A new longer version of the Boeing 747, which Boeing says boasts many of the benefits of the B787 Dreamliner, has been unveiled in Washington.
The high capacity Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental has been designed to serve the 400 to 500 seat market, flying on long-haul, heavily travelled routes.
Jim Albaugh, Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ CEO said the plane “incorporates technological advancements that make it an extremely productive airplane for customers”.
He said: “The new 747-8 Intercontinental features the latest in innovative technologies applying many of the breakthroughs also found on the 787 Dreamliner.”
Boeing claims the new plane will have the lowest seat-mile cost of any large commercial jetliner, with 12% lower costs than its prededecessor, the B747-400.
The B747-8 Intercontinental also provides 16% better fuel economy and 16% less carbon emissions per passenger, as well as a 30% smaller noise footprint, than the 747-400.
Inside the aircraft, Boeing has used features from the 787 Dreamliner, including a new “curved, upswept architecture” - which the manufacturer said gives it a more spacious feeling - and more room for personal belongings.
Launch customer Lufthansa is due to take delivery of the first of the new planes before the end of the year.
Nico Buchholz, Lufthansa's executive VP of fleet management, said: "The 747-8 Intercontinental will be a great complement to our fleet, fitting nicely into the 400-seat category, improving our fleet's eco-efficiency even further."
www.boeing.com www.lufthansa.com