Qantas Reportedly Considering 747-8i

No one's saying who picked up the check a recent dinner between Qantas Airways CEO Geoff Dixon and Boeing's Alan Mulally... but odds are the head of Boeing's commercial planes division at least bought the drinks, as Mulally is hoping to sell Qantas on Boeing's 747-8 Intercontinental passenger plane.

And what's more, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports, Dixon says Qantas was interested... even before news last week of delays on Airbus's A380 program.

"Their claims on payload and distance make the plane very attractive to us," Dixon said recently, on Boeing's pitch to sell Qantas on the 747-8. Qantas is already a customer for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner... with 65 orders for the upcoming plane.

The Australian carrier is also currently third in line to receive the A380... and Dixon says he had originally received assurances from Airbus the first superjumbo will be delivered to his company on time, by next March or April.

"That's the time window we are banking on," Dixon said at the time. "We are planning for that. Airbus has been very open with us."

Now, however, Qantas will likely not see its first plane until late 2007... or even later, due to the wiring delays. That may present a golden opportunity for Boeing... which is looking to profit off it's competitor's woes, and possible lure the dozen orders Qantas placed for the A380 over to the 747-8 column.

After all... the 747 is a proven quantity, and even with advanced technology engines and increased use of composite materials, the Intercontinental -- based as it is on a nearly 40-year design -- is not likely to encounter the delays that have plagued the A380 program.

For now, however, Dixon indicates Qantas is sticking by the A380... but added the airline would likely buy either more A380s, or the 747-8... but not both, leading some analysts to speculate Qantas may soon dump its Airbus orders in favor of the Boeing.

"The A380's loss is the 747's gain," said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis for the Teal Group.

What's more, Qantas may only be the first of many A380 customers jumping ship... which probably means Alan Mulally will be buying more dinners down the road. We hope he has Diners Club...

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.airbus.com, www.qantas.com