Thai Airways International said Tuesday it had reached an agreement with Airbus to postpone the first payment for six A330 aircraft to be delivered in 2009 after being hit by the Thai airport closures and global economic crisis, according to Reuters. The Thai carrier had ordered eight A330 aircraft with six of them will be delivered this year, with the first due in April. The delivery of six A380 superjumbos is still on track for December 2010. The first payment will be postponed to April from … [Read more...] about Thai Airways delays Airbus payment
Aircraft Manufacturers
B787 problems force A330 freighter delay
Ongoing production delays of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner passenger aircraft is resulting in customers looking to Airbus passenger aircraft as a replacement which is forcing Airbus to postpone production of its freighters. Setbacks in technical development and an eight-week strike by machinists that ended only in November, has pushed delivery of the 787 to two years behind schedule, costing Boeing an estimated US$2 billion. But for carriers still needing passenger capacity despite the tough … [Read more...] about B787 problems force A330 freighter delay
New engine company for consolidated China Aviation
China Aviation Industry Corp. Group, the result of the merger of AVIC I and AVIC II, was launched in November and will be responsible for the production of China's large commercial aircraft. CAIC has since signed an agreement with Shanghai's municipal government to establish a commercial aero engine company of which CAIC is the controlling stakeholder of the new venture, which is expected to launch in six months. The engine company will include privately run companies as shareholders, and … [Read more...] about New engine company for consolidated China Aviation
Airbus/Avic labour over Harbin composites
Airbus has said it is close to an agreement with China's Avic's Harbin Aircraft to set up a joint composite-components plant in China. Technology transfer has been a sticking point in the negotiations from the beginning, according to Chinese media reports that the talks have been deadlocked. That issue now seems to have been overcome, following comments from the chief of Airbus's Chinese operations, Laurence Barron, who said the talks "are ongoing normally and are nearing completion." The degree … [Read more...] about Airbus/Avic labour over Harbin composites
Americas : Boeing strike deadlock more bad news
Airlines waiting for Boeing aircraft deliveries have no immediate hope in sight as the strike at the US planemaker’s Everett assembly plant near Seattleappears no closer to a resolution. This follows the adjournment of a second round of mediated talks between Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which ended without agreement. About 27,000 Boeing workers in Washington, Oregon and Kansas have been on strike since September 6. “In light of … [Read more...] about Americas : Boeing strike deadlock more bad news
Europe & CIS : Airbus will deliver 12 more A380s this year
Airbus will meet its target of delivering 12 A380 super jumbo aircraft this year, the company’s chief executive pledged recently, brushing aside reports that manufacturing and engineering difficulties had again put the project behind schedule. The 525-seat, A-380 has been plagued by delays due to missteps, technical setbacks, communication failures and financial improprieties that have tarnished Airbus’ image. The first in a series of costly delays was announced in June 2005. … [Read more...] about Europe & CIS : Airbus will deliver 12 more A380s this year
