{"id":61044,"date":"2024-04-06T23:42:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-06T18:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=61044"},"modified":"2024-04-06T23:42:30","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T18:12:30","slug":"boeing-787-dreamliner-fleet-closing-on-new-retrofits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/06\/boeing-787-dreamliner-fleet-closing-on-new-retrofits\/","title":{"rendered":"Boeing 787 Dreamliner Fleet Now Over Decade Older, Closing on New Retrofits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SINGAPORE-<\/strong> The initial fleet of Boeing 787-8 aircraft<\/a> that entered into service are now more than a decade old. These aircraft require significant maintenance for their airframes, prompting several airlines to announce cabin retrofit programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite being perceived as a relatively new aircraft model, the Boeing 787 has operated commercially since 2011. Consequently, the oldest 787-8s have been flying for well over ten years, reaching a stage where their airframes necessitate extensive structural maintenance checks. Moreover, they are also ideal candidates for cabin refurbishments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo:-Lan Abbott | Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Boeing 787 Decade Older Now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In recent times, multiple airlines have disclosed plans to retrofit their 787-8 fleets with new cabins within the next few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since October 2019, Cirium has monitored 18 cabin retrofit occurrences involving 787-8 aircraft operated by All Nippon Airways (ANA)<\/a>, Japan Airlines (JL)<\/a>, and United Airlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Cirium Ground Events<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

United Airlines (UA) <\/a>recently revamped its complete widebody fleet by introducing its new ‘Polaris business class and Premium Plus premium economy cabins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Ground Events Analytics, all 12 of United’s 787-8 aircraft underwent retrofitting at HAECO’s Xiamen \u2013 Taikoo Aircraft Engineering facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By Melvinnnnnnnnnnn (FN2187) – https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/montoya711\/49448531018\/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=97680551<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

ZipAir Begins Operations with Retrofit Dreamliners<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In Japan, where the initial batch of 15 787-8 aircraft was delivered between 2011 and 2012, the aircraft type has been utilized to launch new airlines. Low-cost carrier Zipair Tokyo (ZG)<\/a>, established by JAL in 2019, initially utilized the parent airline’s oldest 787-8 aircraft. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before their transfer, these aircraft underwent airframe maintenance checks and cabin retrofits, resulting in a higher-density seating arrangement with capacity increased from 206 to 290 seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although the Zipair Tokyo fleet has since been expanded with two brand-new 787-8s, Boeing’s suspension of 787 deliveries between June 2021 and August 2022 delayed their arrival. To meet the growing demand for post-pandemic travel, JAL transferred additional second-hand 787-8s to Zipair, necessitating the same cabin retrofit work as previous aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Ground Events analytics, the six Zipair 787-8s underwent retrofitting procedures, both internally and by third-party maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers at three different facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2024, ANA launched AirJapan, which, similar to Zipair, operates medium-haul low-cost services using older 787-8s transferred from the parent airline. Additionally, five more aircraft are scheduled to undergo retrofitting with all-economy cabins and be put into service during 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 787-8 variant was the initial model of the 787 series, with a total of 165 aircraft delivered over a period of two and a half years before the introduction of the stretched and longer-range 787-9 models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Air India 787-8 economy class | source\/credit: Air India Thi\u2026 | Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Value in Second-hand Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There has been a recent surge in airline announcements regarding retrofit programs for the 787-8 aircraft. In many instances, outdated seats will be replaced with new units to ensure consistency with newly manufactured aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cirium fleet data shows seven 787-8 aircraft have been permanently retired from service. Aside from the four prototypes retained by Boeing, two former Norwegian airframes were dismantled in 2023, and another airframe, which was never delivered to an operator, was disassembled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Cirium Ground Events<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Currently, 383 787-8 aircraft are in active service<\/strong> and 11 in storage, while more than 1,100 787s of all variants have been produced. The type’s order backlog, comprising nearly 800 units (including a relatively modest 48 firm commitments for the 787-8), ensures production well into the 2030s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new widebody aircraft manufacturing and delivery rate is slower than the airlines’ demand for them. Consequently, second-hand aircraft are becoming increasingly desirable, raising their value. Therefore, with the intention of operating them for an extended period, the business case for cabin retrofits becomes justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Matt Taylor | Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Six Airlines Retrofit Announcements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Six airlines have recently announced plans for cabin retrofit work on their 787-8 aircraft over the coming years. These upgrades primarily involve new seats, in-flight entertainment, and internet connectivity systems, resulting in interiors that match those of other widebody aircraft types typically operated by these carriers, some of which are newer models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

British Airways (BA)<\/a>, after introducing its new ‘Club Suites’ in 2019, is set to commence the installation of Collins Aerospace-manufactured business class seats into its 787-8 fleet in 2024. The previous 2-3-2 seat layout will be replaced with a 1-2-1 configuration, offering direct aisle access for all passengers and enhancing accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alongside upgrades to other cabins and the inclusion of Wi-Fi, these aircraft will align their interiors with those of newly delivered counterparts, such as the 787-10s and Airbus A350-1000s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forthcoming retrofitting of the 787-8s follows similar upgrades performed on BA’s 777 fleet, undertaken at BA’s maintenance facilities in Cardiff, as indicated by Cirium’s Ground Events analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: By Alan Wilson – https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ajw1970\/15439360130\/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=84683491<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ethiopian Airlines (ET) <\/a>has enlisted Adient Aerospace to provide lie-flat Business class seats for its 787s. While the specific aircraft earmarked for retrofitting has not been announced, Cirium’s Fleets Analyzer indicates that the airline currently operates 10 787-8s featuring angled business class seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration and offering a recline of 150 degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These aircraft represent Ethiopian Airlines’s oldest 787-8s, delivered between 2012 and 2014, predating the availability of the latest-generation business class seats with privacy doors in a 1-2-1 configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jetstar (JQ)<\/a> intends to maintain its seven-abreast seating configuration, but due to the increasing demand for premium travel, the seating capacity in this cabin will increase from 21 to 44. Additionally, the Qantas (QF)<\/a> subsidiary has revealed plans to install crew rest areas on its fleet of 11 787-8s, hinting at the potential utilization of these aircraft to venture into new long-haul markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given the plans of several airlines to retrofit the cabins of these relatively youthful aircraft, alongside the necessity for heavy maintenance, it stands to reason that other operators of the 787-8 will also seize the opportunity to modernize their fleets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on Telegram Group <\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Etihad Takes the Delivery of Three New Boeing 787s<\/a><\/blockquote>