Three days until Airbus delivers its first A380 and … ugh, I’ve done it again.
On Monday, I told you about the Spice Girls leasing a 757. All week, I’ve been cursed with “Wannabe” lyrics running through my head.
After typing the headline for this entry, I know I’ll hear The Final Countdown until Airbus actually hands over its super jumbo jet to Singapore Airlines on Monday. I suppose it’s a fitting tune, given the group
Europe
Back to Airbus … the plane maker’s chief salesman, John Leahy, tells the Associated Press, “When this airplane is out flying, my marketing job will get a lot easier.”
Leahy thinks it likely the A380 could top the 200-order mark by year’s end and will win “well over 800” orders during its lifetime. As part of his marketing strategy, Leahy says he’s targeting airlines that have Boeing 747s in their fleet.
On his blog last week, Leahy’s counterpart, Boeing’s Randy Tinseth confirmed that Boeing will lock in the design for its revamped 747-8 Intercontinental this year.
A year ago, the other Randy, Tinseth’s predecessor Randy Baseler, announced Boeing’s decision to
stretch the Intercontinental
Last December, Boeing picked up its first airline order for the passenger version of its 747-8. Since Germany’s Lufthansa put in a request for 20 747-8 Intercontinentals, only 747-8 Freighters and biz jets have been sold.
Tinseth declined to predict when Boeing will win another 747 order (the company has six net 747 orders this year). However, he did say that Boeing is having “productive discussions” with about 15 airlines around the world about the new 747.
To find Tinseth’s thoughts on the 747, you’ll want to look in the comment section of his entry on Boeing’s porkers.
By the way, if you love Boeing’s “When Pigs Fly” or the “Dream Swiner,” tonight’s your chance to bid on them during the Pigs on Parade 2007 auction, which benefits Pike Place Market Foundation.
Also of note, in his blog entry today, Tinseth explains why he told reporters early this week that Boeing would deliver its 787 on time. The company announced a six-month setback Wednesday.
Should Boeing’s revised schedule stick, we’ll do another Final Countdown to the first Dreamliner delivery late next year.
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