FlightLines

Boeing delivers 30 Dreamliners in Q1

Dreamliners sit on the flight line outside of Boeing South Carolina’s final assembly building awaiting delivery to customers. (File photo/Kim McManus)

Deliveries of Boeing Dreamliners remained flat year over year with 30 787s delivered in the first quarter, the company said in a news release.

Dreamliners are produced in Everett, Wash., and at Boeing’s campus along International Boulevard in North Charleston.

The aerospace manufacturer delivered 176 commercial airplanes overall in the first quarter, down 4.3% from the same period a year ago. Boeing recently announced plans to eliminate about 4,000 jobs in its Commercial Airplanes division, likely this summer, amid intense competition from Airbus.

Airline/leasing company	No. of 787s delivered in Q1
Air Canada	4
Air Europa	1
All Nippon Airways	2
American Airlines	2
British Airways	2
International Lease Finance Co.	4
Japan Airlines	2
LATAM Airlines Group	2
MG Aviation Limited	1
Qatar Airways	2
Saudi Arabian Airlines	3
United Airlines	3
Virgin Atlantic Airways	2

Source: Boeing

CHS-bound flight from New York diverted to Raleigh after cabin pressure drops

Passengers aboard a flight headed from New York to Charleston yesterday morning had a scare when their emergency oxygen masks dropped down from the overhead compartments as the cabin lost pressure.

The flight was diverted to Raleigh-Durham International Airport, according to a story from NBCNewYork.com. Delta flight No. 4058 was originally headed from LaGuardia Airport to Charleston International Airport.

Passengers had to wear the oxygen masks until the aircraft touched down, the story said. Endeavor Air operated the flight.

Boeing plans to cut 4,000 jobs at midyear

Following up on Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Ray Conner’s announcement last month that the company would cut jobs, the Boeing Co. has confirmed plans to eliminate about 4,000 jobs in its Commercial Airplanes division, likely this summer.

The cuts — planned for “midyear” — include hundreds of executive and manager positions, Boeing spokesman Doug Alder Jr. said in an emailed statement. None of the positions are expected to be involuntary layoffs.

“We’ve been able to reduce staffing levels through attrition, leaving open positions unfilled, and voluntary layoffs. We’ll only use involuntary layoffs as a last resort‎,” Alder said. “We continue to follow our plan announced last month to make fundamental changes for the long term to win in the market, fund our growth and operate as a healthy business.”

In the company's latest earnings call, Conner said intense competition from Airbus was forcing Boeing to reduce costs in plane production.

The Boeing Commercial Airplanes division includes the 787 Dreamliner program in North Charleston and Everett, Wash. Boeing South Carolina employs about 7,500 people across all of its divisions, including the 787 campus, interiors facility, propulsion center, and research and technology operations.

“We do not anticipate reducing the number of direct Boeing employees at BSC (Boeing South Carolina),” Boeing spokeswoman Elizabeth Merida said. “We can ease any impact and cover our business needs through natural attrition and having temporary and contract workers.”

Regarding the job cuts, The Seattle Times reported Tuesday that Boeing’s Test and Evaluation division, which conducts flight, ground and lab tests in the Puget Sound area, plans to reduce its workforce by 10%, according to an internal Boeing document obtained by the newspaper.

Air Europa picks up first 787 in N. Charleston

Spanish carrier Air Europa has ordered 22 Dreamliners to date. (Photo/Boeing)

Spanish carrier Air Europa took delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner from Boeing’s North Charleston final assembly site on Tuesday, according to a news release.

The airline flew the plane nonstop from Boeing South Carolina’s campus to Madrid — some 4,100 miles — arriving today.

Air Europa has leased the jet through an agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital. The delivery is also the first Dreamliner to SMBC Aviation Capital.

“The state-of-the-art 787 Dreamliner will provide us with significant operational advantages as we aim to expand our footprint around the globe,” said Juan Jose Hidalgo, president of Globalia, the airline’s parent company. “Additionally, it is an airplane that will offer our passengers an unrivaled on-board experience, and arrive at their holiday destination feeling refreshed.”

Air Europa announced an order for 14 787-9 Dreamliners in 2015, the largest ever Boeing widebody order from a Spanish carrier, the release said.

The airline now has a combined total of 22 787-8s and 787-9s on order.