Boeing, Vistara Confirm Agreement for Up to Ten 787 Dreamliners

The Singapore Airlines and Tata Group joint venture will be first airline in India to operate 787-9s

FARNBOROUGH, Jul. 17, 2018– Boeing [NYSE:BA] and Vistara today confirmed the joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Tata Group, has agreed to order six 787-9 Dreamliners, with options for four more jets at the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow.

 

The agreement, valued at $2.8 billion at current list prices, will enable Vistara to become the first operator of the 787-9 in India. In addition, the new Dreamliners will mark the first widebody airplanes for the Indian carrier and will help launch long-haul operations.

 

# # #

 

 

Paul R. Bergman

 

Media Relations Lead

 

Boeing Commercial Airplanes

 

paul.r.bergman2@boeing.com

 

206.724.7292

 

Source :  Boeing Website

Airbus reports First Quarter (Q1) 2018 results, confirms guidance

Backlog and commercial momentum support ramp-up plans

Q1 financials reflect engine and aircraft delivery phasing

Revenues € 10 billion; EBIT Adjusted € 14 million

EBIT (reported) € 199 million; EPS (reported) € 0.37

2018 guidance confirmed

 

Amsterdam, 27 April 2018 – Airbus SE (stock exchange symbol: AIR) reported First Quarter 2018 consolidated financial results and confirmed its guidance for the full year.

“The first quarter performance reflects the shortage of A320neo engines and back-loaded aircraft deliveries as we indicated in the full-year disclosure. This is clearly shown in the financials,” said Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders. “It’s a challenging situation for all but based on the confidence expressed by the engine makers and their ability to deliver on commitments, we can confirm our full-year outlook. This still leaves us with plenty to do this year to reach the target of around 800 commercial aircraft deliveries.”

A total of 45 net commercial aircraft orders were received (Q1 2017: six aircraft) with gross orders of 68 aircraft including 20 A380s for Emirates Airline. The backlog by units totalled 7,189 commercial aircraft as of 31 March, 2018. Net helicopter orders increased to 104 units (Q1 2017: 60 units), including 10 H160s and 51 additional Lakota UH-72As for the US Army to bring the total orders in the programme above 450 helicopters. Airbus Defence and Space’s order intake included an additional A330 MRTT following Belgium’s participation in the multinational European NATO tanker fleet.  

Consolidated revenues totalled € 10.1 billion (Q1 2017: € 11.4 billion(1)), mainly reflecting lower commercial aircraft and helicopter deliveries.  Airbus deliveries totalled 121 commercial aircraft (Q1 2017: 136 aircraft), comprising 95 A320 Family, 8 A330s, 17 A350 XWBs and one A380. Airbus Helicopters delivered 52 units (Q1 2017: 78 units) with its revenues also reflecting the deconsolidation of services business Vector Aerospace in late 2017. Revenues at Airbus Defence and Space were slightly lower, reflecting the perimeter change from the sale of Defence Electronics in February 2017.

Consolidated EBIT Adjusted – an alternative performance measure and key indicator capturing the underlying business margin by excluding material charges or profits caused by movements in provisions related to programmes, restructuring or foreign exchange impacts as well as capital gains/losses from the disposal and acquisition of businesses – totalled
€ 14 million (Q1 2017: € -19 million(1)).

Airbus’ EBIT Adjusted of € -41 million (Q1 2017: € -103 million(1)) mainly reflected the back-loaded aircraft delivery phasing, compensated by A350 improvements in both unit cost and price.

On the A320neo programme, new engines with a knife edge seal fix have started to be received from supplier Pratt & Whitney and GTF-powered aircraft deliveries have resumed. Airbus is also working closely with the other A320neo engine supplier, CFM International, which is working to catch-up on the production delays it encountered. Given the significant demand for the A320neo and the robust backlog, Airbus has started a feasibility study with the supply chain to investigate higher production rates. Airbus and its engine manufacturers are committed to delivering in line with the full year overall delivery objective of around 800 commercial aircraft, which leaves a lot to do in the second half of 2018. On the A330 programme, the transition to the NEO version continues with the first delivery expected this summer. Based on the current programme assessment, Airbus has decided to reduce A330 deliveries to around 50 per year in 2019. The A350 programme continues to make good progress on the ramp-up to the targeted monthly rate of 10 aircraft by year-end. The focus remains on further recurring cost convergence. Deliveries in the first quarter included the first A350-1000 while the first flight of the A350-900 ULR (Ultra Long Range) version took place in April.

Airbus Helicopters’ EBIT Adjusted was stable at € -3 million (Q1 2017: € -6 million(1)),  supported by the Division’s transformation efforts compensating market softness.

Airbus Defence and Space’s EBIT Adjusted was broadly stable at € 112 million (Q1 2017: € 118 million(1)).

Four A400M aircraft were delivered in the first quarter. The A400M launch customer programme is being baselined to eight aircraft per year from 2020. The Company is focused on securing export orders, achieving military capabilities, the new delivery plan and retrofit of in-service aircraft as agreed with the Nations. Following the Declaration of Intent reached with customers in February 2018, finalising the contract amendment and delivering in line with commitments are key priorities for this year.

Consolidated self-financed R&D expenses totalled € 616 million (Q1 2017: € 548 million).

Consolidated EBIT (reported) was € 199 million (Q1 2017: € 575 million(1)) including Adjustments totalling a net positive € 185 million. These comprised:

  • A net capital gain of € 159 million from the divestment of Plant Holdings, Inc., which held the Airbus DS Communications Inc. business;
  • A positive impact of € 46 million from the dollar pre-delivery payment mismatch and balance sheet revaluation;
  • € 20 million of other costs including compliance and M&A costs.

 

Consolidated net income(2) totalled € 283 million (Q1 2017: € 409 million(1)) with earnings per share of € 0.37 (Q1 2017: € 0.53(1)) also including a positive impact mainly from the revaluation of certain equity investments. The finance result was € 39 million (Q1 2017: € -206 million).

Consolidated free cash flow before M&A and customer financing amounted to € -3,839 million (Q1 2017: € -1,269 million), reflecting the back-loaded delivery profile and continuing production ramp-up. Consolidated free cash flow of € -3,656 million (Q1 2017: € -1,116 million) included net proceeds of € 191 million from the sale of the Airbus DS Communications Inc. business.

Cash flow for aircraft financing was very limited in the quarter at € -7 million. Export Credit Agency cover resumed in the first quarter and Airbus anticipates ECA cover for a limited number of transactions in 2018. The appetite for commercial financing remains high.

The consolidated net cash position on 31 March 2018 was € 9.8 billion (year-end 2017: € 13.4 billion) with a gross cash position of € 20.9 billion (year-end 2017: € 24.6 billion).

 

Outlook

As the basis for its 2018 guidance, the Company expects the world economy and air traffic to grow in line with prevailing independent forecasts, which assume no major disruptions.

The 2018 earnings and Free Cash Flow guidance is based on a constant perimeter, before M&A.

Airbus expects to deliver around 800 commercial aircraft, which depends on engine manufacturers meeting commitments.

Based on around 800 deliveries:

Compared to 2017 EBIT Adjusted of € 4.25 billion as reported, pre-IFRS 15, the Company expects, before M&A:

– An increase in EBIT Adjusted of approximately 20 percent.

– IFRS 15 is expected to further increase EBIT Adjusted by an estimated € 0.1bn.

– Therefore, the Company expects to report EBIT Adjusted of approximately € 5.2 billion prepared under IFRS 15 in 2018.

2017 Free Cash Flow before M&A and Customer Financing was € 2,949 million. Free Cash Flow is expected to be at a similar level as 2017, before M&A and Customer Financing.

 

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2017 it generated revenues of € 59 billion restated for IFRS 15 and employed a workforce of around 129,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

 

 

Note to editors: Live Webcast of the Analyst Conference Call

At 08:00 CEST today, you can listen to the First Quarter 2018 Results Analyst Conference Call with Chief Financial Officer Harald Wilhelm via www.airbus.com. The analyst call presentation can also be found on the company website. A recording will be made available in due course. For a reconciliation of Airbus’ KPIs to “reported IFRS” please refer to the analyst presentation.

 

Airbus Consolidated – First Quarter (Q1) Results 2018

(Amounts in Euro)

 

Airbus Consolidated Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Change
Revenues, in millions 10,119 11,442(1)     -12%
thereof defence, in millions 1,771 1,963(1)     -10%
EBIT Adjusted, in millions 14  -19(1)        –
EBIT (reported), in millions 199  575(1)      -65%
Research & Development expenses,
in millions
616   548     +12%
Net Income(2), in millions 283   409(1)     -31%
Earnings Per Share (EPS)  0.37 0.53(1)     -30%
Free Cash Flow (FCF), in millions -3,656 -1,116        –
Free Cash Flow
before M&A
, in millions
-3,846 -1,599        –
Free Cash Flow before M&A
and Customer Financing
, in millions
-3,839 -1,269        –
Airbus Consolidated 31 March
2018
31 Dec
2017
Change
Net Cash position, in millions 9,769 13,390(1)  -27%
Employees 129,208 129,442 0%

 

For footnotes please refer to page 9.

 

By Business Segment Revenues EBIT  (reported)
(Amounts in millions of Euro) Q1
2018
Q1
2017(1)
Change Q1
2018
Q1
2017(1)
Change
Airbus  7,222 8,166 -12%  -2 -48
Airbus Helicopters  961 1,176 -18% -10 -6
Airbus Defence and Space  2,217 2,340 -5% 265 657 -60%
Transversal & Eliminations -281 -240 -54 -28
Total 10,119 11,442 -12% 199 575 -65%

 

By Business Segment EBIT Adjusted
(Amounts in millions of Euro) Q1
2018
Q1

2017(1)

Change
Airbus -41 -103
Airbus Helicopters -3 -6
Airbus Defence and Space 112 118 -5%
Transversal & Eliminations -54 -28
Total 14 -19  –
By Business Segment Order Intake (net) Order Book  
Q1
2018
Q1
2017
Change 31 March
2018
31 March
2017
Change  
Airbus, in units 45 6 +650% 7,189 6,744 +7%  
Airbus Helicopters, in units 104 60 +73% 744 748 -1%  
Airbus Helicopters, in millions of Euro 1,288 1,417 -9% 13,176 12,921(1) +2%  
Airbus Defence and Space, in millions of Euro 1,581 1,521 +4% 37,303 39,159(1) -5%  

For footnotes please refer to page 9.

 

EBIT (reported) / EBIT Adjusted Reconciliation

The table below reconciles EBIT (reported) with EBIT Adjusted.

 

Airbus Consolidated Q1 2018
EBIT (reported), in millions of Euro       199
thereof:  
Airbus DS Communications Inc. net capital gain, in millions of Euro       159
$ PDP mismatch/Balance Sheet revaluation, in millions of Euro       46
Other costs including compliance and M&A costs, in millions of Euro       -20
EBIT Adjusted, in millions of Euro       14

 

 

Glossary

 

 

KPI DEFINITION
EBIT The Company continues to use the term EBIT (Earnings before interest and taxes). It is identical to Profit before finance cost and income taxes as defined by IFRS Rules.
Adjustments Adjustments, an alternative performance measure, is a term used by the Company which includes material charges or profits caused by movements in provisions related to programmes, restructuring or foreign exchange impacts as well as capital gains/losses from the disposal and acquisition of businesses.
EBIT Adjusted EBIT Adjusted – an alternative performance measure and key indicator capturing the underlying business margin by excluding material charges or profits caused by movements in provisions related to programmes, restructuring or foreign exchange impacts as well as capital gains/losses from the disposal and acquisition of businesses.
EPS Adjusted EPS Adjusted is an alternative performance measure of basic earnings per share as reported whereby the net income as the numerator does include Adjustments. For reconciliation, see slide 19 of the Analyst presentation.
Gross cash position The Company defines its consolidated gross cash position as the sum of (i) cash and cash equivalents and (ii) securities (as all recorded in the consolidated statement of financial position).
Net cash position For definition of the alternative performance measure net cash position, see Registration Document, MD&A section 2.1.3.
FCF For the definition of the alternative performance measure free cash flow, see Registration Document, MD&A section 2.1.3. It is a key indicator which allows the Company to measure the amount of cash flow generated from operations after cash used in investing activities.
FCF before M&A Free cash flow before mergers and acquisitions refers to free cash flow as defined in the Registration Document, MD&A section 2.1.3 adjusted for net proceeds from disposals and acquisitions. It is an alternative performance measure and indicator that is important in order to measure FCF excluding those cash flows from the disposal and acquisition of businesses.
FCF before M&A and customer financing Free cash flow before M&A and customer financing refers to free cash flow before mergers and acquisitions adjusted for cash flow related to aircraft financing activities. It is an alternative performance measure and indicator that may be used from time to time by the Company in its financial guidance, esp. when there is higher uncertainty around customer financing activities, such as during the suspension of ECA financing support.

 

Footnotes:

1)         Where applicable, 2017 figures have been restated to reflect the adoption of the IFRS 15 accounting standard and new segment reporting as of 1 January, 2018. The new segment reporting reflects the merger of Headquarters into Airbus. Where applicable, ‘Airbus’ refers to commercial aircraft and the integrated functions while ‘Airbus Consolidated’ or ‘the Company’ refers to Airbus SE.

2)         Airbus SE continues to use the term Net Income. It is identical to Profit for the period attributable to equity owners of the parent as defined by IFRS Rules.

 

Safe Harbour Statement:

This press release includes forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “projects”, “may” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements made about strategy, ramp-up and delivery schedules, introduction of new products and services and market expectations, as well as statements regarding future performance and outlook.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

These factors include but are not limited to:

Changes in general economic, political or market conditions, including the cyclical nature of some of Airbus’ businesses;

Significant disruptions in air travel (including as a result of terrorist attacks);

Currency exchange rate fluctuations, in particular between the Euro and the U.S. dollar;

The successful execution of internal performance plans, including cost reduction and productivity efforts;

Product performance risks, as well as programme development and management risks;

Customer, supplier and subcontractor performance or contract negotiations, including financing issues;

Competition and consolidation in the aerospace and defence industry;

Significant collective bargaining labour disputes;

The outcome of political and legal processes including the availability of government financing for certain programmes and the size of defence and space procurement budgets;

Research and development costs in connection with new products;

Legal, financial and governmental risks related to international transactions;

Legal and investigatory proceedings and other economic, political and technological risks and uncertainties.

As a result, Airbus SE’s actual results may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set forth in such forward-looking statements.

For a discussion of factors that could cause future results to differ from such forward-looking statements, see the Airbus SE “Registration Document” dated 28 March 2018, including the Risk Factors section.

Any forward-looking statement contained in this press release speaks as of the date of this press release. Airbus SE undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements in light of new information, future events or otherwise.

Rounding

Due to rounding, numbers presented may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures.

IFRS 15

The Company has adopted the IFRS 15 standard as of 1 January 2018. 2017 figures are pro-forma, amended with IFRS 15 restatement and new segment reporting.

 

Source :  Airbus WEBSITE

Can you name that plane? Qantas asks public to name its 787s

Qantas has called on the general public to suggest names for its forthcoming fleet of eight Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which it says it wants to name after “Australian icons”.

The airline has published a page on its website where anyone can provide eight name suggestions for the 787s, the first of which is due for delivery in October this year.

“We want their names to reflect the true Spirit of Australia, so your suggestions should be around people, places or things that reflect the depth and breadth of this place we all call home. It could be a notable person, a ground-breaking invention, a piece of our culture, a saying, a man-made or natural landmark, anything that sums up what Australia means to you,” the name-the-plane webpage reads.

But aspiring plane namers will need to be quick, as entries will close on Friday May 26. From then a shortlist of 24 names will be released with the public asked to vote for their favourites before the final eight are announced.

 

It is also worth noting too that the successful entrants will hand over all rights to the use of the names.

“Entry details remain the property of Qantas and will not be returned to the entrant,” the fine print on the Qantas website reads. “The winners agree to grant Qantas a perpetual and non-exclusive licence to use their entries in all media worldwide and the winners will not be entitled to any fee for such use.”

Qantas has eight 787-9 Dreamliners on order, with options for a further 35. The airline has a long-standing tradition of naming its aircraft, mostly after Australian cities, towns and places. Exceptions in the current fleet include the Airbus A380s, which are named after prominent Australian aviation pioneers, the original Retro Roo 737-800 which is named after former airline CEO James Strong, and the New Zealand-based, Jetconnect-operated 737-800 subfleet, which is named after New Zealand pioneers.

Further information on Qantas’s aircraft naming conventions can be found here.

 

Source : Australian Aviation

Qantas brings forward Boeing 787 deliveries

Qantas brings forward Boeing 787 deliveries

Qantas has brought forward the delivery of its second tranche of Boeing 787s, with all four of the Dreamliners now taking wing in the second half of 2018 to allow the launch of a second non-stop route into Europe – with Paris tipped as the front-runner.

The original timetable saw the first four red-tailed Boeing 787s flying in from late 2017 to mid-2018, with four more over the next 12 months through to mid-2019.

Qantas’ revised schedule will now see the eight-strong fledging Boeing 787 fleet all in place before the end of 2018.

Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans outlined the airline’s tighter timetable during the annual Qantas Investor Day 2017 held last Friday, May 5.

“We will have four aircraft by March 2018, when Perth-London starts… and then a little gap, and the remaining four aircraft come in between July and November 2018,” Evans said.

“We’ve actually bought the last one forward by two or three months so we can get the aircraft in as fast as possible.”

Evans reiterated that two Boeing 747s would be retired once the first four Dreamliners were in place, with three more jumbo jets by the end of 2018, “so five old 747s will exit the fleet.”

Dreamliner delivery schedule

A tentative schedule sighted by Australian Business Traveller indicates Qantas will pick up the keys to it debutante Dreamliner on October 12, 2017.

Two more red-tailed Dreamliners will follow at either end of December 2017 and another on February 22, 2018.

Those four will all be used to fly a unique London-Perth-Melbourne-Los Angeles sweep designed to maximise the number of hours of flying time which Qantas wrings from the fuel-efficient Boeing 787.

“It’s a very efficient pattern which is unreplicable by our competitors, because the hub carriers have to fly through their hubs,” Evans explains. “So it’s unique competitive advantage for us to build from this new Perth hub.”

From Paris, France to Paris, Texas?

The second four Boeing 787s would replicate this pattern, with Paris tipped as the European destination and a possible eastbound leg from Brisbane to Dallas or Los Angeles – resulting in a Paris-Perth-Brisbane-USA corridor for the Dreamliners.

The Paris service would build upon Perth’s new role as an Aussie hub for direct flights to Europe.

Rome, Berlin and Frankfurt have also been cited by Qantas for future non-stop services – dependent on Qantas calling in more of its options and purchase rights for as many as 45 additional Dreamliners.

“I’d like to order all of them if I can make a good return out of them,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce previously told Australian Business Traveller.

“We have to demonstrate that we can make money out of the eight we have – but once we’ve done that, we’ll be comfortable in ordering more.”

Boosting the Boeing 787 fleet

Qantas has the option to buy 15 more Dreamliners with guaranteed delivery slots through to 2020, while an additional 30 Boeing 787s are pencilled in as ‘purchase rights’ – without a fixed delivery timeframe – to 2025.

The airline has locked in a very low purchase price for the Boeing 787s stemming from its initial 2005 order rather than the current $US265 million (A$345m) list price – although airlines rarely ever pay the sticker prices, and discounts can be as deep as 40%.

Qantas’ long-term plan is for the Boeing 787 to replace not only the ageing and fuel-thirsty Boeing 747 jumbo jets but also its international and domestic Airbus A330 fleet.

This would see the Dreamliners flying Australia’s east-west transcontinental routes in addition to the bulk of international services but for the flagship Airbus A380s and either the Boeing 777X or Airbus A350, both of which Qantas is eyeing for the mid-2020s.

                    Source : Australian Business Traveller

Qantas refreshes Boeing 747 first class

Qantas refreshes Boeing 747 first class

Qantas is retiring its oldest Boeing 747s as the new Boeing 787s arrive, but that hasn’t stopped one of the jumbos from getting a surprise refresh of its first class cabin.

Only two of Qantas’ remaining Boeing 747s still sport first class in the nose of this Queen of the Skies…

While those suites aren’t sold as first class, which now exists only on the Qantas Airbus A380s, they’re mainly offered to top-tier Qantas Frequent Flyers (Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge members) booked into business class.

Now one of the oldest jumbos in the Qantas fleet (registration VH-OEB, which began flying in 1993 and first carried the Qantas colours in 1998) has received a first class refresh.

The Airline Hub Buzz website has shared these photos of the revamped first class cabin, which reportedly made its debut yesterday on the QF27 flight between Sydney and Santiago.

Airline Hub Buzz claims the primary reason for the refresh “would be that the aircraft will be used by Constellation Journeys, an established travel company, for a private ‘round the world’ charter” from April 2018 which will see these seats once again sold as first class.

In addition to Sydney-Santiago flights, other routes which most see these classic Boeing 747s include Tokyo and Johannesburg – so if you’ve got status on your side, check your seating options online and see if you can snare one of these first class suites in rows 1 through 4.

 

Source : Australian Business Traveller