Larger Boeing 747-8I
 

Boeing considers lengthening 747-8I

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...ng+747-8I.html

It's not just Asian carriers looking at this "stretch". BA will order the 74-8 when Boeing offer the increased length in pax config. The reason is that it allows us to fit 350+ or so seats using the 4 class layout that cuts our standard -400 to only 291 pax.

So that's a certainty then?

Fancy a bet :ok:

With the slippage in the A380 schedule, Boeing is no doubt recognising that it could be onto a good thing here; a new A380 customer would probably have to wait until 2010-11 before taking delivery; a 747-8 customer would take delivery around the same time (and could be sure Boeing wouldn't make the same mess of things as Airbus is).

I wouldn't bhe at all surprised if BA ordered it, but I'd expect CX to be one of the launchies, possibly China Airlines as well.

More bad news for Airbus today: Malaysia and ILFC are looking at cancelling their orders and ILFC is looking to do the same for the A350; it is giving Airbus until the Farnborough show to come up with a better alternative.