Farnborough: Flooding rains among Monday 'highlights'
The opening day of the Farnborough Airshow was cut short by a torrential downpour that sent water flooding across the grounds of the biennial airshow.
The Telegraph of London reports from the scene, writing the show "descended into farce in early afternoon when heavy rains resulted in the power being switched off across of swathes of the show as exhibition halls began to flood."
“I’ve never seen anything like this before at an airshow with the power being turned off,” an unnamed U.S. attendee told the Telegraph. “We’ve seen heavy rain at shows but never the power going off, that’s a first.”
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram adds "organizers shut down parts of the air show on Monday following torrential rains that led to flooding, power outages and legions of soaked attendees. As a downpour soaked the grounds, attendees could be seen huddling under the wings of a parked F-35 — known, ominously, as the Lightning II — and other planes on the grounds. Flying displays were truncated."
Despite Mother Nature's interruption, the show's opening day featured the usual news of aircraft orders -- including Virgin Atlantic's decision to buy Airbus' new A350 model. Check out the full story in Today in the Sky, or scroll down to see more of Monday’s Farnborough highlights as compiled through wire and other media reports.
Boeing lands $4 billion order from Chinese carrier
(AP) China's Donghai Airlines and Boeing have announced that the airline intends to purchase 25 737 MAX 8s and five 787-9 Dreamliners in a deal valued at more than $4 billion.
In a deal announced Monday at the 2016 Farnborough International Airshow, Shenzhen-based Donghai Airlines says its fleet expansion will help satisfy the growing travel market and help build its home base as the transportation hub in southern China.
Donghai is converting its business model from cargo services to passenger services and has already order 15 Next-Generation 737-800s and 10 737 MAX 8s in 2013.
Wong Cho-Bau, the chairman of the airline, says it is "committed to introducing new next-generation airplanes that deliver the industry-leading fuel efficiency and passenger comfort."
Donghai Airlines currently has a fleet of 11 Boeing 737-800s serving for more than 10 cities across China.
Asian carriers give orders boost to both Airbus and Boeing
That's according to Bloomberg News, which writes "China's Xiamen Airlines agreed to buy 30 Boeing 737 MAX 200s worth $3.39 billion at list prices, while Donghai Airlines followed up by saying it will get 25 MAX 8s valued at $2.75 billion. Jetstar Pacific in Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding for 10 Airbus A320s, while Standard Chartered Plc’s leasing arm ordered 10 current-generation 737-800s worth $960 million."
Bombardier gives CSeries 'joyride' ahead of the show
The Seattle Times writes the "demo flight, with about 50 people on board, took off in pouring English rain (on Sunday). But the dismal weather couldn’t dispel the pleasure of a fun morning flight in a spacious new airplane."
The CSeries, of course, is the Canadian jetmaker's newest aircraft. It's future had been in question until it picked up a key order from Delta in April. Winning more orders at Farnborough would be a further boost to Bombardier;s CSeries, though the Times says "signals suggest there may not be many sales at Farnborough. But Bombardier is no longer desperate."
Boeing, Britain in deal for new P-8A Poseidon military aircraft
(AP) Britain has signed a contract for nine new P-8A Poseidon military aircraft in the first big deal announced at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The Defense Ministry says the cost of delivering the deal, including paying for training of people, infrastructure and necessary support, will be around 3 billion pounds ($3.88 billion) over the next decade.
Boeing said Monday it planned to work with the U.K. government to build a new 100 million pound ($129 million) support and training base for the aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.
Boeing and the U.K. say a new long-term partnership will bring 2,000 new jobs to the U.K.
The deal offers a boost to a government reeling from fears that jobs will be lost amid Britain's decision to leave the European Union.
“There’s a lot of things going on right now that’s caused people to pause,” Conner said. “People were in wait-and-see mode. And with fuel prices down, airlines can fly airplanes a little longer to make longer term decisions.”
Boeing inks big service deal with Norwegian Air
(AP) Boeing said that Norwegian has committed to its GoldCare maintenance coverage for the airlines 737 Max fleet and expanded coverage for the airlines entire 787 Dreamliner fleet.
The new services agreement represents the largest commercial services order in Boeing history, the company said.
The service will be launched when the first plane is delivered in May of 2017 and coverage will be provided through 2034.
Boeing acknowledges slowdown in widebody orders
In a story ahead of the show's opening day, The Seattle Times writes: "Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner, talking with journalists at its UK headquarters (on Sunday), acknowledged a big slowdown in widebody jet orders this year, talked about the progress of job cuts, and offered Boeing’s thinking about various potential new jet models."
“There’s a lot of things going on right now that’s caused people to pause,” Conner is quoted as saying by the Times. “People were in wait-and-see mode. And with fuel prices down, airlines can fly airplanes a little longer to make longer term decisions.”