Aerospace

Lufthansa Group Selects New 777-8 Freighter, Orders Additional 787s

– Lufthansa Group becomes the first European customer for the 777-8 Freighter

– Additional 787s and 777 Freighters are ordered

– The industry’s most capable and fuel-efficient twin-engine aeroplanes will help Group meet its target of halving CO2 emissions across its network by 2030.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Lufthansa Group announced today that the airline group will strengthen Lufthansa Cargo with an order for seven 777-8 Freighters, the industry’s newest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine freighter.

The Group has also placed a new order for two 777 Freighters to add to its cargo fleet, providing extra cargo capacity in the short term until its first 777-8 Freighter arrives.

Lufthansa to buy 10 new long-haul aircraft and drops 4 engine aircraft.

In addition, the Lufthansa Group continues to modernise its long-haul passenger fleet with the purchase of seven new 787-9s. Lufthansa Group’s total order book for the 787 Dreamliner now stands at 32 firm orders. With 20 orders, the Group is also a launch customer for the 777X passenger plane.

Boeing introduced the new 777-8 Freighter in January and has already received 34 firm orders. The 777-8 Freighter offers the highest payload and the lowest fuel use, emissions, and operating cost per tonne of any large freighter, thanks to advanced technology from the new 777X family and proven performance from the market-leading 777 Freighter.

First Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 to be named “Berlin”

The 777-8 Freighter is ideal for operators looking to build a more sustainable and profitable future. The 777-8 Freighter will be the ideal choice as operators replace ageing freighters later this decade, with nearly identical payload and range capabilities, 30% better fuel efficiency and emissions, and 25% lower operating costs per tonne.

According to the 2021 Boeing Commercial Market Outlook, the global freighter fleet will increase by 70% by 2040, including 450 new large widebody freighters, including the new 777-8 Freighter and 777 Freighter. The 777-8 freighter is scheduled to be delivered in 2027.

Embraer is planning to launch a freighter aircraft.

The 787 family, built with lightweight composite materials and powered by advanced engines and a suite of environmentally progressive technologies, has a 60 percent smaller airport-noise footprint than the previous generation of aeroplanes, making it ideal for Lufthansa Group airport communities.

Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.