Boeing Picks GE Engine for Proposed 747 Advanced

Reuters ^ | Mon Apr 25, 2005 03:08 PM ET | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

I don't know if revamping and old airplane to try play catch-up with Airbus in the Jumbo Jet market is such great news.

I see it as an admission by Boeing that they miscalculated the market demand for a bigger plane.

Not at all. The 747 Advanced is just a minor stretch. The capacity will increase from 419 to 450 seats. The current 777-400 model is too close in size to the 777-300 and 777-300ER which seat about 360 passengers or about the same number as the 747-100 and 747-200. The 777 models being newer and twin engined have significantly less fuel burn per seat mile. That's a major reason why orders for new 747s especially passenger versions have significantly decreased. Some operators like QANTAS have never ordered the 777, because they don't want to operate under ETOPS restrictions. They got a few 747-400ERs to make it easier to operate the LAX-SYD and LAX-MEL routes year round with full passenger and cargo loads.

The 747 Advanced will weigh at least 100 tons less than the A380 and will have better seat mile costs while having longer range. The passenger version will have a capacity about midway between the A340-600 and the A380-800, and Airbus will not be able to economically build a competitor in the same capacity class. The A330/340/350 models have been stretched about as much as the can be while the proposed A380-700 with a 475 passenger capacity would weigh much more than the 747 Advanced while having higher per seat costs. The A380-800 models fill the available manufacturing slots so Airbus won't be able to put out a competitive product before Boeing in the 400-500 passenger capacity range. The 747 Advanced would have significant cost advantages for airlines that already operate 747s. If Boeing goes ahead with the 747 modernizaion, they could take quite a bit of sales away from Airbus. Remember Airbus needs to make back its $15 billion development costs plus interest while Boeing will only need to recover $2-3 billion to modernize the 747.

There is already a model for this. In the early 1990s Boeing developed the 737 Next Generation 600-900 models. They desinged a new and bigger wing and updated systems while keeping the same fuseage cross section and commonality to a large proportion of 737 classic parts. The 737NG models out perform the Airbus A320 series in both range and operational economy without having to be competely redesigned from scratch.

[Jorge]

Boeing is doing just fine, maybe in your version of the world, Boeing should co-op with a few more countries to catch-up and make it a Government Operation.

What does this have to do with anything?

I never made a case for Boeing to operate like Airbus when it comes to Govt subsidies etc.
What are you talking about?

Let's see how many of those A380 Orders actually get built. Boeing playing Catch-up with a plane that hasn't even flown yet... Please..... Now that is Funny.... Maybe you can explain your logic on that one please, like Airbus trying to catch up with an almost 40 Year old Aircraft.....

Are you really this clueless?

First of all Boeing executives have admitted that the new Airbus jumbo jet means the demise of the 747 UNLESS they can come up with something to compete with it.

Secondly the Airbus that you say has "yet to fly" flies tomorrow.

High oil prices and the resulting increase in orders for the fuel efficient 787 Dreamliner are the only thing rescuing Boeing presently. They made a winning bet with this plane.

But the fact is, Boeing KNOWS they are being left behind when it comes to the jumbo jet...and YES they are trying to play catch up to compete with the new Airbus.

By the way, our company has contracts with BOTH Boeing and Airbus, so I follow these developments closely.

[Sonar5]

I think clueless defines you, if you can't understand who is catching up with who here.

And after reading some of your other posts, have a nice day.

[Jorge]

The design is sound, and proven on the 747 and it is a totally different aircraft systems wise, than the originals. Do you understand how many itterations of the 747 there are? This is just one more addition, IMHO.

None of this makes a bit a difference when the fact is orders for the 747 have virtually dried up in the past few years.

The fact is Boeing didn't challenge Airbus on developement of a new jumbo and now is behind in the game.

The only thing saving Boeing is the unexpected success of the 787 due mostly to rising fuel costs.