rotornut
30th Nov 2004, 21:09
Boeing hints 7E7 target could slip, eyes new jumbo
Tue Nov 30, 2004 01:17 PM ET
By Jason Neely, European Aerospace & Airlines Correspondent
LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Planemaker Boeing Co. is aiming for orders for 200 of its all-new 7E7 jets by the end of the year but would not be too concerned if that target slipped by a month or two, it said on Tuesday.
"That certainly is the target. If it becomes January, February, we are not too disturbed," Randy Baseler, vice president for marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes told Reuters.
"Harry's got the heat on us," he said, referring to Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher's hopes for firming up the orders by the end of the year.
With orders for just 52 7E7 plans so far, Boeing would need another 148 -- a record for one model in a single month.
"That would certainly be, if not the record, close to it," Baseler said.
Rival planemaker Airbus is expected to decide next month whether to begin marketing a new plane tentatively named the A350 to compete with the 7E7 and has said it would seek state aid as part of the launch.
Baseler said Boeing no longer recognises a 1992 deal that allowed such state aid.
"It's our understanding that the 1992 agreement is null and void," he told reporters. "Any (state-supplied launch) funding going forward for the A350 would be a violation," he said.
TURNING TO WTO
Washington filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation last month over state launch aid, which Airbus receives and need not pay back should new models prove unsuccessful.
"I think that would be of great interest to the WTO," Baseler said of the possibility of Airbus seeking more for the A350.
Baseler said the A350, a longer-range version of the twin-engine A330, would mark a dramatic change in Airbus' stance, which for long routes has favoured four engines such as on its A340 as well as the double-decker A380 due in 2006.
"All of a sudden they are saying they can fly a twin-engine 7,500, 8,000 nautical miles. This really says their whole product strategy is being thrown out the window."
He said Qatar Airways and other airlines were interested in a 257-seat version of the 7E7 not due until 2010 but that he was not worried that Airbus would steal potential orders by matching the 7E7 with a version of the A350 ready by then or earlier.
"Not that could be as efficient in fuel, in maintenance, from a comfort point of view," he said.
As for the impact on Boeing's own line-up as it prepares for the 7E7 in 2008, Baseler said production jobs were safe for now on the 767, which many airlines are expected to replace with the new plane.
"Right now we don't have to make a decision for about a year, so we're comfortable," he said, noting that Boeing might even be in line for new orders for the 767 from carriers needing a plane until the 7E7 arrives.
NEW JUMBO
Baseler also said Boeing was nearing a decision on whether to launch another new plane, an upgrade of the 747 jumbo jet tentatively called the 747 Advanced that would use four of the new fuel-efficient engines being developed for the twin-engine 7E7.
"We should be making a decision on this in the first quarter or first half of next year," Baseler said.
"The airlines are saying we must commit or we move on," he said, citing a meeting with several carriers held in Hong Kong last month.
"These are airlines that have ordered the A380. They like 20 percent increments," he said, referring to the 555-seat double-decker and the desire of some carriers to have a plane about 20 percent smaller at 450 seats.
The 7E7 is Boeing's first all-new plane since the larger 777 was launched in 1990, though it has brought to market many derivatives based on existing models in that time, including a new freighter version of the 777 unveiled just this month.
Designed to offer lower fuel and operating costs, it will come in three versions seating 217-289 passengers and serve a market, in which Boeing sees demand for 3,500 planes over the next 20 years.
Tue Nov 30, 2004 01:17 PM ET
By Jason Neely, European Aerospace & Airlines Correspondent
LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Planemaker Boeing Co. is aiming for orders for 200 of its all-new 7E7 jets by the end of the year but would not be too concerned if that target slipped by a month or two, it said on Tuesday.
"That certainly is the target. If it becomes January, February, we are not too disturbed," Randy Baseler, vice president for marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes told Reuters.
"Harry's got the heat on us," he said, referring to Chief Executive Harry Stonecipher's hopes for firming up the orders by the end of the year.
With orders for just 52 7E7 plans so far, Boeing would need another 148 -- a record for one model in a single month.
"That would certainly be, if not the record, close to it," Baseler said.
Rival planemaker Airbus is expected to decide next month whether to begin marketing a new plane tentatively named the A350 to compete with the 7E7 and has said it would seek state aid as part of the launch.
Baseler said Boeing no longer recognises a 1992 deal that allowed such state aid.
"It's our understanding that the 1992 agreement is null and void," he told reporters. "Any (state-supplied launch) funding going forward for the A350 would be a violation," he said.
TURNING TO WTO
Washington filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation last month over state launch aid, which Airbus receives and need not pay back should new models prove unsuccessful.
"I think that would be of great interest to the WTO," Baseler said of the possibility of Airbus seeking more for the A350.
Baseler said the A350, a longer-range version of the twin-engine A330, would mark a dramatic change in Airbus' stance, which for long routes has favoured four engines such as on its A340 as well as the double-decker A380 due in 2006.
"All of a sudden they are saying they can fly a twin-engine 7,500, 8,000 nautical miles. This really says their whole product strategy is being thrown out the window."
He said Qatar Airways and other airlines were interested in a 257-seat version of the 7E7 not due until 2010 but that he was not worried that Airbus would steal potential orders by matching the 7E7 with a version of the A350 ready by then or earlier.
"Not that could be as efficient in fuel, in maintenance, from a comfort point of view," he said.
As for the impact on Boeing's own line-up as it prepares for the 7E7 in 2008, Baseler said production jobs were safe for now on the 767, which many airlines are expected to replace with the new plane.
"Right now we don't have to make a decision for about a year, so we're comfortable," he said, noting that Boeing might even be in line for new orders for the 767 from carriers needing a plane until the 7E7 arrives.
NEW JUMBO
Baseler also said Boeing was nearing a decision on whether to launch another new plane, an upgrade of the 747 jumbo jet tentatively called the 747 Advanced that would use four of the new fuel-efficient engines being developed for the twin-engine 7E7.
"We should be making a decision on this in the first quarter or first half of next year," Baseler said.
"The airlines are saying we must commit or we move on," he said, citing a meeting with several carriers held in Hong Kong last month.
"These are airlines that have ordered the A380. They like 20 percent increments," he said, referring to the 555-seat double-decker and the desire of some carriers to have a plane about 20 percent smaller at 450 seats.
The 7E7 is Boeing's first all-new plane since the larger 777 was launched in 1990, though it has brought to market many derivatives based on existing models in that time, including a new freighter version of the 777 unveiled just this month.
Designed to offer lower fuel and operating costs, it will come in three versions seating 217-289 passengers and serve a market, in which Boeing sees demand for 3,500 planes over the next 20 years.