BOEING chose its London offices in St James”s for Randy Baseler”s,
vice president of marketing, annual crystal ball gazing on the
airliner market for the next 20 years, the telecast seen all over the
world. Boeing now projects a need for approximately 27,200 new
commercial aircraft (passenger and freighter), doubling the world
fleet by 2025. When it comes to very large flying machines he sees a
requirement for just 325, somewhat less than the much hyped breakeven
number for the Airbus A380. ”Improved fuel efficiency and increased
range will allow airlines to take more travellers directly where they
want to go, when they want to go. New, much quieter airplanes with
significantly reduced emissions will permanently change the character
of the world airplane fleet.” Mr Baseler suggests that over the next
20 years, airlines will take delivery of approximately 3,450 regional
jets ” 90 seats and below; 16,540 single-aisle aircraft ” 100-240
seats; 6,230 twin-aisle airplanes ” 200-400 seats; and just 990
airplanes, 747-size or larger.
http://www.boeing.com