Boeing updated their final order and delivery tally for 2013, and they're showing that they did in fact deliver 24 frames last year. But more exciting are six new firm orders for the 747-8I. Transaero finally firmed up their four MOUs, and two more are showing for an unidentified customer. Let the speculation begin! Top up? New operator? BBJ? El Presidente?
Meanwhile, line 1494 (RC032) D-ABYM for Lufthansa finally really rolled out, and line 1492 (RC031) D-ABYL went up for a first flight. Also, line 1493 (RC641) for GE Capital Aviation Services entered then paint hanger, so we should see who she's for in a week or so.
Here's line 1492 returning from her B1:
Meanwhile, line 1494 (RC032) D-ABYM for Lufthansa finally really rolled out, and line 1492 (RC031) D-ABYL went up for a first flight. Also, line 1493 (RC641) for GE Capital Aviation Services entered then paint hanger, so we should see who she's for in a week or so.
Here's line 1492 returning from her B1:
That is some very good news.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is the UFO is probably Aeroflot. ;)
Interesting guess! My initial guess is either Lufthansa/Air China/Korean top up or maybe Garuda.
DeleteOh, I forgot about Garuda as a possibility. That wouldn't be the 4 commitments from earlier this year then, because Garuda does operate the 747.
DeleteOn another thread, I also thought it may be LH. Since LN 1435 has been listed for LH again, perhaps they are taking her back as well as another one? Maybe, like you discussed earlier this year, they like the yield of the 747-8 better than the 380, hence the 3 cancellations of the latter, and perhaps additional orders for the 747-8, especially in the near term.
'Maybe, like you discussed earlier this year, they like the yield of the 747-8 better than the 380, hence the 3 cancellations of the latter, and perhaps additional orders for the 747-8, especially in the near term.'
DeleteHave not seen a realistic like for like comparison, but as the only possible source for such information is Lufthansa, I'm willing to wager that there is more than meets the eye here.
The A380 cancellations say a lot, but is it because of the 747-8i? There is absolutely no way to know unless your in the loop, and I am Not :(
Still there are people close to the program that are on the net in places, and they do have a better idea about this. It will be interesting to see how the PIP Aircraft performs in real service this year and hopefully it will end a lot speculation and doubt.
Great to see Transaero's commitments firmed up. The numbers for the end of the year show a good year order-wise. 11 8Is and 6 8Fs is nothing to sneer at, especially in a still recovering economic environment. The two UFOs could be CAs 2 that were ordered earlier this year? That would be odd though since those were orders directly for that airline I believe. If it is a new carrier, that would be great? Maybe it is 2 of the 4 commitments that were talked about a few months ago. Much like how the Silk Way order has happened, maybe 2 of them are firm now and the other 2 are still MoUs to be firmed later?
ReplyDeleteEither way, here's to hoping for more good news in the rest of 2014!
It is funny, in hindsight, with 17 net orders it was a good year for the 747-8. But it felt so slow and dry while it was actually passing. I'm very eager to see what orders develop in 2014.
Deletebtw, I meant 17 gross orders, not net (which was 12). financial dyslexia :(
DeleteHeh, wishful thinking perhaps? :-) Hopefully, since all the DAE orders are gone, we will see no more cancellations and only orders.
DeleteAnd like I said, 17 gross orders is a really good year. I believe it is the most for the program since 2007, both by gross and net.
Hopefully the order totals will be more consistent going forward, and hopefully in numbers more like this year, compared to the several years before this. We shall see.
I think Lufthansa ordered 1 and 1 new BBJ.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't be silly to assume the USAF will be getting their frames soon. The first of the new AF1s is scheduled for service as soon as 2017.
ReplyDeleteI thought that they weren't looking at starting the replacement process for AF1 until 2017 or so. That was one of the reasons why there was so much question about whether the backlog would allow the 747-8 to stretch to that point.
DeleteBTW it has been a while since there was any news about 'Project Ozark'.
ReplyDeleteWell what ever it is I hope it is Good News.
Ps.
I am still stubbornly sticking with Aeroflot :D.