22 African Pilot April 2015
BOEING DOES NOT SEES A BUSINESS CASE FOR 757 MAX
The Boeing 757 replacement question has become an increasingly hot topic,
particularly since Airbus ‘upped the ante’ by launching the long-range A321neo LR
variant in mid-January. Until then, Boeing had quietly conducted its ongoing studies
through most of 2014, when it acknowledged that serious market evaluations were
underway. Part of that issue has always been trying to fi gure out not only where and
how big the market might be, but whether it exists at all. Boeing has pointed out that
the apparent gap on the seating chart between the 737-900/MAX 9 and the 787-8
does not necessarily create a cast-iron case for a new programme, particularly
when the current long-range use of the 757 is distinctly ‘niche’ in nature.
Commenting on speculation about a re-engined 757, Boeing Commercial Marketing
Vice President Randy Tinseth says: “The fact is there is absolutely no business
case to support that. We’re very happy with our 737 and 787 product programmes.
So we are studying the space in between them. Customer feedback has led us to
look at an airplane that is larger than today’s 737 and has a greater range than the
757.” That statement reiterates Boeing’s underlying message that if a market for a
757-sized aircraft does exist, it is for an all-new ‘middle of the market’ aircraft rather
than a one-for-one successor to the current twinjet fl eet. As a result of these studies
Boeing’s long-term new airplane development strategy is focused on developing a
new small airplane 737 successor for the 2030s and beyond and whether or not to
tie this in with co-development of a larger aircraft. Although no one knows for sure
what the exact passenger capacity and range needs are, all the Boeing planning
pundits seem to agree that the 757 replacement market will be extremely cost-
sensitive. Far more immediate matters are therefore likely to dominate Boeing’s
agenda, which will include updates on the 737 MAX, the fi rst of which will enter
assembly at Renton, Washington, by year-end, as well as further measures to
revive fl agging sales of the 747-8, development progress on the 787-10 and new
details of the planned upgrade to the current 777F and -200LR/300ER.
In contrast, Airbus has already defi ned its answers for the segment of the
market left open by the end of Boeing 757 and Airbus A300/A310 production.
The answers are the A321LR; a minimal-change variant of the A321neo in the
cabin-fl ex confi guration with rearranged exit doors and the A330 Regional. Airbus
has already secured support for the A321LR and is now promoting the aircraft to
airlines following the offi cial launch in January, but the proposed regional version
of the A330 has not really taken off. The aircraft; structurally identical to the long-
haul version of the A330, but with de-rated engines and a lower maximum take-off
weight, was targeted in particular at the Chinese domestic market, where there are
many high-density routes that are too large for the A321. However, Airbus has not
yet identifi ed any sales for the A330 Regional. That is causing serious concerns in
two ways. The manufacturer faces the challenge of smoothing the transition from
the current version to the A330neo in the coming years. Airbus is slowing down
A330 production from 10 aircraft per month to nine in the fourth quarter of this year,
but it still has some open production slots in 2015 and even more signifi cantly in the
following years, leading many observers to conclude that more cuts are coming.
Additional highly welcome short-term sales have not yet materialised. However,
more long-term, the transition to the A330neo will potentially make sales of a
regional version harder. The additional weight incorporated with the latest engines
can be compensated for by lower fuel burn on longer-range routes, but the business
case is much harder to make on the shorter-haul sectors that Airbus is targeting.
AIRBUS INCREASES A320 PRODUCTION RATE
AND ADJUSTS A330 FOR NEO TRANSITION
Airbus has decided to further increase the production rate for its very successful
A320 Family to 50 aircraft per month from Qtr1 - 2017, matching market demand.
Additionally, Airbus is adjusting the A330 production rate to six a month from Qtr1- 2016 as it transitions towards the A330neo. “As an aircraft manufacturer, it is our
role for the sake of our employees, partners, customers and investors to anticipate
market demands whilst delivering on orders and managing revenues. Given the
success of the A320 Family, both CEO and NEO, we work closely with our supply
chain, assess our manufacturing capabilities and decide on the most appropriate
rate. On widebodies we are adjusting A330 production in preparation for transition
to NEO whilst in parallel the A350 XWB is on a steep ramp-up,” said Didier Evrard,
Executive Vice- President Programmes. With over 11,500 Airbus single aisle aircraft
sold and more than 6,400 delivered to 317 operators, the A320 family which includes
the A319, A320 and A321, is the world’s best-selling and most modern single aisle
family. Airbus has the most modern and comprehensive widebody product line. It
includes the versatile A330, the larger A350 XWB and the double deck A380. The
aircraft effi ciently cover all airline widebody requirements for regional, medium and
long haul operations, seating from 250 to over 500 passengers and sharing unique
levels of operational commonality.
CEMAIR LAUNCHES OR TAMBO / BLOEMFONTEIN SCHEDULE
By Athol FranzCommuter and Regional carrier CemAir (IATA code 5Z) is delighted to announce
the commencement of its scheduled fl ight service between Johannesburg’s
OR Tambo International Airport and Bloemfontein’s Bram Fischer Airport. From
Monday 2 March, CemAir will be offering 11 return fl ights per week between
the two destinations. Weekday fl ight times will suit the needs of business
travellers with a morning and evening return fl ight and an afternoon return
fl ight on weekends. The route will be fl own in a Cemair-owned Bombardier
CRJ. This 50 seat jet offers unparalleled quietness and comfort in its class.
The fl ight will be 50 minutes from gate to gate with a fl ying time of around 35
minutes. Flights will depart from and arrive at OR Tambo’s Terminal B.CemAir is an established scheduled airline operator currently fl ying from
Johannesburg to Sishen, Margate and Plettenberg Bay as well as between
Cape Town and Plettenberg Bay. The company was established in 2006 and
owns a fl eet of 20 aircraft which includes Beech 1900Ds, the Bombardier
Dash 8 and the Bombardier CRJ. Bookings can be made online at http://www.
fl ycemair.co.za or through your travel agent. For enquiries please call 0861
236 247 or e-mail [email protected].Airline Business
Boeing 757L to R: Dean Smith, Jaimie Lee Karels, Capt. Anthony Brown,
Nicole Du Preez, Laura van der Molen, Miles van der Molen (CEO),
Capt. Rudie van der Merwe, Nicolene Myburgh, Esme Kleingeld