In what hopefully will prove to be good news for cheap traveloptions, such as cheapfares, cheap airplane tickets, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages,there is unprecedented spending being done by airlines to modernize theirfleets.
Boeing and Airbus, the worlds two largest airplanemanufacturers, reported record deliveries in 2013, delivering hundreds of newplanes last year. Both companies arepreparing to build thousands more as commercial airlines retire their agingplanes.
More new planes being flown means more nonstop flights,fewer delays, seats with better amenities, such as power outlets and bettercabin air. Unfortunately there will belittle, if any difference in legroom.
New planes being produced are more fuel efficient whichmeans airlines can reduce their single biggest expense (namely fuel) and flyroutes that were previously unprofitable.
The number of orders for new planes is unprecedentedaccording to industry experts, who view the rate at which new planes are beingproduced as phenomenal.
Recently Airbus announced that it received slightly over1,600 commercial orders in 2013, which is a new industry record. Boeing received orders for over 1,500 planeslast year which was a company record.
In 2013 Boeing delivered the most planes (648) in itshistory while Airbus delivered 626.
Both companies have a major number of planes scheduled tobe built in the near future. Airbuss backlogas of 2013 stood at 5,559 planes with Boeing backlog at 5,080.
The demand for new planes is primarily being driven bynon-U.S. airlines, particularly ones in developing areas such as Africa, Asia,Central America, the Middle East and South America.
Nevertheless, U.S. airlines are also ordering significantlymore planes. American Airlines hasstarted taking delivery of the largest aircraft order in aviation history - 460narrow-body, single-aisle jets that it ordered from Boeing and Airbus in 2011. Delta and United have also placed significantorders for new planes.
These new planes feature better lighting, improved cabinair, enhanced entertainment systems, as well as roomier overhead bins. Experts believe that planes will never haveenough overhead space though because providing more space induces more peopleto try to use it.
Roomier seats on new planes will not be available exceptfor passengers in first and business class. Airlines continue to try to squeeze more revenue out of every plane, whichtranslates to trying to fit in more seats.
One of the big advantages of select new fuel efficientplanes will be their ability to offer more nonstop flights. For example, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner canfly nonstop between almost any two airports in the world.
Fliers should also benefit from experiencing fewermechanical delays, since in theory new planes require less maintenance andbreak down less frequently. While thereare sometime kinks that need to be worked out on new planes, historically neweraircraft are more reliable.
Experts hope that the rapid growth of new plane deliverieswill help keep airfares from rising because these planes will help keepairlines costs under control.
www.cheapfares.com