Fri, Sep 15, 2006
'If They Come, We'll Build It'
In a perfect example of the cyclical nature of the airliner
business, American planemaker Boeing has seen its fortunes take a
turn for the better over the past few years, just as European rival
Airbus has hit some turbulence... but that's not to say
all is roses and caviar for the American manufacturer.
In June, Boeing hinted its upcoming 787 may come in over the
company's weight goals, though the manufacturer it will still be
within design parameters... and there are rumors, though
unconfirmed, of a slight delay in the first flight of the plane as
well.
Boeing also has yet to find a confirmed customer for the
passenger version of its new 747-8, which applies Dreamliner
technology to the venerable jumbo jet platform.
The 747-8 is not lacking for orders -- with 30 received so far
for the freight-hauling variant of the plane, including 12 by Atlas Air announced this
week -- and it may come to pass Boeing won't need to
build its "Intercontinental" passenger-version of the plane at all.
But that's not to say Boeing's vice president of commercial
airplane marketing, Randy Baseler, would turn any interested
customers away.
"If an airline wanted to buy it, we would be happy to do it,"
Baseler told reporters this week, according to CBS Marketwatch.
Baseler went on to say the same goes for any customers looking
for the larger 300-passenger version of the 787... which has
garnered interest from Emirates, and as many as 12 other customers.
But none of those airlines have placed orders for the larger 787-10
just yet.
Truth be told, there isn't much of a rush. Baseler says
Dreamliner production is sold out through the first few years...
and the -10 wouldn't be ready until 2012 at the earliest,
anyway.
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