747-400

Thai Airways upgrades cabins on Boeing 747-400 aircraft

Thai Airways has launched its first Boeing 747-400 aircraft following a series of retrofits across its fleet. The newly retrofitted Boeing 747-400 aircraft boasts revamped passenger cabins, improved in-flight entertainment and will operate on flights from Bangkok to London from the end of October 2011 and later to a few other European cities. Read more

Cathay Pacific takes delivery of its 75th Boeing aircraft - 777-300ER

Boeing and Cathay Pacific Airways celebrated Monday as the airline took delivery of its 75th airplane purchased directly from Boeing, a 777-300ER (Extended Range). Read more

Air China to expand Boeing Airplane Health Management coverage

Boeing in conjunction with Air China and Air China Cargo, announced today that the airlines will expand the use of Boeing’s Airplane Health Management (AHM) system to monitor the in-flight condition of the carriers’ Boeing 777 and 747-400 fleets.

The new agreement adds 42 in-service and on-order airplanes to a previous agreement to monitor 117 Air China 737s that are in service and on order. Air China is Boeing’s first Chinese customer for AHM and the 33rd commercial customer overall.

“We are certain that Boeing’s Airplane Health Management will benefit our passengers and cargo customers who count on Air China and Air China Cargo meeting our schedules,” said Air China Chief Engineer Zhong Detao. “This will improve our entire operation.”

Airplane Health Management captures and evaluates critical real-time in-flight flying condition data and relays the information to maintenance controllers. That allows the airline to turn a potentially time-consuming and costly maintenance delay into a well-planned and more easily accomplished repair. Airlines are better able to meet flight schedules, benefiting the airline, passengers and other cargo customers.

The AHM system helps airlines identify and respond to problems proactively while accessing a multiple operator knowledge base, so repair decisions are more reliable and the airplane is available for service more quickly.

“Airplane Health Management is a key tool in working with our customers in our mutual pursuit of greater efficiency,” said Dennis Floyd, vice president, Technical Services for Commercial Aviation Services at Boeing. “The expansion of AHM coverage at Air China and Air China Cargo will provide them an advantage in the highly competitive Chinese aviation market.”

AHM is a component in Boeing’s larger vision of Lifecycle Solutions – improving airline efficiency with digital productivity tools, product and industry expertise and the power of aviation’s leading integrated supply chain, supporting Boeing airplanes from order placement through retirement.

Air China operates 10 Boeing 777-200s and 10 747-400s. Air China Cargo operates seven 747-400 freighters, including two Boeing Converted Freighters.

Cabin and Inflight Entertainment improvements for Qantas Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 fleet

Qantas announced today it would invest $400 million to upgrade seats and inflight entertainment on nine Boeing 747-400 aircraft, and reconfigure its Airbus A380 fleet to meet the changing demands of the airline’s international customers.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said the changes would provide all long haul customers with a leading edge and consistent inflight experience and ensure the airline was best placed to meet forecast changes in premium cabin demand.

“The major upgrade will give all our long haul customers access to our award winning seats and inflight entertainment Qantas offers on its flagship aircraft, the A380,” Mr Joyce said.

“Customer feedback on the Qantas A380 experience is overwhelmingly positive, and this experience, including the fully flat Skybed in Business, the all-new Economy seat and the inflight entertainment system will be available to customers travelling on Qantas B747-400 services.”

“We are committed to investing in premium customer product and service – to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers, maximise yields and generate revenue and investor returns.”

Mr Joyce said Qantas would always be a premium airline committed to offering a premium experience, and First Class would remain available on A380 services where demand existed.

“Maintaining a First offering on flagship routes is essential for Qantas as a premium airline. It is vital that we align this offering with forecast demand which is expected to be relatively slow compared to Business, Premium Economy and Economy,” he said.

“Our 14 Airbus A380 First suites will be offered on twelve aircraft and on daily services from Sydney and Melbourne to London via Singapore and Los Angeles.”

Mr Joyce said the changes were being made to respond to shifting travel trends across the globe.

“While some travel markets are recovering from the economic crisis, our assessment of longer term travel trends, which pre-dates the economic crisis, shows that international premium travel demand is changing,” Mr Joyce said.

“Just as Qantas was quick to respond to the downturn, we are now ensuring we are best placed to take advantage of the recovery and continue to invest in fleet, product and service.

“These changes will ensure we remain competitive in terms of aircraft configuration, product and service and that we are better able to ensure capacity is more closely aligned with demand.

“They will also add the equivalent capacity of more than three Boeing 747-400s, ensuring we can support future growth while reducing the need to purchase additional aircraft.

“The split A380 fleet will give Qantas greater flexibility to schedule the right aircraft, and the right configuration, on the right route, based on market demand.”

Details of the changes:

Boeing 747-400
* nine B747-400 will be upgraded and fitted with Qantas’ A380 standard seats and inflight product, including a fully flat Skybed sleeper seat in Business, an award-winning Marc Newson designed and Recaro manufactured seat in Economy and state-of-the-art on-demand Panasonic inflight entertainment in all classes
* First class cabins will be removed and Business seats installed in their place
* the three-class configuration will offer 359 seats (58 Business, 36 Premium Economy and 265 Economy), an increase of 52 seats overall

Airbus A380
* 12 A380s will continue to fly with a four-class configuration, including First class, but be refitted to reduce Business seating and increase Premium Economy and Economy seating
* the remaining eight aircraft will be delivered from 2012 in a three-class configuration and with no First cabin
* A380 seat numbers are to be confirmed subject to discussions with Airbus and suppliers

The upgrade and reconfiguration program will commence at the end of 2011 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. It will be funded through the combination of operating cash flows and pre-existing debt facilities. The majority of capital expenditure will take place in 2012.