CX Aircraft order "Rumours"and Orders, (Merged).

[Night Watch]

CX Aircraft order "Rumours"

OK.... since this is a rumour network and because the Fragrant Harbour forum has been boring as hell recently, I thought some might like to share there thoughts on what you think CX will choose.

So we know it's between the A340-600 and the B777-300ER.... Personally I don't really care, but would prefer the Airbus because there will be less chance of me having to sit through another conversion course!

My opinion is that it will come down to the last minute.... whoever has the cheapest bid wins (and not necessarily over the long term).

One way or the other I guess we will all hear soon, but in the mean time if you have a cool, funny, stupid or "absolute fact" rumours.... do share.

[7FF]

35 B777-300er's
25 B747-800's
30 B787's
Then I am biased for good reasons.

[sizematters]

why do you discount DeHavilland or the British Aircraft Corportaion so easily??? what about the Government aircraft factories in Australia.........

[Fly747]

Sorry to be such a spotter 7FF but it is actually 747-8 not 800!

[Mr. Bloggs]

IMHO 777-300ER’s to Europe in 2-4 years. The 744’s will be pulled off Europe to replace and expand the Freighter network. Excess will expand the pax fleet.

A340-600’s to replace the three we have and to replace the A340-300 routes. Excess A340-300’s will start new routes (long thin routes) or will be returned to Airbus.

When the 747 Advanced matures, it wiill start to replace the current B744 pax fleet. The 787’s are to small for CX.

A380’s at CX will not happen at Cathay. They will never get a new A/C until it is proven.

10 A340-600’s
10 777-300ER’s

CX is always conservative so don’t expect huge orders.

I believe high oil prices will curb world economies and less travel in the next 2-5 years. Asia (China) will always do well depending on H5N1.

[mayday911]

A so called "industry analyst" was predicting B777-300s with the order number being 15 airframes. This appeared in an article in Business Week magazine (November 7th issue I think). He was saying that the order would be placed by December of this year.
Just passing the infor along.

Mayday

[Slapshot]

747-8

Interesting that you mention the 747-8. Only two companies, Cargolux and All Nippon have committed to it so far according to this release... Interesting wingtip they've added to this model rather than the usual winglet we are used to on the -400...



http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2005/q4/nr_051114h.html

[RB211-524G]

ok i have a few questions on this topic that i would like answered.
1) why does CX not currently use the 777-200/300 on longer routes?
as well the comment was made that CX will not buy a new a/c until it has been proven,
so question #2) was the 777 not everything that they hoped for because, and correct me if i'm wrong, was CX not one of the first carriers to recieve the 777 when it was introduced?
thanks in advance

[BuzzBox]

1) why does CX not currently use the 777-200/300 on longer routes?

The 777 was originally purchased as a 'regional' aircraft, for the airline's intra-asian routes. Cathay's fleet strategy at the time was to use the B744/A340 on long haul routes, and the B777/A330 on short/medium haul routes. Cathay's B777-300s were therefore certified with de-rated engines (84,000lb thrust vs 90,000lb thrust for the standard RR Trent 892), and a lower MTOW (263.9T vs 297.5T for the standard version). Consequently, the airline's current B777-300s can't operate on longer routes unless they are re-certified, presumably at great expense. The -200s on the other hand, operate HKG-M.East non-stop, but with only 5 aircraft, there's not much else they can do.

2) was the 777 not everything that they hoped for because, and correct me if i'm wrong, was CX not one of the first carriers to recieve the 777 when it was introduced?

Cathay was a launch customer for the B777, and to my knowledge the aircraft has met its expectations. In terms of dispatch reliablity, the B777 far exceeds the French rubbish. The downside is that the B777 is much more expensive to buy than the Airbus.

The rumour mill seems to suggest that the B777-300ER is the hot favourite for Cathay's next order, but in the end it all comes down to a fine balancing act of airline economics. The final choice will no doubt come down to which aircraft is judged to provide the greatest overall cost benefit over the longer term.

[betaboy]

Seattle Times reports "Cathay may take six 747-8."


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...dvanced15.html

[psy clops]

The downside is that the B777 is much more expensive to buy than the Airbus.

So much more that I think it might have some influence in the decision process.

[404 Titan]

CX has in the past said it preferred an Advanced 747 over the A380. Unfortunately the current bidding process is between the A340-600 and the B777-300ER. When this order is finally announced (at this stage sometime in December) it won’t be for just 20 or 30 aircraft. This will be a major order in the region of 70+ airframes over a number of years. 30 will be for direct replacements of older airframes and 40+ will be for expansion. The B747-8 may make up some of this order down the track but not in the near future. The A380 is definitely a non starter as the numbers don’t stack up and CX will never be a launch customer for Airbus again. Sometime in the future CX may look at this aircraft again but only after it has proven itself in service with other airlines. If previous Airbus products are to go by, the launch customers of the A380 are going to have a handful dealing with it when it enters service. My final bet is that CX will buy a mixture of both Airbus and Boeings as they have in the past.

[mayday911]

As someone who is awaiting a course date with CX, I hope that 404 Titan is seeing the future!!

From a passenger standpoint..the 340-600 was very comfortable in economy, even on the JFK-HKG-JFK nonstop. With lots of room to stand in the back and stretch your legs.

Mayday.

[junior_man]

I find it interesting that Boeing's new distance record was set with the 777 from Hong Kong to London.

Think there was a reason they started in HKG?

[The Messiah]

RB211-524G

CX were only the launch customer for the 777-300, which was well after the 777 had already been proven.

[SMOC]

I believe CX was one of the launch customers for the Rolls powered 777-200, Thai Airways got their RR powered 777 delivered first but HNA was the first RR powered 772, it remained with Boeing until testing was complete, just like HOO was the first RR powered -400, but was delivered after HOP.

I don't think CX has a problem with Boeing just the recent experience with the A330/340/-600 has cast some doubt about being a launch customer.

For info CX has the first built,

A330-300
B777-200
B777-300

RR powered B747-200F (ex BA)
RR powered B747-400
RR powered B747-400F
RR powered B777-200
& last but not least the first B747-400BCF

[dartman]

...well it has been an interesting month. The record flight from HKG, 747-8 launched last week, and now NR says the long haul order is imminent,...!? Coincidence....? Airbus, I think not! Phew!!

[BuzzBox]

HNA was the first RR powered 772

Don't mean to spoil your party SMOC, but HNL was the RR-powered 772 test aircraft. It was bought by Cathay after the first four aircraft were delivered.

[SMOC]

BuzzBox, you mean after it was re-engined with RR don't you it first flew with P&W engines.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/056066/L/

[BuzzBox]

OOPS - a thousand apologies!!!