The first day of the highly anticipated Farnborough International Airshow started with a bang.
Both Boeing and Airbus announced new commercial and cargo aircraft orders, Austria and the Netherlands ordered Embraer C-390 military aircraft, and Qatar Airways revealed their NextGen Qsuite product.
Here's a look at all the action that happened on just the first day of the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow.
Boeing's first order at Farnborough 2024 was placed by Florida-based cargo carrier National Airlines for four of Boeing's 777-200F aircraft. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2025, with all four planes to be delivered by the end of 2026.
The four 777-200F aircraft will complement National Airline's existing Boeing 747 fleet cargo fleet. National Airlines currently operates nine B747F aircraft which were converted from passenger configurations. In addition to 747F planes, National's fleet also has A330 and B757 cargo aircraft.
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Christopher Alf, the chairman of National Airlines, said: "The order affirms our fleet growth plan as we enter into the next chapter of National. We sincerely appreciate the support by Boeing and all its associated teams in this journey ahead.”
National Airlines's order adds to Boeing's growing backlog of 777F aircraft. As of June 30th, the manufacturer has 59 aircraft on backlog, including a recent $1 Billion order from Emirates for their SkyCargo fleet.
Luxembourg flag carrier Luxair has decided to continue its relationship with Boeing and purchased up to four Boeing 737 MAX-10 aircraft, split between two firm orders and two options.
The airline is excited to use the new Boeing narrow-body jets to de-carbonize and lower operational costs due to the commonality with existing aircraft, CEO Gilles Feith commented.
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Luxair plans to operate its new 737 MAX-10 aircraft in an all-economy, 213-passenger layout, providing each traveler with 30 inches of pitch. In this configuration, Boeing estimates that Luxair can reach destinations up to 3,100 miles away.
With the additional aircraft, Luxair plans to continue its expansion into leisure markets from Luxembourg. The carrier currently operates B737-700s, B737-800s, and B737 MAX-8 aircraft, with further orders for the MAX-7 variant. The airline has a fleet of 11 De Havilland Canada Dash 8 regional aircraft to service regional destinations.
Japan Airlines announced its decision to increase its existing 787 fleet with a purchase agreement for up to 20 additional 787 family aircraft. The order will see Japan Airlines add at least 10 B787-9 aircraft with additional options for another 10 Dreamliners.
Commenting on the decision, Japan Airlines Executive Officer of Procurement stated: "We are delighted to announce the addition of 787 Dreamliners to our fleet.
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This order underscores our commitment to accelerating the introduction of the modern and more fuel-efficient aircraft to deliver unparalleled service to our customers and further reduce CO₂ emissions. We greatly appreciate the strong relationship and support from Boeing, which has been instrumental in our efforts to modernize our fleet and expand our international routes."
With the additional 787 aircraft added to their fleet, we could see the possibility of Japan Airlines beginning to serve new destinations across Asia, Europe, and North America. With the airline's existing 787 aircraft, JapaDn Airlines opened new point-to-point markets, such as Tokyo to San Diego, Boston, and Bangalore.
Korean Air made the largest purchase of the day with an order for 50 Boeing widebody aircraft. The purchase breaks down to 20 B777X aircraft and 30 B787-10 aircraft, split between 20 firm orders and 10 options.
According to the airline, the aircraft's "capability of long-haul flights to regions such as North America and Europe are expected to play an important role after Korean Air's merger with Asiana Airlines."
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Coinciding with the announcement, Korean Air announced that they had received their first B787-10 aircraft on July 21st, with service between Seoul and Tokyo expected to launch on the 787-10 on July 25th.
In addition, the airline debuted a new business class seat, dubbed the Prestige Suites 2.0, which features direct-aisle access for each seat, a seat length of 78 inches, and of course a full recline to a lie-flat position.
The second-largest aircraft lessor in the world, SMBC Aviation Capital, has exercised options for 22 Pratt & Whitney GTF-powered A320neo aircraft. Combined with previous commitments to 20 of the same aircraft, SMBC now has 42 A320neo aircraft on order with the French manufacturer.
As one of the largest lessors of GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft, the decision to exercise its options for additional A320neo aircraft underscores SMBC's commitment to both Airbus and Pratt & Whitney.
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President of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney Rick Deurloo said: "We appreciate SMBC Aviation Capital's continued confidence in Pratt & Whitney as we work together to deliver economic and environmental benefits for airline customers.
These additional orders are a testament to the advantages this engine delivers as the most fuel-efficient, sustainable engine for single-aisle aircraft."
Drukair - Royal Bhutan Airlines, the flag carrier of Bhutan, signed a momentum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for 5 A320 family aircraft.
The MoU is split between three A320neo and two A321XLR aircraft that Drukair said were aimed at expanding the carrier's international operations. Once a purchase agreement is signed, deliveries would not be expected to begin until at least 2030.
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Currently, Drukair operates a fleet of just five aircraft: three A319ceo, one A320neo, and one ATR 42-600. According to Tandi Wangchuk, CEO of Drukair, the MoU with Airbus signifies the next chapter for the airline's expansion.
The Royal Dutch Air Force and the Austrian Air Force announced a joint agreement for nine Embraer C-390 Millennium Transport aircraft. The Netherlands will take five of the aircraft with Austria to receive the remaining four.
Both Austria and the Netherlands expect the C-390 to replace the ageing C-190 Hercules. Deliveries to both nations are expected to begin in 2027 with all aircraft to be delivered by the end of the decade.
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Qatar Airways revealed a mock-up of its newest business-class product: the NextGen Qsuite. The suite is an update of the airline's existing award-winning Qsuite product, hailed by many as the best business class suite in the skies.
The NextGen Qsuite features a 4K OLED manoeuvrable in-flight entertainment screen, the first for any airline in the world, increased space and privacy, and the Quad and Companion Suites. In addition, the new Qsuites are expected to have more shoulder and leg room with a longer lie-flat bed.
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The NextGen Qsuites will be installed onboard Qatar Airway's new B777-9 aircraft, with deliveries expected to begin in 2025.
With so much action on the first day of the Farnborough Airshow, it's exciting to see what the rest of the week will bring.