Taiwanese carrier questions the financial viability of the Boeing 777-200LR on ultra-long-haul services
EVA Air, one of only two Boeing 777-200LR launch customers, could drop its orders for the ultra-long range variant in favour of other versions of the twinjet, including the 777-300ER or 777 Freighter.
EVA deputy senior vice-president corporate planning, Lee Jen-Ling, says that the Taiwanese carrier will have to make a decision next year on whether to switch its order for three -200LRs, which are due for delivery from 2008. As a replacement for its 747-400Fs the airline is evaluating the -200LR-based 777 Freighter, which Lee says Boeing claims will offer at least 20% better fuel efficiency.
EVA has four 747-400Fs, 10 747-400 combis and five 747-400 passenger aircraft, according to AvSoft's ACAS database. As well as the three 777-200LRs, the airline has 12 777-300ERs on order.
Lee says the airline is still evaluating whether ultra-long-haul services are financially viable. She adds that the -200LR would, for example, give EVA the capability to operate non-stop from Taipei to New York, but the airline still needs to determine whether there would be sufficient demand for such services, or whether a one-stop service would be better financially.
Although Boeing would not lose any orders if the airline does switch variants, it could potentially leave just one customer for the -200LR - Pakistan International Airlines has two on order - unless other sales for the variant are secured in the meantime.
Boeing is aiming to secure launch commitments for the 777F this year, to enable the 101t-payload twinjet to enter service before the end of 2008.
LEITHEN FRANCIS / TAIPEI
Source: Flight International
