quoted; “The way we work, the products we sell, and how industries operate are shaped by information. Any role, function or department that can be improved by information will change, and rapidly. Consequently, information and the technology enabling its use are becoming competitive weapons, and the basis of delivering previously inconceivable value to customers.” CNN Money, Aaron Levie. Face it, airlines will at least be in the information service business and they know it – that’s why there is a Wi-Fi gold rush!

Food for thought! Another reader responded (off the record) to an IFExpress article about battery powered personal hardware used for IFE. “The question you (IFExpress) missed was; Although certification is not strictly required for carry-on devices, due to recent battery fires on 787 and rules regarding ELC batteries for carry-on’s suggests that any airline will require battery testing prior to (equipment) placement on board and what are the fire precautions for thermal runaway? Certification (for these devices) is a real issue… the battery requirements for radios and CPU’s for 80 people would be such that the batteries are regarded as an explosive device, and as such, certification (although not legally needed today) would be required for an airlines piece of mind.”

We could not let this go without a mention, but Ford CEO Mulally is retiring from Ford where he spent his years after leaving Boeing in 2006. He was known there as the man who bet on the company, by betting the company ($23 Billion), and won. While stories at Ford are legendary, early on he chalked “Can’t we just work together?” on a blackboard during a heated “he-said, she-said” meeting at Ford, and thus, began the corporate turnaround. At Boeing, the Puget Sound Biz Journal reported: “Washingtonians close to the aerospace industry often mourn Mulally’s decision to leave Boeing to become CEO of Ford Motor Company in 2006, saying that if he’d stayed, the years of chaos with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner wouldn’t have happened. Mulally ran the Boeing Commercial Airplanes division from 1998 to 2006.” No doubt, the logistical nightmare of the B787 outsourcing and the shift to worldwide production plagued the Dreamliner delivery schedule and caused Boeing to purchase two South Carolina companies. The rest there is history. Mulally was Executive VP of Boeing when IFExpress interviewed him and since we lost our notes from way back then, we remember one thing, his mantra – “Work Together”. We guess he did not mean it geographically.

Have you heard that AT&T may buy DirecTV? This really makes the rumors of AT&T getting into the US inflight connectivity market interesting. The airplane phones and Wi-Fi connectivity were thought to be sent up via 4G LTE from the ground. The DirecTV deal brings speculation betting on the possibility of voice and data satcom-based connectivity. We say “speculation” because if an AT&T satcom antenna gets installed onboard for DirecTV, why not do the whole connectivity job via satellite? One issue may be the usage cost, but what does it cost to install a couple hundred ground-based antennas?

With the naming of the Washington State University’s Business School after Scott Carson we have to mention that not only is he a great choice for the honor, Scott, during his Boeing tenure, was one of the nicest Boeing VIP’s IFExpress ever worked with. Go Coug’s!

Hamburg, Germany | April 8, 2014– Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), a world leader in in-flight entertainment and communications (IFEC) systems, will deliver its industry-leading eX3 in-flight entertainment and communications solution to Air Canada for 37 wide body aircraft.

Under terms of the agreement, Panasonic will linefit install eX3 on Air Canada’s 37 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.  Deliveries commence with the airline’s first 787 aircraft in Spring 2014.  Air Canada currently has five Boeing 777-300 aircraft equipped with Panasonic’s eX2 system.

“Panasonic’s eX2 system has been very popular with our passengers.  With the introduction of our new Dreamliner fleet, we are very excited to launch an even more advanced system that will include a deep portfolio of applications and services that will immerse our customers in a truly next-generation in-flight experience,” said Craig Landry, Vice President, Marketing, for Air Canada.

With eX3, Air Canada’s passengers will be able to watch more than 600 hours of entertainment on larger, higher definition screens that are up to 18-inches in business class and enjoyhigher definition touch screens at every seat featuring an advanced intuitive interface that will be easy and pleasant to navigate.

According to Paul Margis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation: “Panasonic is very excited about the growing relationship with Air Canada, and we are thrilled to have been selected as their IFEC provider for their 787 program. We are very happy to partner with Air Canada on exciting applications and services that leverage the unmatched performance of our system in order to delight passengers and foster even higher levels of brand loyalty.”

El Segundo, CA | October 24, 2013– Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) announced today that The Boeing Company has awarded Teledyne Controls a landmark contract to develop and supply the next generation of aircraft data acquisition systems for the Boeing Next Generation 737 and 737 MAX and the new information management system for the 777, Next -Generation 737, 737 MAX and 747-8 production aircraft.

As an integral part of the contract, the data acquisition and information management solution includes two newly-developed avionics units: the enhanced Digital Flight Data Acquisition Unit (eDFDAU) and the Network File Server 2 (NFS2), designed to further improve flight safety, efficiency and maintenance.

“The trust and confidence that Boeing has shown in awarding Teledyne this contract confirms our position as the leading provider of aircraft data acquisition and information management systems,” said Robert Mehrabian, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Teledyne. “We are proud to continue our commitment of delivering ‘intelligence in flight’ to the world’s major aircraft manufacturers and airlines.”

The NFS2 and eDFDAU are the next evolution of avionic systems that Teledyne supplies to Boeing and airlines today. Teledyne’s current DFDAU is installed in over two thirds of all of the Next-Generation 737s manufactured today as Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE), while the current generation NFS1 is standard equipment on the 747-8, an option on the 777, and targeted to be introduced as standard fit on the Next-Generation 737 in January 2014, and on the 777 soon thereafter.

The new eDFDAU/NFS2 system will be offered as a single source Seller Furnished Equipment (SFE) option on the Next-Generation 737 in 2016, and be SFE standard equipment on the 737 MAX. The NFS2 is also expected to replace the NFS1 on the 777 once available.

“Teledyne’s experience and innovation continues to be recognized by Boeing in providing not only the latest state-of-the-art data acquisition and network server systems but also a collaborative approach in support of Boeing’s Commercial Aviation Services (CAS) offerings and solutions,” said Masood Hassan, president of Teledyne Controls.

Washington | January 18, 2013/PRNewswire/– Did heads of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) put their credibility at risk, and perhaps air safety, too, when they reiterated their support of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner program prior to FAA’s grounding of the US fleet?

In an editorial analysis entitled, “Too Close for Comfort?” to be published in the February issue of Air Transport World, Editor-in-Chief Karen Walker observes as reports of onboard lithium-ion battery fires flared this week, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta seemed unnaturally quick to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner and defend the aircraft, even as they were announcing a review of its design and production.

“It was not without personal risk that LaHood and Huerta made public statements of their confidence in the aircraft’s safety before the reviews are concluded,” writes Walker.

Regardless of the cause of the fires or outcome of any investigation, she says, “the value of FAA’s safety review would be all the more credible had it begun from the position of clear and unequivocal independence.”

Click here to request an advance copy of Walker’s editorial analysis. Please attribute any citations to “Air Transport World, February 2013.”