- Boeing took the first step Friday in ending production of C-17 military cargo planes in 2009, by notifying suppliers it will no longer buy parts for the jet not under contract or firmly committed. Unless the U.S. or other government expresses interest in additional aircraft, Boeing will shut the production line.
- Embraer delivered the first Embraer 175 regional jets to Republic Airlines, who will operate them under contract to US Airways. The company has placed an order for thirty of the jets, which will be configured with 86 single-class seats. This marks the beginning of this model’s use in the United States. In 2004, US Airways was the launch customer for the Embraer 170, of which the 175 is a stretched model.
- Reuters reports new plane orders for Airbus fell to a five-month low of seven aircraft in February, and did not include any wide-bodied planes for the first time since September of last year. The airline is currently experiencing political and labor unrest, as well as continuing development problems with its wide-bodied aircraft, including the A380 superjumbo.
- Boeing reports it will begin assembling the first 787 Dreamliner and anticipates its first test flight at the end of August. The company has 464 firm orders for the plane and planes to deliver 112 in the two years after the initial deliver in May of 2008. The 787 will be more fuel efficient than its predecessors and competitors because of increase usage of composite materials. It is these composites, it is feared, that may cause unforeseen technical or production delays during assembly.
- The Airbus A380 will not only land in JFK on March 19th…a second A380 will be scheduled into LAX the same day. This will leave the title of first U.S. airport to receive the superjumbo up to chance. Both airplanes are expected to be full of airline and Airbus employees, the press, and select customers. LAX spent over $50 million to upgrade the airport for the superjumbo, whereas JFK spent $179 million. The JFK plane will overnight before continuing on to Chicago for additional testing.