By Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY
Boeing's 747 and 787 passenger-jet programs each got a big boost today as Boeing received orders totaling 43 widebody jets at the Hong Kong Air Show today.
Air China announced it would buy five 747-8 Intercontinentals -- Boeing's latest and biggest version of its jumbo jet.
In addition to Air China's order, "Boeing also signed a preliminary agreement with HNA Group's Hong Kong Airlines for 30 787-9s, six 777 freighters, and two 787-8 VIP jets," The Associated Press writes.
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The Wall Street Journal says the order gives Boeing executives "a little breathing room" for both "the newest version of the iconic 747 jumbo jet" and the company's delay-plagued Dreamliner 787.
For the 747-8 Intercontinental, the order could help allay concerns about the long-term prospects of Boeing's latest version of the jet. Prior to Air China's order, Boeing counted only two commercial airlines (Lufthansa and Korean Air) among its customers for the jet.
The Seattle Times writes the "deal buoys the prospects of Boeing's latest and largest version of the jumbo jet, which has faced slow sales." The Financial Times echoes that sentiment, saying Air China's order "is significant for ... Boeing, which has been struggling to find passenger airlines willing to buy the latest version of the jumbo jet."
MORE: China Eastern to expand fleet 74% by 2015 (Air Transport World)
Boeing premiered its first 747-8 Intercontinental last month amid much fanfare at its 747 assembly line in Everett, Wash. Seating about 467 passengers in a typical configuration, the jet is the biggest passenger jet ever manufactured by Boeing.
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Despite the public unveiling, Lufthansa --which will be the first airline to put the 747-8i into regularly scheduled passenger service -- isn't scheduled to take delivery of the jet until early 2012.
As for Air China, Dow Jones Newswires writes it "said it will operate the new aircraft on high-capacity routes to North America, and said it won't rule out further orders for the jumbo jet."
"Our fleet isn't sufficient to cope with our expansion plans so we will continue to expand our fleet size," Zhang Yang, Air China's general manager for strategy and development, is quoted as saying by Dow Jones.
Looking at the Dreamliner order, Hong Kong Airlines' 30-jet deal would be welcome news for Boeing, coming against a backdrop of reports that have focused on the many delays that have plagued the ballyhooed aircraft.
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Still, even today's news comes as some predict Boeing will not hit its latest target date for the 787, which is already more than three years late in coming to market.
Boeing now says the first Dreamliner will be delivered to launch customer ANA of Japan in the third quarter of this year, a timetable that Boeing executives say remains on target.
The Journal, however, writes that "Yoon Hee-do, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities, said Boeing is unlikely to make the first delivery in 2011 as it needs more time to test the planes."
Stay tuned ?
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Posted Mar 8 2011 1:47PM
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