Reuters
NASA is extending SpaceX’s Crew Dragon contract for three additional crewed International Space Station missions in an award valued at roughly $946 million to $950 million. At the same time, the agency is discussing whether Boeing’s Starliner could handle a broader set of missions after its risk-plagued 2024 crew flight.
Boeing
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
NASA is extending SpaceX’s Crew Dragon contract for three additional crewed International Space Station missions in an award valued at roughly $946 million to $950 million. At the same time, the agency is discussing whether Boeing’s Starliner could handle a broader set of missions after its risk-plagued 2024 crew flight.
Recent signs indicate Boeing’s planned reintegration of Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, may be encountering contract and execution problems. The developments raise questions about whether the supplier’s return to Boeing can proceed as smoothly and orderly as the aerospace manufacturer intended.
High activity
The FAA has approved Boeing’s request to build and deliver up to 35 additional 777F freighters beyond 2027, exempting the aircraft from impending fuel-efficiency limits. The three-year extension offers operators more near-term capacity as costly conversions and delays to the 777-8F constrain widebody freighter availability.
Japan’s ZIPAIR is considering adding service to the US East Coast as it continues to focus its international growth on Asia and the United States. President Yasuhiro Fukada said new long-haul routes would not necessarily depend on the arrival of the airline’s planned Boeing 787-9s.
Malaysia Airlines’ parent is reportedly nearing an order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners, according to people familiar with the matter. The potential deal would support the carrier’s effort to renew its long-haul fleet, although the size and terms of the order were not disclosed.
The FAA will allow Boeing to certify up to 35 additional 777 freighters beyond the 2027 emissions cutoff, extending the current 777F’s availability by three years. The exemption provides a bridge for operators and Boeing while delays continue to push out the 777-8F freighter.
The U.S. Air Force plans to extend the service lives of its B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets while transitioning their pilots to the B-21 Raider. The move links near-term bomber availability with the development of a trained operational workforce for the next-generation stealth bomber.
High activity
Boeing has acknowledged that certification of the long-delayed 777X is likely to move into next year, extending uncertainty around the program’s entry into service. The disclosure reinforces concerns about the timeline for completing the aircraft’s certification and advancing its commercial launch.
Create a free account to see more recent Boeing stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
