Latest news with #777-8
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft volunteers for fuel premium to move server racks by air
Microsoft is committing to pay extra for freight transportation to cover the cost of using sustainable aviation fuel on flights carrying server racks. Luxembourg-based Cargolux, the 10th-largest cargo airline by traffic, and Microsoft's logistics service provider AIT Worldwide Logistics, announced Tuesday that the tech giant has signed a large deal to support the purchase of sustainable aviation fuel, which is three to four times more expensive than conventional jet fuel. The companies said the partnership will save 72,750 tons of climate-warming carbon dioxide over the next three years. The SAF, produced and delivered by Valero Marketing & Supply Company and its Diamond Green Diesel LLC joint venture, is based on used cooking oil and tallow – without palm oil or any derivatives. The biofuel is added to Cargolux's fuel supply at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Microsoft will receive green credits for its SAF contributions through a certified registry.'Collaboration across our supply chain ecosystem is crucial as we continue to drive toward Microsoft's sustainability goals. By working together to increase the production and use of SAF, we can help to cost effectively drive down emissions and increase the potential for more use of alternative fuels across the transport ecosystem,' Colin Todd, Microsoft's general manager of cloud manufacturing operations and fulfillment, said in a news release. Cargolux operates a fleet of 30 Boeing 747-8 and 747-400 freighter aircraft. It has an order with Boeing for 10 next-generation 777-8 freighters to replace aging 747-400s, with deliveries expected to start sometime late this decade. Sustainable fuels can reduce 80% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil-based fuel, although some critics say the life cycle emissions of production and transport to airports can cancel out the benefits. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric READING: UPS to eliminate 20K jobs as Amazon decoupling accelerates DHL cuts ties with cargo airlines as efficiency initiative ramps up The post Microsoft volunteers for fuel premium to move server racks by air appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Arabian Post
08-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
China Airlines Expands Fleet with Boeing 777X Order
Taiwan's China Airlines has confirmed an order for 14 Boeing 777X aircraft, comprising 10 777-9 passenger jets and four 777-8 freighters. The agreement includes options for an additional five 777-9s and four 777-8Fs, with deliveries scheduled to commence in 2029. This procurement is part of a broader $11.9 billion investment aimed at modernising the airline's long-haul fleet. The comprehensive plan also encompasses the acquisition of 10 Airbus A350-1000 passenger aircraft. The new aircraft are intended to replace aging Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A330-300s, enhancing operational efficiency and passenger experience. The Boeing 777-9s will feature a three-class configuration: Premium Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. Notable enhancements include raised ceilings, improved cabin air exchange systems, and dynamic LED mood lighting designed to reduce passenger fatigue on long-haul flights. The Airbus A350-1000s will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines and will incorporate advanced features such as electro-dimmable windows for superior light control. In the cargo sector, the addition of four Boeing 777-8F freighters will augment China Airlines' existing fleet of nine 777Fs and eight 747-400Fs. The 777-8F offers a maximum structural payload of 118 tonnes and a range of 8,167 km, providing increased flexibility and capacity for long-haul cargo routes to North America and Europe. China Airlines' strategic decision to diversify its fleet with both Boeing and Airbus aircraft reflects a commitment to operational resilience and flexibility. This approach mitigates risks associated with supply chain disruptions or delays from a single manufacturer. The airline's focus on sustainability is evident in the selection of fuel-efficient aircraft, aiming to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 25% compared to previous models. The timing of this order is significant for Boeing, as it navigates challenges related to delays in the 777X program and geopolitical tensions affecting orders from mainland China. China Airlines' commitment provides a boost to Boeing's wide-body aircraft segment and underscores the airline's confidence in the 777X's capabilities.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airbus getting better at managing supply chain disruptions, senior executive says
By Ben Blanchard TAOYUAN, Taiwan (Reuters) - Disruptions to the supply chain that are delaying aircraft deliveries are lessening and Airbus is getting much better at managing it, a senior company executive said on Monday. The European planemaker, which delivered 766 jets last year, roughly in line with its target, has been facing industrial delays due partly to problems in the aerospace supply chain, which have also hampered the recovery of embattled U.S. rival Boeing. Speaking to reporters in Taiwan, Airbus commercial aircraft executive vice president of sales Benoit de Saint-Exupery said it is taking a long time for the supply chain to get back on track, with a lot of disruptions in many suppliers. "We think that those disruptions are going to continue a little bit longer unfortunately but we have a much better handle (on it) and we are managing that supply chain with much more anticipation than before thanks to the learning we had during the pandemic," he said. "I view it as getting better but it will take a bit longer before it comes back to where it was before the pandemic."Right now the main bottlenecks are engines, he said, speaking at a hotel at Taiwan's main international airport in Taoyuan. "We're not getting the engines that we need to deliver the aircraft." De Saint-Exupery was in Taiwan to sign an order with the island's larger carrier China Airlines for 10 Airbus A350-1000s. In December, China Airlines said it would split an order for its long-haul fleet renewal between Boeing and Airbus and buy freighters from the U.S. planemaker in a closely watched deal worth almost $12 billion. China Airlines said it would buy 10 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and 10 Airbus A350-1000s as well as four 777-8 freighter aircraft for $11.9 billion at list prices, with deliveries for the new aircraft starting from 2029. "We were competing for the entire order but we knew it was going to be difficult," de Saint-Exupery told Reuters. "The airline is a (Boeing) 777-300 operator so their decision has some sense." China Airlines Chairman Kao Shing-hwang said the new A350s, which will complement its existing fleet of 15 the smaller A350-900 model, would enable the carrier to add capacity on popular long haul destinations like New York and London, adding passenger and freight demand were both strong at present. "I believe we'll get a great report card for both passengers and freight" this year, Kao added. Sign in to access your portfolio
Reuters
31-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Airbus getting better at managing supply chain disruptions, senior executive says
TAOYUAN, Taiwan, March 31 (Reuters) - Disruptions to the supply chain that are delaying aircraft deliveries are lessening and Airbus ( opens new tab is getting much better at managing it, a senior company executive said on Monday. The European planemaker, which delivered 766 jets last year, roughly in line with its target, has been facing industrial delays due partly to problems in the aerospace supply chain, which have also hampered the recovery of embattled U.S. rival Boeing (BA.N), opens new tab. Speaking to reporters in Taiwan, Airbus commercial aircraft executive vice president of sales Benoit de Saint-Exupery said it is taking a long time for the supply chain to get back on track, with a lot of disruptions in many suppliers. "We think that those disruptions are going to continue a little bit longer unfortunately but we have a much better handle (on it) and we are managing that supply chain with much more anticipation than before thanks to the learning we had during the pandemic," he said. "I view it as getting better but it will take a bit longer before it comes back to where it was before the pandemic." Right now the main bottlenecks are engines, he said, speaking at a hotel at Taiwan's main international airport in Taoyuan. "We're not getting the engines that we need to deliver the aircraft." De Saint-Exupery was in Taiwan to sign an order with the island's larger carrier China Airlines ( opens new tab for 10 Airbus A350-1000s. In December, China Airlines said it would split an order for its long-haul fleet renewal between Boeing and Airbus and buy freighters from the U.S. planemaker in a closely watched deal worth almost $12 billion. China Airlines said it would buy 10 Boeing 777-9 aircraft and 10 Airbus A350-1000s as well as four 777-8 freighter aircraft for $11.9 billion at list prices, with deliveries for the new aircraft starting from 2029. "We were competing for the entire order but we knew it was going to be difficult," de Saint-Exupery told Reuters. "The airline is a (Boeing) 777-300 operator so their decision has some sense." China Airlines Chairman Kao Shing-hwang said the new A350s, which will complement its existing fleet of 15 the smaller A350-900 model, would enable the carrier to add capacity on popular long haul destinations like New York and London, adding passenger and freight demand were both strong at present. "I believe we'll get a great report card for both passengers and freight" this year, Kao added.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Airbus postpones rollout of A350 freighter until late 2027
Airbus on Thursday said it is pushing back the commercial release of the all-new A350 freighter until the second half of 2027 because of ongoing production challenges at supplier Spirit AeroSystems. The news puts further pressure on capacity for large freighter aircraft later this decade as a significant portion of the global fleet reaches retirement age. Problems producing a fuselage section at Wichita, Kansas-based Spirit AeroSystems have slowed the manufacturing ramp-up of the passenger version of the A350 and forced Airbus to delay the entry into service of the A350, which was scheduled for 2026 after completing final development and testing. Airbus is striving to increase build rates for the A350 passenger type above the current six per month. Airbus has logged 60 orders from 10 airlines and lessors so far for the all-new A350, including a deal for five units from Taiwan's Starlux that has not been fully finalized. FreightWaves reported in November that Etihad Airways plans to purchase three additional A350s and is negotiating final terms with A350 freighter is impacted more by Spirit's troubles than the passenger variant because of extra development work beyond normal production, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said during a press conference streamed online. He said other undisclosed factors are also contributing to the launch delay of the widebody cargo jet. Spirit AeroSystems has struggled financially since the pandemic and is being reacquired by Boeing, with Airbus buying the portion of the company that supports it, to keep it afloat. Those transactions are expected to close this year. 'Spirit is clearly a bottleneck because they're not able to ramp up the A350 and A220 [programs],' Faury said. 'Our focus in the next three years is to spend on capex to bring Spirit in the position that they can support the trajectory that we have in our plans for the A220 and A350.' Airbus had previously confirmed that supplies to Airbus of A350 fuselage parts from a Spirit plant in North Carolina were running behind lack of future replacements for aging widebody freighters is raising concerns that the air cargo industry may not be able to keep up with international shipping demand. Boeing faces delays of its own for the next-generation 777-8 freighter, which won't be ready for commercial use until 2028, and intends to stop making the 767 and 777 freighters at the end of 2027. Meanwhile, passenger-to-freighter conversion programs for the Boeing 777 face certification delays, while existing conversion programs are behind schedule because of supply chain problems, including limited availability of skilled technicians. On top of that, a work backlog related to the recall of Pratt & Whitney CFM engines to fix a manufacturing defect has delayed delivery of new and converted freighters to airlines. About 650 widebody freighters are in service today, and nearly 20% are older than 20 years, according to Michael Steen, the CEO of Atlas Air. About half of the widebody freighter fleet will reach retirement age in the next three to five years, according to Boeing. Airlines are expected to soon phase out these aircraft because of the high cost of maintenance and fuel consumption, and lower reliability. Boeing recently forecast air cargo volumes will grow at a compound annual rate of 4% over the next 20 years. Interest in factory-built cargo jets and passenger-to-freighter conversions is rising because dedicated freighters give businesses greater flexibility and schedule reliability over shipping goods via passenger aircraft. Air cargo demand increased 12% in 2024 as the industry recovered from a steep downturn. The A350F, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, can carry a payload of up to 120 tons and can fly up to 4,700 nautical miles. It will feature the industry's largest main deck cargo door, designed to ease loading of shipping containers and nonstandard pieces of freight. The large cargo door offers the option of using 20-foot shipping containers, something that is rarely, if ever, done with traditional side-loading aircraft, said Crawford Hamilton, head of freighter marketing at Airbus, in an interview last March with STAT Media Group. More than 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials. Airbus claims the lighter airframe and efficient Rolls Royce engines produce a 20% advantage in fuel burn and carbon dioxide emissions over the legacy Boeing 777 currently in production, as well as the older Boeing 747-400. Faury said Airbus is reviewing scenarios for adapting to potential U.S. tariffs threatened by President Trump against Europe, which would increase prices for U.S. airlines. The airline hopes the U.S. administration takes into consideration that Airbus does a significant amount of development, assembly, and purchasing in the United States and that the trans-Atlantic aerospace industry is very integrated.. 'But we have a strong demand outside of the U.S. and a lot of production capabilities in Europe and outside Europe that we could use to serve export customers,' he said. Airbus delivered 766 commercial aircraft last year. Revenues increased 6% year over year to 69.2 billion euros ($48.7 billion), and the company had a pretax profit of $3.8 billion. Click here for more FreightWaves stories by Eric outlook remains bright to start the year Etihad Airways to order 3 additional A350 freighters from Airbus China Airlines to buy Boeing 777-8 freighters The post Airbus postpones rollout of A350 freighter until late 2027 appeared first on FreightWaves.
