Boeing Launching More Efficient 747 Jet

[britmaveric]

Boeing Launching More Efficient 747 Jet

SEATTLE - Boeing Co. is launching bigger, more efficient versions of its 747 jumbo jet in a move that will put competitive pressure on rival Airbus and its A380 superjumbo.

The Chicago-based company said late Monday Luxembourg-based Cargolux Airlines International SA has ordered 10 freighter versions of the new airplane, dubbed the 747-8, with purchase rights for 10 more. Nippon Cargo Airlines of Japan has ordered eight of the freighter planes, with options for six more. Both airlines will begin receiving the planes in the latter half of 2009.

The firm orders from the two companies are worth $5 billion at list prices, although airlines typically negotiate steep discounts.

"We are thrilled to have Cargolux and Nippon Cargo choose the new 747-8 and become the launch customers for this next generation of the proud and valuable 747 airplane family," said Alan Mulally, head of Boeing's Seattle-based commercial airplanes division.

The new airplanes will use technologies and General Electric Co. engines designed for Boeing's forthcoming 787 airplane to make the 747 quieter and more efficient, Mulally said.

At a news conference in London, Mulally said the company expected to win the first orders for the passenger version next year.

"The interest for the airplane is phenomenal," Mulally said.

The new passenger version of Boeing's four-engine widebody airplane will seat 450 people, up from 416 in the most current model, and will feature a redesigned interior. It will be nearly 12 feet longer than the current 747, and will be capable of flying 9,200 miles.

The freighter version will be about 18 feet longer than the current freighter model, the 747-400.

Both versions of the current 747 are nearly 232 feet long.

Analyst Richard Aboulafia said the 747-8 launch will likely increase pressure on rival Airbus, which is preparing for its superjumbo A380 to enter service next year. A new, slightly larger 747 could potentially reduce the market for Airbus's plane, a mammoth offering that can carry between 550 and 800 passengers in a doubledecker cabin, he said.

"It helps box the A380 into an even smaller niche," Aboulafia said.

Airbus has won 159 firm orders for the A380 so far, at a list price of $292 million each.

Boeing had been shopping a redesigned 747 around for more than a year, as it sought to garner enough interest to launch the new plane.

Without a new model, some had begun to question how long production would continue for the 747, a fabled workhorse that has been in the skies for 35 years. Boeing has recently seen business pick up somewhat for the freighter version of its current 747 model, but the company has not received an order for a passenger 747 in several years.

Aboulafia said he expects the bulk of the orders for the new 747 will also be for the freighter version, but he thinks some passenger versions to be built.

"This would remove any uncertainty about the 747 line," he said.

-AP

ALLISON LINN

15 Nov 2005

[cdnvic]

I think this will attract some customers who are already major 747 customers, although I think the new 747 will suffer the same troubles as Airbus' A-350 in being a bit to late behind the rival.

Price will be a big determining factor.

Boeing.com graphic

cv

[britmaveric]

Dunno if new 747 interior accomodations have been upgraded - seat back entertainment as an example. I think this might go over quite well. 747 is a nice plane apart from the ones that are flying today that show their age.

[Mighty Mouse]

The new passenger version of Boeing's four-engine widebody airplane will seat 450 people, up from 416 in the most current model, and will feature a redesigned interior. It will be nearly 12 feet longer than the current 747, and will be capable of flying 9,200 miles.

I guess this means that we poor people travelling in cattle class will still be cramped.

[britmaveric]

The new passenger version of Boeing's four-engine widebody airplane will seat 450 people, up from 416 in the most current model, and will feature a redesigned interior. It will be nearly 12 feet longer than the current 747, and will be capable of flying 9,200 miles.

I guess this means that we poor people travelling in cattle class will still be cramped.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Those in cattle class will always be cramped no matter what plane you fly!!!

Edited November 16, 2005 by britmaveric

[bdenner]

As best as I can I will stay with smaller aircraft A330, 767 etc. Can you Imagine the kaos at the baggage carosel, customs etc if a A380 lobs in with 800 people on board

[bluebear]

thats just stupid. you cant control what happens to other planes arriving.

Its just the same as 2 747 arriving at the same time - not uncommon in bkk or 2 747s and a A340.

what will you do when your smaller plane arrives at the same time as 3 other flights?

At the airports where the A380 is going to be used there are always queues because planes are always arriving.

[Axel]

Airports will adjust, of course. Some faster some slower.

Singapore is modifying Changi Airport's Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. For the test flight they used gate F31. There will be an additional loading bridge connecting the upper deck at each gate serving 380ies. In the final Singapore will have 19 A380-compatible gate in 3 terminal. Holding rooms are to be exanded and baggage claim carousels serving A380 flights to be extended to accommodate more luggage.

I understand the new BKK airport will have 5 A 380-gates.

Other airports around the world do adjust as well.

At immigration guess not much changes needed. SIN is always fast with hardly any waiting time, BKK is always slow in rush hour.

Edited to add 1 source:

http://www.etravelblackboard.com/index.asp?id=44471&nav=20#

Edited November 17, 2005 by Axel

[bdenner]

thats just stupid.  you cant control what happens to other planes arriving.

Its just the same as 2 747 arriving at the same time - not uncommon in bkk or 2 747s and a A340.

what will you do when your smaller plane arrives at the same time as 3 other flights?

At the airports where the A380 is going to be used there are always queues because planes are always arriving.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You didn't get it did you? Don Muang for example. The baggage from your flight is routed to one of the 6 carrosels. Most airports I go to use one aircrafts luggage on the carosel at any one time. Even with the passanger load of an A330 people are pushing and shoving. There will be twice that many with the A380.

[cdnvic]

You didn't get it did you? Don Muang for example. The baggage from your flight is routed to one of the 6 carrosels. Most airports I go to use one aircrafts luggage on the carosel at any one time. Even with the passanger load of an A330 people are pushing and shoving. There will be twice that many with the A380.

The airports who are upgrading for the A380 are making larger carosels. Don Muang hasn't because its supposed to be offline by the time the A380 is in service. Last I heard, Changi, Incheon, Vancouver, Heathrow, Gatwick, HKG, JFK, and LAX all were doing these modifications.

So many posters seem to think the A380 is going to show up at these airports as a big surprise, but they've has years of warning, and the better managed airports will rise to the occasion, because every passenger arrival/departure is revenue.

"The sky is falling!" kind of doomsaying preceeded the 747 too, yet airports adjusted to it (and it had DOUBLE the capacity of a DC-8/707) and it's now been in production longer than any other jetliner ever.

cv

[chanchao]

I think the A380 is a good thing too, however I wonder about the baggage caroussel thing.. You can make them bigger, but assuming that they run at the same speed, you will wait longer on average for your bag to come by, as they still emerge one at a time for all 500-800 passengers. You'd think they'd go with two separate caroussels per plane, like top deck passengers on one caroussel and the bottom deck passenger luggage on another.

(That said I'm not worried as I very rarely check in stuff)

[Axel]

I believe the extention of the caroussel should mean to make it longer.

Thus they can unload two or more containers at a time and put the bags on.

At Don Muang I recall at least one that runs over two fingers, i.e. same result, more bags at the same time. Totally DM has 15, not only 6, although over two terminals.

I do not think they can separate upper- and lower deck passengers but they can separate F, C and Y-class pls. VIP-pax, which is done already now. Priority bags do come out first or e.g. in KL arrive on a different belt.