Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES
Boeing is having to con-front a dwindling number of prospective launch customers for the 747X in the near-term, with FedEx Express becoming the latest international carrier to add its name to the growing list of operators choosing the rival Airbus A380-800 ultra large aircraft.
FedEx is the seventh customer to commit to the A380, following signing of a memorandum of understanding to order 10 aircraft plus an undisclosed number of options. The deal increases the A380 orderbook to 60 aircraft and is all the more significant in that it secures Airbus' first US operator and a launch customer for the A380-800F freighter version.
The A380's offer of a 150t (331,000lb) payload, 10,410km (5,620nm) range and the option of a 600t increased maximum take-off weight (MTOW) allied to very keen pricing swung the deal for Airbus. Its 3,620m3 (39,000ft3) of cargo space represents a "quantum leap in size and capability" over the Boeing MD-11F and even the 747X Stretch is "much smaller in terms of cubic space", says FedEx chairman Fred Smith.
FedEx is pressing Airbus for an earlier delivery than current plans that call for the A380F to enter service at a rate of three per year starting in 2008. The carrier says it expects to make a powerplant decision by April. Contenders are a 75,000lb-thrust (335kN) version of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or the Engine Alliance GP7200.
Boeing describes the FedEx loss as "very disappointing", but company chairman Phil Condit stresses that the 747X will only be launched "if we think we've got a market for the aircraft". It still aims to begin 747X deliveries by September 2005 - six months before the A380 passenger model.
The FedEx deal coincided with Boeing's second 747X customer symposium attended by 21 "prospective customers", including British Airways, and Cargolux plus partners and suppliers. Boeing's near term prospects would appear to be Atlas, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Lufthansa, all of which attended the symposium and are eyeing a freighter version of the 747X. Also present was A380 launch customer Air France, which is understood to be looking at a freighter version of the recently launched heavy weight 747-400X.
Speaking at the symposium, newly appointed 747X vice president and general manager Walt Gillette referred to the 747X as the world's first "four-decker" design, as it will feature two passenger decks, a lower cargo deck and accommodation in the upper lobe of the main deck for beds or stowage of galley equipment.
Source: Flight International
