U.S. transportation regulators this spring plan to ban smokeless electronic cigarettes on airplanes, the Associated Press reported Friday, citing a letter from Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Get the full story »
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Judge approves delay in O’Hare expansion suit
By Jon Hilkevitch | A Cook County judge on Thursday approved a five-day delay in hearing the lawsuit that United and American airlines have filed to stop the city of Chicago from borrowing about $1 billion for the expansion of O’Hare International Airport.
Boeing leaning toward building new 737
A model of the current Boeing 737 in Boeing's booth at a 2008 exhibition in Singapore. (AP Photo/Maye-E Wong, file)
Boeing Co. is still leaning toward building an all-new version of its hot-selling narrowbody 737, and the new plane would outperform Airbus’ competing A320neo, Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said Thursday.
“We’re going to do a new airplane that will go beyond the capability of what the NEO can do,” McNerney said on a webcast of an event hosted by Cowen and Co.
He reiterated that the U.S. planemaker is still making its decision on whether to rebuild its 737 or simply put new fuel-efficient engines in the existing model. A redesigned plane would produce better fuel savings, but would take longer to bring to market. Get the full story »
O’Hare deal would open gates for Virgin America
The city of Chicago has struck a deal with Delta Air Lines that could pave the way for upstart Virgin America to begin service at O’Hare International Airport.
A proposed ordinance introduced by Mayor Daley in city council Wednesday would give the city control over the L concourse gates in Terminal 3. The gates have been largely vacant since Nov. 17, 2009, when Delta shifted its operations at O’Hare to merger partner Northwest Airline’s base in Terminal 2. Get the full story »
Boeing confident it will deliver Dreamliner in 3Q
Boeing Co. may have overextended the global supply chain on its long-overdue 787 Dreamliner program, but the company is confident it will meet its third-quarter delivery target, Chief Executive Jim McNerney said Wednesday.
Speaking at an event broadcast on cable television network CNBC, McNerney said he believes the company is nearing the end of development for the light-weight, carbon-composite airplane that is nearly three years behind its original schedule. Get the full story »
Aircell adds another $35M in private equity
Itasca-based Aircell, a provider of in-flight Internet services, says it has raised an additional $35 million from its private-equity investors and management.
That brings its total raised since 2006 to more than $500 million. Its investors include Ripplewood Holdings and Blumenstein Thorne Information Partners.
Read the announcement.
byerak@tribune.com
Delta to add roomier coach seats on int’l flights
Delta Air Lines will offer a premium economy section on international flights this summer, with more legroom and room to recline — at an additional cost of $80 to $160 each way.
The new seats will be available to book starting in May. Get the full story »
Experts: Dubai firm canceled some 737 orders
The cancellation of 32 orders for Boeing 737s this week appears to have been by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), and more order retractions could be coming from the airplane lessor, an analyst said on Friday.
Boeing declined to comment on Friday and has not identified the customer that canceled the order, potentially worth more than $2 billion. DAE representatives were not immediately available to comment. Get the full story »
Feb. 3 at 5:54 p.m.
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Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Airplanes, Defense, International, Policy, Politics Boeing-Airbus fight with ads as deadline nears
Boeing Co. and EADS launched dueling advertising campaigns on Thursday as the companies’ bitter battle to capture U.S. refueling aircraft orders valued at up to $50 billion neared another pivotal point.
Boeing and Airbus parent EADS must submit their final proposal revisions, also known as “best and final offers” for 179 new aerial tankers by Feb. 11 after separate meetings with U.S. Air Force officials on Monday, Feb. 7. Get the full story »
Boeing exec predicts boost in 787 production
The head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes division says it could eventually increase the production rate of its new 787 jetliner beyond the previously announced 10 per month it plans to build by the end of 2013.
Boeing loses 32 orders for 737s; gains 10
Boeing Co. says it has lost orders for 32 of its 737s, though the update posted by the company on Thursday did not identify the customer or customers who dropped the orders.
Boeing also says it added orders for ten 737s from unidentified customers. Get the full story »
Free Facebook access on flights in February
From PC Magazine | This month, a cross-country flight won’t be a reason to temporarily suspend a poke war. Seven airlines will offer free access to Facebook via their Wi-Fi networks for the month of February.
The no-cost service will be available through a partnership between Gogo Inflight Internet and Ford, and will be offered on North American flights of Virgin America, AirTran, US Airways, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, Gogo said in a blog post. Get the full story>>
Boeing prepares ‘final’ bid for Air Force tanker
Boeing Co. said Tuesday that it would submit a “final” bid for a $35 billion contract to supply the U.S. military with 179 aerial refueling tankers, as it tries to beat European rival Airbus.
A Boeing spokesman said the firm and Air Force officials discussed the company’s proposal Monday and revisions would follow. Get the full story »
WTO finds Boeing got illegal subsidies
Plane maker Boeing received unfair subsidies from the U.S. government, according to a World Trade Organization report on Monday, and Boeing and its European rival Airbus immediately quarreled over the scale of the support.
European rival Airbus said the report showed Boeing had received at least $5 billion in illegal subsidies and was only able to launch its 787 Dreamliner with such support. Boeing denied the assertions. Get the full story »
Fitch downgrades Boeing on jet delays
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner does a flyby at the Farnborough Airshow in England, July 18, 2010. (Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images)
Fitch Ratings downgraded Boeing Co. on Friday as the company struggles with delays in getting its new line of jets to market.
Boeing’s new 787 is running three years behind schedule. Earlier this month, the Chicago company said it won’t be able to deliver the plane until July at the earliest instead of February. On top of that, Boeing is faced with rising pension costs and tightening defense budgets at the Pentagon and other governments around the world. Get the full story »
