EVERETT — The icon of the Boeing Co.’s Everett plant, the 747, saw itself passed over by British Airways in its recently announced order.
“It is somewhat of a blow to Boeing,” said Paul Nisbet, an analyst with JSA Research in Rhode Island.
A longtime Boeing customer, British Airways opted for the larger A380 passenger jet offered by Boeing’s competitor Airbus. Since launching its updated version of the classic 747 in 2005, Boeing has picked up only one major carrier, Germany’s Lufthansa, as a customer for its 747-8 Intercontinental passenger plane. The freighter version of the 747-8 continues to enjoy market success.
Boeing’s first 747 jumbo jet entered commercial service in January 1970 and has remained the largest passenger plane in the sky since that time. However, Airbus’ A380, which seats 525, will usurp that title next month when it takes its first commercial flight with Singapore Airlines. Boeing’s 747-8 carries approximately 467 passengers.
While analyst Nisbet anticipates that several airlines still are looking at Boeing’s 747-8 passenger plane, he notes how several international carriers, like British Airways and Singapore Airlines, are choosing larger planes for their long-haul routes, particularly on flights to China.
While speaking last week at an event in Seattle, Scott Carson, Boeing’s head of commercial airplanes, couldn’t quite seem to grasp why airlines would want an A380, a plane he considers “ridiculously huge.”
So far, not that many airlines have picked the A380. Airbus has won only 165 orders for its superjumbo jet. The European plane maker had to delay deliveries of its A380 by nearly two years on average after suffering wiring setbacks in production. Airbus will deliver the first A380 on Oct. 15.
Over the next 20 years, Airbus predicts that airlines around the world will order 1,260 large jets, like the A380 and 747-8. Boeing’s projection over the same time is for slightly fewer large aircraft sales, 960.
Nisbet speculated that airlines may be picking either really big planes, the A380, or sticking altogether with medium-size, twin-engine jets. Of the later on the market, Boeing’s 777-300 Extended Range jet carries roughly 100 passengers fewer than its 747-8, which has four engines.
“It’s still a good-sized aircraft and it’s more efficient,” Nisbet said.
One facet of the large jet market about which Boeing doesn’t have to worry is the cargo segment.
When Airbus hit trouble with its A380 passenger jet, the company elected to stop work on the freighter A380. Airbus lost its last freighter order earlier this year. Eventually, the plane maker likely will revive the cargo version.
In the meantime, however, Boeing has the corner on the large cargo jet market. The 747-8 Freighter won 36 orders last year, a significant portion of the company’s total freighter orders of 81. In 2006, cargo orders made up 18 percent of Boeing’s total sales value.
In 2007, Boeing has picked up six firm orders for its 747-8. The company also recently launched a freighter version of its popular 777 jet.
“It’s very obvious the 747 is going to do well as a cargo plane for a long time to come,” Nisbet said.
Reporter Michelle Dunlop: 425-339-3454 or mdunlop@heraldnet.com.
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