Boeing pitches stopgap deal to win Qantas order for ‘777X’

Bloomberg

Qantas Airways said Boeing has offered a stopgap deal in a bid to persuade the airline to select its delayed 777X plane for planned direct flights from Australia to New York and London.
Boeing pitched the workaround as it grapples with holdups to the upgraded 777, Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said in an interview in London, declining to reveal what the offer entails.
“While the 777-8X is likely to be delayed, Boeing have put a compelling proposition on the table,” he said. “Part of the Boeing proposal is an alternative that gives us a transition to the later delivery of the 777.”
Boeing said in July that the maiden flight of the initial 777-9 version of the upgraded plane had been delayed until 2020 amid issues at engine provider General Electric Co. The first delivery of the jet is now expected in early 2021. The smaller, longer-range -8 variant under consideration at Qantas is due to follow, though the manufacturer has never said when it might appear.
Qantas faces a choice between the 777-8 and ultra-long-range variants of Airbus SE’s A350 as the airline selects a fleet for Project Sunrise, as the plan to eliminate stops on the longest services from Australia is known. Flights are slated to commence as soon as 2022.
The 777-8 offers a more compelling payload proposition on London and Sydney flights, whereas the lighter A350 would be more economical to destinations such as Hong Kong and Los Angeles, providing greater flexibility, Joyce said.
Qantas also plans to order short-haul planes next year and will choose between models including the Airbus A320 and the Max, according to Joyce, who said he’s confident Boeing will safely return the grounded jet to service. Boeing will be in a strong position to secure the contract if it goes ahead with a new midmarket airplane (NMA), which would be well-suited to the busy Melbourne-Sydney route, he said.

FAA chief to agency: Take time to scrutinise 737 Max
Bloomberg

The Federal Aviation Administration’s top official encouraged agency staff to scrutinise Boeing Co’s grounded 737 Max carefully before approving its return to the skies, no matter how long it takes.
In a video address to agency staff and an internal memo, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said agency personnel reviewing the 737 Max should take all the time they need to fully validate changes to the plane before flights resume.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure to return this aircraft to service quickly, but I want you to know that I want you to take the time you need and focus solely on safety. I’ve got your back,” he said in a video address seen by Bloomberg.
Boeing shares surged earlier after the company said the FAA was on track to certify the jet’s redesigned flight-control software by mid-December, which could allow the company to
resume deliveries to the grounded 737 Max once again.
In the memo, Dickson said the FAA’s work on the 737 Max “is not guided by a calendar or schedule.”
Separately, United Airlines Holdings said it would keep
the 737 Max off its schedule into early March, joining rivals Southwest Airlines Co and American Airlines Group that had earlier done the same.