Qantas Boeing 747 Take Off: Manchester Airport, UK

Qantas used to be a regular visitor to Manchester Airport in the UK. However, their operations are now focused at London Heathrow.

Luckily, very rarely, a Qantas aircraft (usually Boeing 747 to date) visits Manchester. This was one of those times.

Filmed on 21 July 2012

AirAsia Expects To Order More Airbus A320's

Asia's largest low cost carrier AirAsia expects to announce a firm order with Airbus for 50 A320's and options on another 50 within the next two months.

The carrier was one of the first to order Airbus' new A320neo, placing an order for 200 of the type during the Paris Airshow in June 2011. These aircraft are due to be delivered from 2016 onwards.

AirAsia A320 (Photo Credit: Kentaro Lemoto)

Boeing, United Announce Massive 737 Order

Boeing has today announced that United Airlines has placed a firm order for 150 737 single-aisle aircraft worth up to $14.7 Billion. The order, which is made up of 100 737 MAX 9 and 50 737-900ER's takes Boeing over the 10,000 737 orders mark - an amazing achievement which reinforces the manufacturers claim that the 737 is the best selling plane ever built.

The 737-900ER aircraft will be delivered starting next year (2013) whilst the 737 MAX 9 aircraft will be delivered starting in 2018.

United Boeing 737-900ER (Photo Credit: redlegsfan21)

Boeing 787 Wing Wave

Previously unseen footage I filmed when the Boeing 787-8 was at Manchester Airport, UK on 24 April 2012.

You can see the rest of the footage in my original video here.



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United Airlines Rules Out A380

United Airlines President and CEO Jeffrey Smisek is looking for larger aircraft than the A350-900, but has seemingly ruled out the Airbus A380 as a future addition to the United fleet.

Speaking to Aviation Week during a visit to Frankfurt, Smisek said "The A380 is probably a little large for what we need, but the A350-900 might be sub-optimal for some of our routes" adding "the A350-1000, Boeing 777X and Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental are all being considered for higher capacity, long-haul segments".

United Airlines plans to take delivery of their first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in September, followed by a further five before the end of the year.

Photo Credit: Magnus

Airbus Confirms US A320 Family Final Assembly Line

As expected, Airbus has today announced that it will be opening a $600 million Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mobile, Alabama - the first Airbus plant in the United States.

Set to open in 2015, the new plant will directly employ 1,000 American workers to build Airbus' popular A320 Family of aircraft, the first of which is expected to fly in 2016. By 2018, Airbus hopes to be building up to 50 jets a year at the plant.

"The time is right for Airbus to expand in America" Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO said, adding "The US is the largest single-aisle aircraft market in the world - with a projected need for 4,600 aircraft over the next 20 years - and this assembly line brings us closer to our customers!"

The plant, the second A320 FAL outside of Europe (the other in Tianjin China), brings the competition for new orders to the doorstep of arch-rival Boeing. Whilst both manufacturers enjoy a roughly 50/50 even split in single aisle aircraft sales, Boeing has the upper hand in the US with an 80% share - something Airbus hopes will change now their planes are built on American soil.

Airbus saw massive demand for its A320neo Family of aircraft immediately after they were launched in December 2010, however a lack of available delivery slots has seen orders slow, allowing Boeing to gain ground in recent months with their competing 737MAX. Opening a new assembly line in the US will enable Airbus to increase production rates considerably, giving airlines more opportunity to order the fuel saving NEO or 'New Engine Option' variants, which promise to reduce fuel burn and increase range.

However, news of the US Factory has seen a growing concern in France where Airbus has its Headquarters and an A320 FAL. The unions there want Airbus to provide guarantees on jobs and production work. "We will be vigilant to make sure they are not robbing Europe to pay the United States" said Gilbert Plo, a spokesman for the French Christian Workers' Confederation (CFTC).

Photo Credit: Airbus

Interestingly, although Airbus have said large parts (fuselage sections & wings etc) will be shipped into Mobile, Alabama by boat, we may eventually get to see the introduction of an A330 or A340 based Beluga Super Transporter in order for Airbus to supply the new US FAL. Airbus has already done the renderings for such a plane. What do you think? Add a comment below!

Photo Credit: Airbus

Heathrow Adds Another A380 Operator

London Heathrow Airport, the UK's busiest Airport and the worlds busiest airport in terms of International Passenger traffic will welcome Malaysia Airlines' first Airbus A380 Super Jumbo on Monday 2 July 2012. In doing so, Heathrow airport adds it's fourth regularly scheduled A380 operator to its books, after Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qantas.

Heathrow is a natural home to the A380. Running at 98% capacity, there is little room for airlines to expand with extra flights, so larger A380's are one option airlines are using to increase passenger numbers.

Eventually, Heathrow will be home to British Airways and Virgin Atlantic A380's when the two carriers start taking delivery over the next few years.

Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 (Photo Credit: Airbus)