Aviation

American Airlines Set to Announce Narrowbody Aircraft Order with Boeing and Airbus

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A report published by Reuters on Tuesday claims that American Airlines is very close to signing a big contract for about 100 narrowbody aircraft, with Boeing and Airbus SE among the competitors. According to sources, Airbus is probably going to get a few more orders out of this transaction.

The agreement, which could comprise Airbus A321 and Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, is anticipated to be revealed as early as next week during an investor meeting on March 4. The ultimate choice on the aircraft mix is still being made, though, as American Airlines is debating whether to incorporate Boeing’s next 737 MAX 10, even in spite of certification delays.

This development occurs in the midst of competition for Airbus production slots, as United Airlines, a rival airline, has already begun talks with Airbus on a possible large order to replace hundreds of MAX 10 aircraft that United Airlines had previously bought from Boeing.

In a meeting with staff last July, American Airlines‘ CEO, Robert Isom, underlined the need for new narrowbody jets beyond 2027. Reports of the airline in discussions with both Airbus and Boeing for this order first emerged last August. But after a January incident in which a cabin panel blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX jet, creating a new crisis for Boeing, the plans for the airline industry in 2024 were disrupted.

Chief Financial Officer Devon May stated last month that American Airlines was in talks with Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer over the carrier’s goal of securing new aircraft for delivery after 2027. May emphasised that when negotiating, it is crucial to take into account current problems at Boeing.

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Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.