When the pandemic nearly shut down the entire commercial air travel industry over two years
ago, it might have been hard to imagine a time when demand would again be so hot that
airlines would have to make big—even risky-seeming—moves to meet it.
Several grounded Boeing 777-200 aircraft in United Airlines’ fleet will have to wait
a little longer to be operational again.
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And in today's video, we are going to talk about “Boeing 777X Problem.”
So without any further ado, Let's begin.
These planes were grounded following an incident of uncontained engine failure in February
2021, where parts of an aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney engine were showered upon a residential
area in Denver.
United Airlines said Tuesday that the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the path
for the return of 52 Boeing 777s.
“Late last night, the FAA issued the final paperwork on our Pratt & Whitney-powered triple
sevens,” United’s chief commercial officer, Andrew Nocella, said at a Bank of America
industry conference.
The planes represent 10% of United’s capacity, “so it’s really, really material,” Nocella
added.
’You really can’t rush safety.”
“The FAA approved the service bulletins that will be used to make the necessary changes
outlined in the Airworthiness Directives to the Boeing 777-200 with Pratt & Whitney PW4000
engines,” the FAA said in a statement.
United said Tuesday that it will boost transatlantic passenger-carrying capacity by 25% over pre-pandemic
levels to a combination of new destinations and old favorites such as London.
Patrick Quayle, the airline's senior vice president of the international network, said
it was the biggest single transatlantic increase in United's history.
Even before Tuesday's announcement, United had scheduled more passenger-carrying capacity
to Europe in June and July than its closest rivals — 15% more than Delta Air Lines and
36% more than American Airlines, according to data from research firm Cerium.
Each carrier also has European partner airlines.
Domestic U.S. roundtrip fares currently average $357, up 23% from three years ago while international
fares from the U.S. are 1% below 2019 levels at $848, according to travel and fare-tracking
company Hopper.
Since United resumed service to the Argentine capital in October 2020, flights are operated
on the 252 or 257-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
This change result in an increase of between 20 and 25 seats for each operation.
The air cargo sector is grappling with a capacity deficit of 14% because international passenger
capacity is only 40% of pre-crisis levels.
The shortage of cargo space is a key reason freight rates are about 2.5 times higher than
2019 levels.
The shortage of air freight capacity has worsened since the Russian invasion of Ukraine because
of sanctions that have eliminated Russian cargo airlines from the market and the closure
of Russian airspace, which has required aircraft to make lengthy detours between Europe and
Asia.
COVID restrictions in China and Hong Kong have also forced airlines to cancel thousands
of flights this year, further reducing the supply of cargo space.
United’s domestic 777’s features 336 economy seats with 234 in the standard economy and
102 in United Economy Plus.
At the front of the aircraft are 28 of United’s domestic first-class seats.
This premium product is in fact United Airlines’ old flagship first-class seat seen more commonly
in the early years of the 777 and Boeing 747.
While United has retrofitted these aircraft with more modern economy seats with a 3-4-3
configuration, they have chosen to leave the first-class product untouched.
Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) does not expect its growth plans to take a major hit because
Boeing Co pushed back the date for delivery of its first 777X planes, the carrier's chief
executive said on Thursday.
Last month, Boeing confirmed a delay to 2025 in handing customers the first 777X jet from
a prior target of late in 2023 but said it retained confidence in the program.
Before the delays, the nationwide service anticipated obtaining the primary of its 31
ordered Boeing 777X planes by the tip of 2023.
The delay implies that Singapore Airlines must decelerate the renewing and general enlargement
of its fleet, which is simpler stated than completed, contemplating the airline operates
one of many youngest and most trendy fleets globally.
In common, the fleet of Singapore Airlines stands at slightly below 7 years of age and
contains a mixture of Airbus A380s, Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 737 MAXs, Boeing 777-300ERs
and Boeing 787s.
The Singapore-based service can also be the most important Airbus A350 operator worldwide,
with greater than 55 of the plane kind in service.
Chief Executive Goh Choon Phong told analysts and media.
"At the moment I don't think that our growth plan will be severely hampered," he said.
"We do have some flexibility in terms of making up for any potential loss of capacity," he
said, referring to the airline's fleet plan.
The comments came after the carrier posted on Wednesday a narrower annual loss of S$962
million ($693.63 million) for the 12 months ended March 31, including a second-half operating
profit of S$10 million as border curbs eased and passenger numbers rose.
SIA said passenger capacity would average about 61% of pre-pandemic levels in the first
quarter and 67% in the second quarter of the current financial year.
Singapore signed an order for seven Airbus A350F freighters to replace its Boeing 747-400Fs,
becoming the launch customer for this variant.
While cargo demand is expected to experience near-term volatility because of the conflict
between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the effects of pandemic controls in China on the
global supply chain, cargo segment yields are likely to remain healthy due to the industry’s
continued capacity shortage on key trade routes.
Singapore Airlines has resumed flight services to several destinations within each key market
for its key markets, although some remain ceased still due to travel restrictions.
These resumptions include three cities in Australia, most of South East Asia, India,
and South Africa.
Singapore Airlines has built a solid reputation for first-class, although more so on the Airbus
A380, which launched in 2007 with cozy private suites that were in 2017 upsized into more
spacious rooms.
Indeed, efficiency and environmental factors have played a key role in the 777X's development,
a sentiment that extends to its engines.
"Singapore Airlines has been a valued Boeing customer for more than 50 years and we are
honored they have selected the 777X and additional 787-10s to expand its future widebody fleet.
They are the most efficient, capable, and passenger preferred airplanes in their class,"
said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President & CEO Kevin McAllister.
"We appreciate the trust, commitment, and endorsement of Singapore Airlines, and look
forward to delivering market-leading capability to one of the world's most widely respected
industry leaders."
Advanced technology including a new composite wing, all-new engines, and superior aerodynamics
will result in the incredible fuel efficiency promised by the 777X family.
The 777-9 will be the largest and most efficient twin-engine commercial jet in the world with
the lowest operating cost per seat of any commercial airplane and no competitor in its
market segment.
With its greater passenger and cargo capacity, high degree of commonality, and passenger-pleasing
features, the 787-10 will complement the family while setting a new benchmark for fuel efficiency
and operating economics – 25 percent better fuel per seat and emissions than the airplanes
it will replace.
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