It’s time for the aviation jamboree that is known as Farnborough 2018. And like previous years, Economy Class and Beyond is here to guide you through the big announcements… and not so big ones as airframes and airlines/lessors get their pens out to sign orders, memorandums of understanding and letters of intent.
So onto the orders.
Boeing
We’ll kick off with Boeing since they made the first announcement, with DHL placing an order for 14 Boeing 777 Freighters, and purchase rights for 7 additional freighters.
Qatar Airways finalized an order for five 777 Freighters, on an order announced in April.
United Airlines adds to its Boeing 787 fleet, with a repeat order of four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners
Jet Airways of India have signed for expansion, with a follow-on order for 75 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aicraft.
TAROM of Romania has gone for five Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft
GOL Airlines of Brazil is converting part of its Boeing 737 MAX order into 30 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft, and a new order that will add 15 Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft.
For the lessors, Jackson Square Aviation announced they haves ordered 30 737 MAX, with their first direct order from Boeing (and interestingly
, the 100th 737 MAX customer)
Finally, Goshawk Aviation Limited also announced an order for 20 737 MAX airplanes, and again – their first direct order from The Boeing Company.
Airbus
Airbus kicked off its Farnborugh 2018, with an order from STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan for a Memorandum of Understanding for the purchase of 17 aircraft, comprising 12 A350-1000s and five A350-900s
Sichuan Airlines of China, has selected 10 Airbus A350 aircraft, with four more that are leased to be delivered this year.
Golden Falcon Aviation who lease to Wataniya Airways, has confirmed an order for 25 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The order follows an earlier MoU announced at last year’s Dubai Airshow.
Vistara of India has signed a letter of Intent (LoI) for 13 A320neo aircraft to add to its existing portfolio of 21 Airbus aeroplanes.
SalamAir of Oman, has signed an agreement to add six new A320neo aircraft to its fleet, of which five are on lease from an undisclosed lessor.
Over at the lessors, Goshawk Aviation Limited, has placed a firm order for 20 A320neo aircraft.
Macquarie AirFinance Group Limited has placed a firm order for 20 A320neo aircraft too.
And finally, a secret squirrel style announcement a MoU for 80 A320neo family aircraft was order by an “undisclosed lessor”.
Embraer
Embraer has caught an order, with 25 E-175 E-Jets to be added to the United Airlines fleet, in a 70 seat configuration.
Meanwhile, in pre-show activities, Embraer took its new E2-190 to London City Airport for operational demonstrations as it works with the airport to approve the type for use at the airport.
ATR Aircraft
ATR have been busy in the run-up to Farnborough, with lots of small orders and Letters of intent.
- Mayotte-based carrier EWA has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of two ATR 72-600s
- Drukair of Bhutan places order for a new ATR 42-600 equipped with the ClearVision pilot assitance vision – with delivery expected in July 2019.
- Aurigny of Guernsey signs Letter of Intent for three ATR 72-600s subject to approval from the Guernsey government. Again, these are equipped with ClearVision.
- Air Saint-Pierre of Canada has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a new ATR 42-600 aircraft.
- Air Botswana signed a firm order for two ATR 72-600s.
Bombardier
No orders, but an important launch as Bombardier launches its ATMOSPHÈRE cabin, in conjunction with Zodiac Aerospace (who provided the seating) and Delta Air Lines (the launch operator).
With Day one gone, the airshow boils down to business, as final contacts are hammered out, and new deal are prepared. And I’ve got a feeling we might see a few more wide-bodied aircraft being ordered this show.
Who by? We’ll have to see.
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