US manufacturer predicts 500 sales of new twinjet before first flight in 2007 and outlines production plans
Boeing expects to sign up its first European customers for the 7E7 before the end of the year, and confidently predicts it will have secured 500 orders by the time the first aircraft flies in 2007. The manufacturer has also outlined plans to achieve a maximum production rate of over 80 7E7s a year.
Speaking last week in London during an international road show to brief media on the new twinjet family, senior vice-president for the 7E7 programme Mike Bair said that customer reaction to the new twinjet has been "phenomenal...we were surprised by the size of the All Nippon Airways 7E7 launch order [50 aircraft]". He added that Boeing is now "in detailed discussions with more than 30 airlines over close to 600 aircraft".
In its 7E7 video presentation, Boeing says "there is the very real possibility of having 500 orders signed by the time of first flight". Bair confirms this is a realistic target, and says that the first 7E7 is due to fly in the "late summer of 2007".
Boeing vice-president European sales Marlin Dailey says European operators will be early customers for the 7E7 and will have a major influence in design of the aircraft. "We're engaged in talks with 10-12 European carriers...we're going to bring in European launch customers this year."
Dailey adds that the initial European customers "may not be major scheduled carriers", hinting that a charter carrier could be first. TUI-owned Britannia Airways recently told Flight International it was seriously considering the 7E7 to replace its Boeing 767 fleet (Flight International, 11-17 May).
Daily says Boeing has also had dialogue with "a few regional low-cost airlines about using the 7E7 for new long-haul, low-cost services".
Boeing has also released the first detailed information on its production rate plan for the aircraft. Bair says he expects a total of 90 7E7s will be available for delivery in the first two years of production - 2008 and 2009.
"We're looking at a probable maximum rate of seven per month [84 a year], but this is flexible and to be decided," says Bair. He adds that the new final assembly technique - which will mimic the Airbus policy of delivering major, pre-plumbed subassemblies to the line - will take three days, compared with 14 for today's 777.
Meanwhile, Bair says that a final decision on whether the project designation 7E7 will be retained for the life of the programme will probably be made "before the end of this summer".
MAX KINGSLEY-JONES / LONDON
Source: Flight International
