Latest news with #787-9s
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Air India to upgrade avionics, critical components of Dreamliners to reduce operational issues
Air India on Sunday (August 10, 2025) said it will upgrade the avionics and other critical components of its 26 legacy B787-8 Dreamliner aircraft to reduce operational disruptions as well as improve overall reliability. In recent times, the airline has faced operational issues with some of its planes, including the Dreamliner. Air India's Dreamliners — 26 legacy 787-8s and seven 787-9s — had undergone checks, including that of fuel switches, after the fatal crash of a London Gatwick-bound 787-8 plane soon after take off from Ahmedabad that killed 260 people on June 12. Under the $400 million fleet retrofit programme announced in December 2022, the Tata Group-owned airline has now started the retrofit of the first legacy Dreamliner, which was flown to a Boeing facility in Victorville, California in July 2025. "A second aircraft is scheduled to depart for the same facility in October 2025, with both expected to return to service in December 2025," the carrier said in a statement on Sunday (August 10, 2025). As part of a Reliability Enhancement Programme, the airline said it will be upgrading the avionics and other critical components of the 26 legacy B787-8 aircraft up to the latest industry standards, thus improving their reliability. "The programme entails the analysis of maintenance and configuration records for these aircraft, followed by the implementation of recommended modifications based on Boeing's service information bulletins. "This is intended to reduce operational disruptions for both Air India and its customers," the statement said. Additionally, the airline said seven of the 26 B787-8s will undergo heavy, scheduled maintenance (D-checks) at Victorville, ensuring the fleet's long-term operational excellence. The retrofit of the legacy Dreamliners is expected to be completed by mid-2027 and the retrofitted planes will have a three-class configuration — Business, Premium Economy and Economy Class seats. "Starting in early 2027, Air India will additionally retrofit 13 of its legacy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, aiming for completion by October 2028, with the timeline having shifted due to supply chain delays," the statement said. Air India has around 190 narrow-body and wide-body planes. The airline's retrofit programme for 27 legacy A320 neo aircraft that commenced last September is expected to be completed in September this year. So far, 16 A320neo aircraft have been retrofitted. Air India has also decided to retrofit its 13 legacy A321 ceo planes that were earlier planned to be taken out of service.
CNBC
05-08-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Alaska Airlines to launch London, Iceland flights, debut new livery for international expansion
Alaska Airlines is starting flights from Seattle to London and Reykjavik, Iceland, next May, adding to its global expansion following its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines last year. Alaska plans to fly daily between Seattle and London's Heathrow Airport on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, in a bet on both business and leisure travel demand. Seattle–Reykjavik will be served by a 737 Max 8 as a spring and summer seasonal service. The carrier in June announced it plans to start nonstops between Seattle and Rome next year. A few weeks later, rival Delta Air Lines, said it, too, plans to fly between Seattle and Rome, as well as Barcelona. Alaska is also planning to start flights between Seattle and Seoul, South Korea, in September. Its daily service to Tokyo's Narita International Airport began in May. The carrier plans to have at least 12 intercontinental nonstops from its home hub of Seattle. The airline also unveiled a new livery for its Boeing Dreamliners. New 787-9s coming off the factory lines will get the fresh paint scheme, with hues of deep blues and greens inspired by the northern lights. When it acquired Hawaiian, which already had widebody planes in its fleet for long-haul flights over the Pacific, Alaska said it would keep the two brands, which will remain on many aircraft. "They will remain unchanged as essential elements of our brands' legacies and history," Alaska said Tuesday.
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
China Airlines holds on to older planes amid 787 delays
TAOYUAN: Taiwan's China Airlines is postponing the retirement of some of its older aircraft due to delays in getting Boeing 787-9 jets that may result in compensation payments from the planemaker, the carrier's newly appointed chairman said. Taiwan's oldest airline, established in 1959, is in the midst of a fleet renewal, last year splitting an order for new long-haul aircraft worth almost US$12 billion (RM51 billion) at list prices between Boeing and European rival Airbus. China Airlines has also ordered 24 Boeing 787s for regional and some longer-distance routes, including 18 787-9s and six of the stretched 787-10 variant. But chairman George Kao said China Airlines' fleet renewal plan to replace ageing Airbus A330s and Boeing 737-800s with 787-9s and A321neos was being hit by delays in getting new aircraft delivered, especially the 787-9s. 'We are at present being greatly impacted. Some aircraft that were scheduled to be phased out, or handed back at the end of their lease, as some are leased, will remain and have their leases extended,' he told Reuters in an interview at the airline's headquarters in Taoyuan, home to Taiwan's main international airport. Boeing has not given China Airlines an exact timeframe for the 787-9 delays, though it has said deliveries will 'basically' start from the end of 2025, added Kao, a pilot by training who started out as a flight attendant and became chairman in March. 'This is written into the contract,' he said, when asked whether China Airlines would seek compensation. 'For example, if it's in the supply chain, the responsibility is Boeing's, and Boeing has to provide some compensation. But if it's not, then there is no compensation. It's all recorded in the contract.' Boeing did not respond to a request for comment. Other airlines are facing similar issues. International Air Transport Association director-general Willie Walsh, whose group represents airlines globally, this month called predictions of aircraft delivery delays throughout this decade 'off-the-chart unacceptable'. Still, Kao was upbeat about expansion plans, pointing to the more fuel-efficient 777-9s and A350-1000s ordered last year that will enable more capacity to be added to routes like New York and London, and a new third terminal at Taoyuan airport, the first section of which is expected to open later this year. He signalled further aircraft additions ahead for subsidiary Mandarin Airlines, which flies almost exclusively domestic routes with ATR-72 turboprops and is getting a revamp to focus on regional routes from southern and central Taiwan with new jet aircraft. 'I can talk about this with aircraft lessors,' he said, without disclosing the jet models it could add. 'We have this plan, to let Mandarin Airlines grow up.' China Airlines faces competition at home not only from long-established rival EVA Air but also rapidly growing Starlux Airlines, which last week placed an order for 10 more A350s. Kao said while the Taiwan market itself was small, transit traffic, which all three airlines are focusing on, meant supporting three full-service airlines was not an issue. Seoul's Incheon airport is too big, meaning passengers can get lost, Tokyo's landing fees are too expensive and Hong Kong has 'political issues', whereas Taoyuan airport's new terminal will greatly improve the travel experience, he said. 'Our passengers are not all Taiwanese; many are transit. Because Taiwan's location, connecting the Pacific to all of Asia, is really very convenient.' – Reuters
The Star
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Taiwan's China Airlines postpones retirement of older planes due to Boeing 787 delays
TAOYUAN: Taiwan's China Airlines is postponing the retirement of some of its older aircraft due to delays in getting Boeing 787-9 jets that may result in compensation payments from the planemaker, the carrier's newly appointed chairman said. Taiwan's oldest airline, established in 1959, is in the midst of a fleet renewal, last year splitting an order for new long-haul aircraft worth almost US$12 billion at list prices between Boeing and European rival Airbus. China Airlines has also ordered 24 Boeing 787s for regional and some longer-distance routes, including 18 787-9s and six of the stretched 787-10 variant. But Chairman George Kao (pic) said China Airlines' fleet renewal plan to replace ageing Airbus A330s and Boeing 737-800s with 787-9s and A321neos was being hit by delays in getting new aircraft delivered, especially the 787-9s. "We are at present being greatly impacted. Some aircraft that were scheduled to be phased out, or handed back at the end of their lease, as some are leased, will remain and have their leases extended," he told Reuters in an interview at the airline's headquarters in Taoyuan, home to Taiwan's main international airport. Boeing has not given China Airlines an exact timeframe for the 787-9 delays, though it has said deliveries will "basically" start from the end of 2025, added Kao, a pilot by training who started out as a flight attendant and became chairman in March. "This is written into the contract," he said, when asked whether China Airlines would seek compensation. "For example, if it's in the supply chain, the responsibility is Boeing's, and Boeing has to provide some compensation. But if it's not, then there is no compensation. It's all recorded in the contract." Boeing did not respond to a request for comment. Other airlines are facing similar issues. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh, whose group represents airlines globally, this month called predictions of aircraft delivery delays throughout this decade "off-the-chart unacceptable". Still, Kao was upbeat about expansion plans, pointing to the more fuel-efficient 777-9s and A350-1000s ordered last year that will enable more capacity to be added to routes like New York and London, and a new third terminal at Taoyuan airport, the first section of which is expected to open later this year. He signalled further aircraft additions ahead for subsidiary Mandarin Airlines, which flies almost exclusively domestic routes with ATR-72 turboprops and is getting a revamp to focus on regional routes from southern and central Taiwan with new jet aircraft. "I can talk about this with aircraft lessors," he said, without disclosing the jet models it could add. "We have this plan, to let Mandarin Airlines grow up." China Airlines faces competition at home not only from long-established rival EVA Air but also rapidly growing Starlux Airlines, which last week placed an order for ten more A350s. Kao said while the Taiwan market itself was small, transit traffic, which all three airlines are focusing on, meant supporting three full-service airlines was not an issue. Seoul's Incheon airport is too big, meaning passengers can get lost, Tokyo's landing fees are too expensive and Hong Kong has "political issues", whereas Taoyuan airport's new terminal will greatly improve the travel experience, he said. "Our passengers are not all Taiwanese; many are transit. Because Taiwan's location, connecting the Pacific to all of Asia, is really very convenient." - Reuters
New Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Taiwan's China Airlines postpones retirement of older planes due to Boeing 787 delays
TAOYUAN: Taiwan's China Airlines is postponing the retirement of some of its older aircraft due to delays in getting Boeing 787-9 jets that may result in compensation payments from the planemaker, the carrier's newly appointed chairman said. Taiwan's oldest airline, established in 1959, is in the midst of a fleet renewal, last year splitting an order for new long-haul aircraft worth almost US$12 billion at list prices between Boeing and European rival Airbus. China Airlines has also ordered 24 Boeing 787s for regional and some longer-distance routes, including 18 787-9s and six of the stretched 787-10 variant. But Chairman George Kao said China Airlines' fleet renewal plan to replace ageing Airbus A330s and Boeing 737-800s with 787-9s and A321neos was being hit by delays in getting new aircraft delivered, especially the 787-9s. "We are at present being greatly impacted. Some aircraft that were scheduled to be phased out, or handed back at the end of their lease, as some are leased, will remain and have their leases extended," he told Reuters in an interview at the airline's headquarters in Taoyuan, home to Taiwan's main international airport. Boeing has not given China Airlines an exact timeframe for the 787-9 delays, though it has said deliveries will "basically" start from the end of 2025, added Kao, a pilot by training who started out as a flight attendant and became chairman in March. "This is written into the contract," he said, when asked whether China Airlines would seek compensation. "For example, if it's in the supply chain, the responsibility is Boeing's, and Boeing has to provide some compensation. But if it's not, then there is no compensation. It's all recorded in the contract." Boeing did not respond to a request for comment. Other airlines are facing similar issues. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General Willie Walsh, whose group represents airlines globally, this month called predictions of aircraft delivery delays throughout this decade "off-the-chart unacceptable." Still, Kao was upbeat about expansion plans, pointing to the more fuel-efficient 777-9s and A350-1000s ordered last year that will enable more capacity to be added to routes like New York and London, and a new third terminal at Taoyuan airport, the first section of which is expected to open later this year. He signalled further aircraft additions ahead for subsidiary Mandarin Airlines, which flies almost exclusively domestic routes with ATR-72 turboprops and is getting a revamp to focus on regional routes from southern and central Taiwan with new jet aircraft. "I can talk about this with aircraft lessors," he said, without disclosing the jet models it could add. "We have this plan, to let Mandarin Airlines grow up." China Airlines faces competition at home not only from long-established rival EVA Air but also rapidly growing Starlux Airlines, which last week placed an order for 10 more A350s. Kao said while the Taiwan market itself was small, transit traffic, which all three airlines are focusing on, meant supporting three full-service airlines was not an issue. Seoul's Incheon airport is too big, meaning passengers can get lost, Tokyo's landing fees are too expensive and Hong Kong has "political issues", whereas Taoyuan airport's new terminal will greatly improve the travel experience, he said.
