Bmacleod From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2081 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3028 times:
Boeing can't wait forever for a major airline to order the 747-8 pax. Those 4 or 5 unidentified VIP orders doesn't even scratch the surface of Boeing's required number to start production and rumors from KLM and BA aren't helping Boeing either.
Some major carrier is going to have to make the bold step in the next 6-8 months or so or Boeing will be forced to only focus on is cargo version the 748F.
[Edited 2006-10-28 20:18:14]
The engine is the heart of an airplane, but the pilot is its soul.
Khobar From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 2379 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3011 times:
Quoting Bmacleod (Thread starter): Some major carrier is going to have to make the bold step in the next 6-8 months or so or Boeing will be forced to only focus on is cargo version the 748F
As long as Boeing makes their money back on the investment, I doubt they really care what version they sell.
SQNo1 From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 681 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3011 times:
WHAT THE HELL!!!
The programme has only been avliable for airlines to purchase aircraft for under a year. Time will come and there will be many orders for the plane. I seem to recall that orders for A380 got off to a slow start as well.
MauriceB From Netherlands, joined Aug 2004, 2477 posts, RR: 28 Reply 3, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 3001 times:
Quote: and rumors from KLM and BA aren't helping Boeing either.
I highly doubt it if KLM will order any 747-8's anytime. they are keen on the A330 and 777-200ER/300ER and since boeing isn't alloud to build combi planes anymore, and with only 5 Full pax 747's, i think KLM rather chooses to order more 777-300ER's or 787-10/A350-1000 (when launched)
Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10511 posts, RR: 65 Reply 5, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2985 times:
Quoting Bmacleod (Thread starter): Boeing can't wait forever for a major airline to order the 747-8 pax.
Boeing can wait forever for a major airline to order to the B747-8I SuperJumbo. They are selling enough freighters that it doesn't matter when they start selling the passenger version. If demand for freighters is higher than for passenger VLAs (which is obviously the case right now) such that Boeing can make more money by building freighters than passenger airliners, then Boeing would be nuts to sell their SuperJumbo on thin margins. It's only worthwhile for Boeing if the price is right.
Futurecaptain From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2985 times:
With the cargo varient being the same size it wont cost Boeing that much $$$ to offer the pax varient also will it? Same tooling, same production line, same workers, just putting pieces together.
Since it seems the frieghter will do just fine why not offer the pax version for the life of the program?
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21029 posts, RR: 60 Reply 7, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2900 times:
Quoting Bmacleod (Thread starter): Boeing can't wait forever for a major airline to order the 747-8 pax.
no, but while 11 months can seem like an eternity to a 1st grade student, it's just an evaluation period for multibillion dollar businesses.
here's the thing. It's been 1 month since Boeing "firmed" the "final" design for the pax, at least as how it will be marketed. The F was defined last november, the i was still a suggestion.
Now I expect that airlines will have to make a decision very soon to have any chance of delivery before 2012.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
MauriceB From Netherlands, joined Aug 2004, 2477 posts, RR: 28 Reply 8, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2900 times:
Quote: With the cargo varient being the same size it wont cost Boeing that much $$$ to offer the pax varient also will it? Same tooling, same production line, same workers, just putting pieces together.
Not true, Cargo planes have way different systems than the Pax version, and boeing has to design a cabin interrior for the 747-8 which will cost alot.
BoomBoom From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2736 times:
Quote: EMIRATES, the fastest growing global airline, has dumped orders worth $4 billion (£2.1 billion) for the Airbus A340 and admitted that it is in negotiations to buy $8 billion worth of Boeing 747s.
Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, said yesterday that he might buy 20 to 30 of the new 747s if Boeing agreed to change the specifications.
Sphealey From United States of America, joined May 2005, 361 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2707 times:
> Boeing can't wait forever for a major airline
> to order the 747-8 pax.
You might want to Google "fleet in being", read up on that concept, and reconsider.
Ken777 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7453 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2692 times:
Boeing is in a pretty good position with the 748i. It's a minimum cost project that will provide a good option for 747 users when it's time for replacement. The "replacement" aspect may delay orders, but I believe that they will come when the airlines are ready.
The 748i also provides a good product to counter the 380, especially in terms of costs. Not all routes are going to need a 380 and I believe that the 748i will do OK when these sales battles are fought.
Most importantly, the F version is there to keep the line operating and profitable during the slow times for the pax version. While it may be an abnormal situation for a "new' plane I don't think that Boeing is going to be upset with that situation.
While Boeing might get an order for the 748i this year I believe that the initial significant orders will start in 2007.
DfwRevolution From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Quoting MauriceB (Reply 8): Cargo planes have way different systems than the Pax version, and boeing has to design a cabin interrior for the 747-8 which will cost alot.
Not true: the 747-8 cabin features are rather simple derivatives of the existing 747-400 cabin systems and trim.
"Skylofts" and what-not would only be developed if an airline actually ordered them. If an airline just wanted a standard passenger cabin, the development cost would be marginal.
Quoting Ken777 (Reply 12): Boeing is in a pretty good position with the 748i. It's a minimum cost project that will provide a good option for 747 users when it's time for replacement.
- There is zero "drop date" for the 747-8I and Boeing can offer the -8I as long as the line remains open.
ShowerOfSparks From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 2533 times:
Quoting MauriceB (Reply 8): Not true, Cargo planes have way different systems than the Pax version, and boeing has to design a cabin interrior for the 747-8 which will cost alot.
You know, I could be wrong, but I suspect Boeing has an idea or two about the aircraft production business. I don't think you have to worry too much about it
JAAlbert From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 1191 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2378 times:
I think the stretch pax version of the 747-8 is going to be very cool. Imagine -- an even bigger 747! Not to start a war (please!) as I will love flying on the 380, but you gotta admit, the 747 has a much better profile. Not stubby, but sleek and swift looking.
Is it cost effective for Boeing to offer two sizes of the 747-8? An order for 20-30 747s is huge.
And the question to end all questions -- just what the heck is Emirates gonna do with all those seats flying all over the place? It seems to me that a sizeable portion of the world's people are gonna have to be flying on a regular basis to keep all these planes filled. Is Emirates' growth plan realistic? Or will it end up like Pan Am in the 70s when Pan Am ordered all those 747s it couldn't fill? (or did Pan Am fail for a different reason(s)?)
Legacytravel From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 1067 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2365 times:
It will take awhile for some airlines to place orders for the aircraft. Especially since some of the U.S carriers are just removed from BK and or are still in BK, and now have just started to make a profit.
I can see UA, NW, placing orders in the next 12-24 months for replacement aircraft as well as for some expansion. Especially UA they are in a desperate need for wide body aircraft for expansion. Their wide body fleet is stretched razor thin already. It would not surprise me to fing out that UA is currently working with Boeing behind the scenes on some of the engineering and design that will be incorporated into the aircraft. Ala the 777, and that UA will be the domestic launch customer for the 748.
Regards,
Mark in MKE
Ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21029 posts, RR: 60 Reply 18, posted (6 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2362 times:
Quoting DEVILFISH (Reply 9): One major airline contemplates leasing up to seven B773ERs to have interim lift capacity and questions the 748i's further stretch.....
EK contemplates a lot of stuff. Out loud. And it takes them months or more to act on this contemplation. It's taken them over a year to not act on the 787 or 350, it took them months to show displeasure about the 346 before canceling (and A doesn't admit they have).
If they wanted the shorter, longer range 748i that badly they could have ordered it after the June A380 delay.
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
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- There is zero "drop date" for the 747-8I and Boeing can offer the -8I as long as the line remains open.
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