Aviation

Airbus starts Hamburg deliveries with sustainable aviation fuel

Hamburg, 17 July 2020 – Airbus is expanding its sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) operations, now including aircraft deliveries from its site in Hamburg, Germany. Air Transat took delivery of two brand new A321LR on lease from AerCap. Both used a 10 per cent sustainable aviation fuel blend to fly the aircraft from Hamburg to Montreal, Canada, non-stop.

Airbus has already successfully established SAF flights out of Hamburg with its Beluga transport aircraft since December 2019. Today’s commercial delivery is another milestone that underlines Airbus’ continuing commitment to minimizing air transportation’s environmental impact – which includes becoming the first aircraft manufacturer offering customers the option of receiving new jetliners with sustainable fuel in their tanks. Such delivery flights have been available since 2016, starting from the Airbus headquarters production facility in Toulouse, France, followed by Mobile, Alabama, USA.

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Airbus offers this option as part of its strategy to promote the more regular use of sustainable fuels within the aviation industry. The fuel for Air Transat’s A321LR aircraft delivered from Hamburg was supplied by Air bp and produced by Neste.

Airbus and Air Transat have a long history of cooperation on environmental affairs. Airbus supported the airline to launch its environmental programme 13 years ago and both have worked together on environmental projects such as fuel efficiency. Air Transat has been operating Airbus single-aisle and widebody aircraft since 1999.

“Sustainability and efficiency are essential for our customers and for Airbus. Sustainable aviation fuel developments will play a key role in reducing the environmental footprint of the aviation industry. By using sustainable aviation fuels on delivery flights with partners like AerCap and Air Transat, who are flying the aircraft from Hamburg to their Canadian homebase nonstop, we take concrete action to contribute to a more sustainable aviation future,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer Airbus.

Aviation

Boeing Faces New Setbacks as 777X Delays Extend and scraps B767-300F

Boeing’s challenges continue as employees halted production due to a strike, creating new obstacles for delivering aircraft to customers. The company now faces financial losses from delays in the delivery of its boeing 777x aircraft.

Boeing recently announced that the new delivery date for the 777-9 will be in 2026, with the freighter variant scheduled for 2028. This news has been frustrating for airlines that have committed to and are waiting for the aircraft.

Mega Comparison of Boeing 777x vs A350-1000 Aircraft

The Boeing 777X program, which began in early 2019, was initially delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19 disruptions. Subsequent issues, including defects found during testing, have placed the program under scrutiny by the FAA, which insists on the aircraft meeting all safety standards before entering service. Boeing is now facing pressure from both airlines and investors.

Boeing 777x Delay

New Commercial Airplanes expects to incur pre-tax charges of $3.0 billion related to the Boeing 777X and 767 programs.

The company forecasts a $2.6 billion pre-tax charge due to the updated timeline, which accounts for delays in flight testing for the 777-9 and the impact of the IAM (International Association of Machinists) work stoppage. The first 777-9 delivery is now expected in 2026, with the 777-8 freighter following in 2028.

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In addition, Boeing plans to conclude production of the 767 freighter, resulting in a $0.4 billion pre-tax charge. From 2027 onwards, the company will solely produce the 767-2C aircraft for the KC-46A Tanker program.

In August 2024, Boeing grounded its 777X test fleet after detecting a failure in a key engine mounting structure during a routine inspection. The new boeing 777x, powered by the GE9X engine, is the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, but this issue has caused further setbacks.

Boeing 777x, A close-up of the engine, landing gear, and wing

Comparison of 777x vs A350

Meanwhile, the Airbus A350 continues to secure new orders from airlines, becoming a strong competitor in the wide-body aircraft segment. While the a350 vs b777 offer similar ranges, the 777X is designed to carry a heavier payload.

In other developments, Boeing has hinted at starting production of a new mid-sized aircraft, the Boeing 797, which would likely compete with the Airbus A321 XLR.