Boeing’s recently launched 747-8 Intercontinental will offer better seat mile costs and better trip costs than the Airbus A380, Boeing claimed at Asian Aerospace yesterday.
In a market overview centred on the Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 products, Dan Mooney, vice-president, product development, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said that the firm’s strategy meant fewer aircraft types, but with more capability.
“Into that family we are introducing more operational commonality, very long range, low operating costs and greater efficiency,” he said. “The result is a complete family of aircraft that enable our point-to-point strategy.”
On the 747-8, he said: “We do believe that the 747-8 will have significantly lower trip costs [over the A380] and lower seat-mile costs. The 747-8 will be a significantly lower risk and a really profitable workhorse.”
So far, Boeing has taken 18 orders for the 747-8 Freighter variant, 10 ordered by Cargolux and eight by Nippon Cargo Airlines.
The new type – the freighter version is due for first delivery in 2009 – has been made possible by “breakthrough technologies” taken from the Boeing 787 programme, as well as “significant” aerodynamic improvements.
“The result is an airplane with increased capacity and the range that customers are looking for,” he said. “There are dramatic improvements in passenger appeal.”
As well as 34 additional seats in the 747-8 Intercontinental, the aircraft will feature a large space above the passenger cabin. The “skyloft” space could be used to house up to 40 passenger bunks.
Leader
On the 777 front, Mooney said that the creation of three new models – the 777200LR, the 777300ER and the 777 Freighter – had made the aircraft “the best in class” and the clear market leader.
“Last year was a very successful year, with a more than 90% market share and one of the reasons for its success was that the 777-300ER was in service,” he said.
He added that its 99.2% dispatch reliability had impressed customers. The type had a significantly better dispatch record and far fewer turnarounds than its rivals.
As the fuel price continues at unprecedented levels, so fuel efficiency was becoming an ever more important issue with customers, said Mooney.
He said that for every 10¢ increase in the cost of fuel, the 777-200LR would save $207,000 a year compared with an Airbus A340-500. By the same measure, a 777-300ER would save $143,000 a year compared with an A340-600.
In conclusion, Mooney said: “We feel absolutely that we have the right product strategy and the market will decide who the market leader is.”
Source: Flight Daily News
