SPECIAL COLOURS - "Queen of the Skies" now also features XXL crane for 100th founding anniversary

Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 with blue anniversary livery

D-ABYN lands in Frankfurt on March 5

Anniversary fleet in special "100 Years" design now comprises 6 aircraft

For Lufthansa's 100th founding anniversary, the Boeing 747-8, the Queen of the Skies, now also wears the blue special design with XXL crane. The aircraft received its new livery in San Bernardino in the US state of California. Under flight number LH9913, the "Jumbo" will make its way to its home airport Frankfurt on Wednesday and is expected there on Thursday, March 5, at around 10 a.m. The aircraft, christened "Niedersachsen," is expected to land on the airport's center runway, clearly visible for spotters, journalists, and fans.

The Boeing 747-8 with registration D-ABYN will enter scheduled service on March 6, flying back to sunny California – specifically to Los Angeles.

The Lufthansa Jumbo is now the sixth aircraft in the iconic 100 Years special design. Most recently, last week, an Airbus A380 and an Airbus A320neo with the anniversary livery landed in Munich.

An Airbus A350, a Boeing 787-9, and another Airbus A320neo are also already flying with the XXL crane.

In autumn 2026, an Airbus A350-1000 will receive the special design, completing the anniversary fleet as the seventh and final aircraft.

FLEET - Korean Air to take first B787-10 in mid-2Q24, sells B747-8s

Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) will take delivery of the first of ten B787-10s supplied by Air Lease Corporation (ALC) later this month. The lessor's CEO, John L Plueger, confirmed the upcoming deliveries in a May 8 earnings call.

Korean Air has 20 of the type on order among a larger portfolio of seven B787-9s, twenty-two B737-8s, thirty-nine A321-200Ns, one A321-200NX, twenty-seven A350-1000s, and six A350-900s. The Korean Air deliveries are part of a broader portfolio of aircraft that ALC expects to deliver to customers around Asia this year and next. The lessor says the region remains a global hotspot for aircraft demand amid double-digit passenger growth in many markets there.

Meanwhile, Korean Air has sold five B747-8s to US aerospace firm Sierra Nevada Corporation. The airline disclosed the KRW918.3 billion won (USD672 million) transaction in a May 8 regulatory filing. The airline said the sale was part of its mid- to long-term fleet renewal and disposal plan. The sale is scheduled to be completed in September 2025. The filing did not disclose the specific aircraft sold. However, Reuters cited a source familiar with the matter saying they were B747-8s. Korean Air operates nine of the type, with two currently inactive.

Sierra Nevada recently secured a USD13 billion United States Air Force contract for the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) programme to develop a successor to the E-4B. The new aircraft is expected to start flying in 2036.

ROUTES / FLEET - Korean Air to launch direct flights to Lisbon, Portugal, sells five Boeing 747-8 jets

Korean Air will launch scheduled charter flights to Lisbon, Portugal, from September 11 to October 25, 2024.
The airline will operate three weekly flights between Seoul Incheon and Lisbon on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. These flights will make a total of 20 round trips during the two months, serviced by the airline’s Boeing 787-9 fleet.

The scheduled charter flights are the only nonstop flights between Northeast Asia and Lisbon. Previously, travelers had to transfer in neighboring countries such as France and Spain, or switch to land transport upon arrival in Europe. The new direct flights will streamline the journey, making trips to Lisbon and its adjacent cities more accessible.

The company has also sold five Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental jets.
On the financial side, the airline reported the following:
Korean Air reported a first quarter revenue of KRW 3.8225 trillion (USD $2.8382 billion), an increase of 20% year-on-year, driven by the strong recovery in passenger traffic and robust cargo demand. Operating profit increased 5% year-on-year to KRW 436.1 billion (USD $323.8 million) despite higher fuel costs, airport and facility charges and labor-related costs.
Passenger business revenue increased 32% year-on-year to KRW 2.3421 trillion in the first quarter. The airline’s network capacity has almost recovered to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, with the exception of China. Profitability improved through timely capacity expansion on Southeast Asia and Japan routes, catering to the strong tourism demand.
Cargo business revenue in the first quarter declined slightly year-on-year to KRW 996.6 billion as the global air cargo market continues to stabilize.
In Q2 2024, the airline’s passenger business will prioritize route profitability amidst the expansion of global capacity and intensified competition. The cargo business will capitalize on the growing e-commerce demand from China by strengthening client partnerships and allocating capacity on key routes.

CH Aviation

Photos: KPB

Korean Air / 11th Korean Air Future Artist Olympiad Livery / B747-8B5 / HL7630)

hsckcwong - LAX - USA

USAF confirms purchase of two B747-8s for Air Force One

The United States Air Force has confirmed it will acquire two B747-8s for use in replacing the two VC-25A B747-200Bs currently in use as presidential support aircraft.
USAF said in a statement that it has already requested Boeing (BOE, Chicago O'Hare) to provide proposals for the design, modification, testing, and fielding of two Presidential mission-ready aircraft. The program expects to begin aircraft modifications in 2019 in time for deployment into service as Air Force One in 2024.
The Air Force did not disclose the price or the identity of the two aircraft acquired given contractual confidentiality clauses. However, they are believed to be B747-8s N894BA (msn 42416) and N895BA (msn 42417) originally destined for bankrupt Russian carrier, Transaero Airlines (UN, Moscow Vnukovo) but never taken up.
"Purchasing these aircraft is a huge step toward replacing the aging VC-25As," Major General Duke Richardson, the Presidential Airlift Recapitalization program executive officer, said. "This award keeps us on track to modify and test the aircraft to become presidential mission-ready by 2024."
Once acquired, the two jets will undergo a series of modifications and tests that include the incorporation of a mission communications system, electrical power upgrades, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities.
Boeing will also modify their Federal Aviation Administration-certified commercial B747-8 aircraft to meet presidential operational requirements to help ensure an affordable program.

ch aviation

Air China to Start Boeing 747-8I Service to New York from Jan 2015

CA989 PEK0900 – 0930JFK 77W x24
CA981 PEK1300 – 1330JFK 74H D

CA990 JFK1150 – 1440+1PEK 77W x24
CA982 JFK1550 – 1820+1PEK 74H D

Based on latest update on Friday 14NOV14, Air China will introduce Boeing 747-8I operations on Beijing – New York JFK route, starting 07JAN15. The 747-8I will operate CA981/982 on daily basis.
Routes online

Air China's first B747-8 due next month

Air China will take delivery of its first B747-8, B-2485 (msn 41191), later next month with an additional two due before the end of the year.

In total, Air China has seven of the type on order from Boeing and plans to use them as replacements for its fleet of four B747-400s used on flights to Shanghai Hongqiao domestically and Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok and Tokyo Narita regionally.

LUFTHANSA - B747-800 - D-ABYI - LH2014 from SBGL whit German Soccer Team on Board

Mike Schulz - Berlin Tegel - Germany

Boeing Delivers 75th 747 to Lufthansa

SEATTLE, May 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Lufthansa celebrated the delivery of the German airline's 75th 747 on Wednesday.

"Lufthansa is proud to share this milestone with Boeing," said Nico Buchholz, executive vice president, Lufthansa Group Fleet Management. "The 747 is an amazing airplane and will continue to delight our passengers for many years to come, and provide them with the ultimate in comfort and efficiency."

Lufthansa is the launch customer for the 747-8 Intercontinental jetliner and took delivery of the first one in April 2012. The airplane delivered Wednesday is Lufthansa's 13th 747-8 Intercontinental. The airline currently flies the 747 to 22 destinations in 10 countries. Over the years, Lufthansa has ordered a total of 81 747s.

Lufthansa's first 747 – a 747-100 – was delivered in 1970. The airline was also the first to order the 747-200 Freighter.

"Boeing and Lufthansa have a long and proud history of working together to bring new innovations to the airline industry," said John Wojick, senior vice president, Global Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are pleased to continue that tradition with the 747-8 Intercontinental."

The 747-8 has accumulated 120 orders for passenger and cargo versions, 68 of which have been delivered.

LUFTHANSA - B747-800 - D-ABYI

Ton Jochems - LAX

Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Arrives at Paris Air Show

 The newest member of the Boeing family of commercial jetliners made its international air show debut when the first 747-8 Intercontinental touched down at Paris Le Bourget Airport
BOEING

Boeing 787 e 747-800 InternacionaI voam em formação

O primeiro Boeing 787 Dreamliner e o primeiro Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental voaram em formação no último final de semana.

BOEING

Boeing finaliza testes simulados de voo no solo do 747-8 Intercontinental

A Boeing completou os testes simulados de voo no solo, os chamados “gauntlet tests”, no seu primeiro 747-8 Intercontinental. Os dois dias de testes foram finalizados no domingo, dia 13 de março.

BOEING

Boeing 747-8I testa com sucesso os seus motores pela primeira vez

BOEING

Boeing mostra o seu novo Jumbo B747-800 Intercontinental

Presstur

O fabricante de aviões norte-americano Boeing apresentou a nova versão do Jumbo, o B747-8 Intercontinental, que prevê comece a operar no final deste ano, designadamente na Lufthansa, que é a companhia que estreará o novo avião, e na Korean Air, que já encomendaram 33.
A Boeing garante que o novo B747-8 tem os mais baixos custos operacionais de qualquer avião de grande porte, implicando assim que fica abaixo do custo por lugar x quilómetro do A380 do rival europeu, Airbus.
O lançamento do novo modelo foi nas instalações da Boeing em Everett, Washington, Estados Unidos, num evento em que o fabricante norte-americano juntou aproximadamente dez mil pessoas, entre trabalhadores seus, funcionários da administração norte-americana, parceiros, fornecedores e clientes.

Photos:BOEINGO presidente e CEO da Boeing, Jim Albaugh, ao dirigir-se aos convidados, salientou que o novo 747 incorpora avanços tecnológicos que o tornam “extremamente produtivo”.
O novo 747, anunciou, incorpora as mais recentes tecnologias aplicadas no desenvolvimento do 787 Dreamliner, cuja chegada ao mercado tem sido sucessivamente atrasada.
“Pensamos que os nossos clientes valorização os baixos custos operacionais e os passageiros desfrutarão do conforto e fascinante novo interior”, acrescentou.
Nico Buchholz, vice-presidente de gestão de frota do grupo Lufthansa, que é o launch customer do novo 747-8 Intercontinental, assegurou que o grupo alemão está desejoso de ter o novo avião em operação, enaltecendo as virtualidades em matéria de custos operacionais e menor impacto ambiental.
De acordo com a imprensa internacional, o novo 747 transporta até 467 passageiros na configuração com três classes (primeira, executiva e turística), mais 51 que as versões anteriores, e será o mais longo avião, medindo 250 pés (76,2 metros).
Segundo a Boeing, o novo 747-8 terá custos médios de operação 12% mais baixos que as anteriores versões, com a redução do consumo a situar-se em 16%, bem como reduz em 16% as emissores de carbono e em 30% o ruído.
“Como único avião no mercado dos 400 – 500 lugares, o 747-8 Intercontinental vai propiciar aos operadores um avião perfeitamente vocacionado para rotas longas e fortemente procuradas”, afirmou o vice-presidente de Airplane Programs da Boeing.
A Boeing revelou também que a cabina do novo 747-8 terá interiores idênticos aos do 787, nomeadamente na sua arquitectura curvilínea, que propicia aos passageiros a sensação de mais espaço e conforto.
Para a apresentação, a Boeing escolheu pintar o novo avião em vermelho e laranja, em lugar da sua tradicional opção por tons de azul.
O fabricante indicou que os voos de teste vão começar já no próximo mês.