BOEING”S vice president marketing Randy Basler, was in London last week (and also making an appearance at the Air Finance Journal conference in Dublin) giving his annual market overview, easily the most comprehensive yet. One thing with both Boeing and Airbus is that they make Ryanair seem an ”honest John” when it comes to statistics, both companies somewhat economical with the truth when highlighting typically aircraft capacity. How many passengers does an Airbus A340 hold? 323 according to the Boeing paperwork which does not say which model, whilst the more or less competing 777 has 365 seats but in its -300 version. At the end of the day the seat layout/economics are tailored for the particular airline. In any event Boeing are firm on their prediction of 300 very large aircraft over the next 20 years, whilst Airbus say the figure is 1,250. Boeing is pushing hard its passenger version of the 747-8 freighter (left) and whilst the stretched aircraft is smaller in terms of optimum seat capacity (450 against 555) against the A380, the Seattle company claims 28% lower fuel consumption per trip, commonality with existing aircraft fleets and an ability to fit into a great many more airports pointing out that by 2010 only 60 around the world will be able to accept the A380. What they do not say is only 60 around the world would probably want to accept the A380 (see also Skyloft story below).
http://www.boeing.com