• IAGblog Podcasts

  • Podcast - Kingfisher faces another test

    India's Kingfisher Airlines had another challenge when it ran into IATA's clearing house rules. The airline has about a third of its fleet out of action. One would think that these challengers are making the future of the airline ever more tenuous. Apparently not according to analysts at Bangalore Aviation. We did a podcast with them last night. Reuters is reporting that Kingfisher's CEO has kept on with his demand that Indian airlines be allowed to import their own jet fuel. Since some Indian states charge as much as 28% sales tax on fuel, being allowed to bring in their own fuel could bring huge savings. Indian airlines will be allowed to import jet fuel directly under a proposal from a ministerial panel Aviation Minister Ajit Singh is reported to have said.
    Posted on 7 February 2012 | 7:27 am

  • 2012 and the CSeries

    Airline Business Editor Max Kingsley-Jones wrote an intruiging piece on the Bombardier CSeries in 2012. So we called Max and had a chat about the airplane and its prospects.  The CS is seen as living in an awkward segment - bigger than regional jets but smaller than full size airliners.  Bombardier is very confident of this segment and the success Embraer has seen in this segment seems to endorse this confidence. Trunk liners have a spotty record all the same.  It is a tough space to work in.  That said Bombardier needs a few more "big name" customers and these are likely to be forthcoming once the program has better visibility.

    2012 is an important year for the program as it approaches the first flight in 2013.  Since program delays are "new normal", airlines are to be expected to hang back until they can more clearly see the program's milestones being reached.


    Posted on 1 February 2012 | 10:17 am

  • India selects Rafale

    After a long haul, the Indians appear to have selected the Dassault Rafale for their new fighter. Discussing the selection and implications with us are FlightGlobal's Steve Trimble and G2Solution's Michel Merluzeau. The selection process took years. Virtually every fighter that could compete did. In the end it was a fight between Typhoon and Rafale. The lowest cost winner seems to be Rafale. As our guests explain, this selection could have implications for the outstanding deals in Brazil and UAE.
    Posted on 31 January 2012 | 9:44 am

  • Looking into 2012 with Bombardier's Phillipe Poutissou

    Philippe Poutissou is VP, Marketing at Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and spent some time talking about next year and also reviewed some 2011 events. The issues discussed include: An overview of their programs; including a CIASTA update; Why is BBD going for a broad the customer base?; Where does BBD see greatest potential for CS?; Where does Bombardier see the greatest market for the CRJ; On the Q400 there is manifest interest in a larger Turboprop; finally we talk about oil prices and biofuel.
    Posted on 22 December 2011 | 9:14 am

  • Looking into 2012 with Airbus' Barry Eccleston

    Barry Eccleston is Airbus Americas CEO and spent over fifteen minutes talking about the great year they had plus a peek into a murky 2012. The issues we spoke about are: an overview on A380 programs for 2012; plus what are the biggest program challenges?; With so many sales for neo already booked, will 2012 see more mega sales?; What is Airbus doing to ensure neo delivery on time?; How does Airbus see the oil price playing out over 2012?; plus a view on biofuels; How much will the Euro currency problems impact Airbus?; sales breakdown in Euro vs. USD? and finally are there plans to grow Mobile, AL?
    Posted on 21 December 2011 | 2:00 pm

  • Looking into 2012 with Boeing's Randy Tinseth

    Randy Tinseth is vice president, Marketing, for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and kindly agreed to podcast with us looking forward to next year. We discuss the following topics; Program views (737,747,767,777, 787) for 2012; the biggest program challenges for 2012; Cargo traffic is dropping in double-digits in some parts of the world and cargo traffic usually is a leading indicator of passenger traffic. How does Boeing view the drop and its potential effect on passenger traffic?; How many MAX commitments does Boeing expect to be converted to firm orders in 2012?; How much of a problem is getting a delivery slot now? (when is the earliest available?); How does Boeing see oil prices acting in 2012?
    Posted on 20 December 2011 | 10:21 am

  • Podcast - Iran and that "RQ-170"

    The video from Iran appears to show a US made UAV that its says it captured. Indeed the language they used is that an Iranian military "electronic warfare unit" brought down the aircraft on December 4. What NATO has admitted is that it lost a UAV, but they have not admitted what type of UAV. While looking at the Iranian TV footage, we have a short conversation with G2Solution's Research Director and UAV expert Ron Streans. The conversation by definition is speculative, but it is educated speculation. Have the Iranian's managed to crack the US' UAV control systems? Is this really what it seems? If it is what the Iranians say, then we are dealing with a serious situation.
    Posted on 8 December 2011 | 12:01 pm

  • Podcast - The Complexities of Buying Aero Engines

    We speak with Norman Hecht, an aviation consultant with 38 years in the business, 37 of them with a major engine OEM. Norm explains the most important factors in engine selection - there are nuances and airlines frequently bring in consultants to assist even if they have a long term relationship with the OEM. We talk about Qantas and Rolls-Royce and the A330 which is unique in offering engines from all three OEMs.
    Posted on 6 December 2011 | 8:35 am

  • Boeing and the IAM - Boeing's view

    Immediately after we completed the podcast with IAM 751, we invited Boeing to take a listen and respond if they so chose. And Boeing did decide to respond. We spoke with Tim Healy, Boeing spokesman on labor matters. It is exciting and gratifying to see much of the same spirit as that expressed by the IAM. Both sides certainly seem to want this to be a fresh start. The stock market already gave Boeing's stock a bump up - truthfully everyone in the Boeing supply chain benefits - the only side that does not is competitors. We do marvel that it has taken so long for both sides to see this. It remains to be seen who the person was between IAM and Boeing who managed to cut through the Gordian knot and create this breakthrough. That person deserves a medal.
    Posted on 2 December 2011 | 12:13 am

  • Peace in Seattle?

    Today there was big news from Seattle. Boeing and one of its key unions (IAM 751) came to an agreement on differences going back a long time. There were negotiations that were ongoing but seemed to have ratcheted up seriously into covering the big issues. The union gets to keep the MAX at Renton which is a major win for them. It is also a win for Boeing. Union members are to vote on the agreement next Wednesday and if it passes, even the NLRB problem could go away because the union will advise NLRB that it is no longer in dispute with Boeing. We spoke with union spokesman Bryan Corliss and he shared the union's perspective on the pending agreement.
    Posted on 30 November 2011 | 3:18 pm