The Boeing Co. has landed the first order for the passenger version of its 747-8 — but it isn’t making a big deal about it.
In fact, Boeing did not even make an announcement. It simply added the order for the one plane to information about jetliner orders and deliveries that can be found on its public Web site. And even then, the information was not easy to spot.
The customer for the plane does not want to be identified, a Boeing spokesman said Thursday when asked about the order.
A company insider who asked not to be quoted by name said only a small number of people within Boeing know who the customer is.
It is the first 747 passenger plane of any type that Boeing has sold in several years. Customers have been buying only freighters. The 747-8 will be a bigger and more efficient version of the jumbo jet. It is being developed as both a freighter and a passenger plane.
Boeing launched development of the 747-8 program last year, with orders for the freighter. Luxembourg’s Cargolux has ordered 10 freighters, and Nippon Cargo Airlines ordered eight.
But until now, Boeing had not had a single order for the 747-8 passenger plane, which will be called the Intercontinental.
In a recent briefing for reporters, Jeff Peace, vice president of 747 programs, said he was not worried about the lack of Intercontinental orders and expected such an order by the end of this year.
Boeing has been talking with a number of potential customers about the 747-8 passenger plane. Most are in Asia.
The first 747-8 freighter will be delivered in the third quarter of 2009, and the first 747-8 Intercontinental about six months later.
Production of the current version of the plane, 747-400, will end with delivery of the 747-8 freighter.
Late last week, Boeing quietly added three 747 orders to its Web site. Two of those were for the 747-400ER freighter, according to information that was updated Thursday. The other mystery plane was the 747-8 Intercontinental.
The 747-8 will be the first ever stretch of the 747 fuselage. The bigger plane will seat about 450 passengers in three classes, or about 35 more than the 747-400.
In addition to a new and improved wing, the 747-8 will use the fuel-efficient engines being developed for the 787.
Sourced from: http://www.chicagotribube.com
By: Bmused55 - 11th June 2006 at 19:39
Yup like the Spicejet 737-900ER’s that were recently ordered – they appeared on the order book at least a month before Boeing revealed who the customer was.
Can’t see it being for a standard passenger airline IMO – but I wait to be proved wrong 😀
Well it appears to be down as a PAX version and was confirmed by Boeing to be so.
Whats there not to “see”?
By: philgatwick05 - 11th June 2006 at 19:08
Yup like the Spicejet 737-900ER’s that were recently ordered – they appeared on the order book at least a month before Boeing revealed who the customer was.
Can’t see it being for a standard passenger airline IMO – but I wait to be proved wrong 😀
By: Bmused55 - 11th June 2006 at 18:52
Sorry folks, that sounds a little bit like: “We have a customer, but that so ordinary, just another Boeing airplane sold, we saved the paper for the press release.”
We have no information on number and airline. So I rather doubt that the contracts are waterproof at this moment. Possibly we learn in the next days. But it is difficult to really characterize this information: a simple leak, without approval of the company, or a controlled inofficial press release as good news for the shareholders and other customers.
It’s probably the first production aircraft for the passenger variant,i bet that the “Boeing Flight Test Department” has ordered it ,if it was a genuine order i’m sure boeing would be shouting from the roof tops about it,not keeping it hush hush.
Boeing does not put an order on their books unless its signed and firm with deposit paid.
Boeing also lets whoever is ordering their products to make an announcement, if there is to be one. Or will make the announcement themselves, if the customer agrees.
Unless the customer consents to a press release, Boeing will remain stumm, they’re a little more cool and collected when it comes to this matter.
If you don’t believe me, take a look at the history of announced orders at Boeing.
No saving announcements up for airshows or rushing for quotes in the morning papers.
They announce when the customer gives the green light.
By: Schorsch - 11th June 2006 at 18:40
Sorry folks, that sounds a little bit like: “We have a customer, but that so ordinary, just another Boeing airplane sold, we saved the paper for the press release.”
We have no information on number and airline. So I rather doubt that the contracts are waterproof at this moment. Possibly we learn in the next days. But it is difficult to really characterize this information: a simple leak, without approval of the company, or a controlled inofficial press release as good news for the shareholders and other customers.
By: US Agent - 10th June 2006 at 22:13
CIA maybe…? :diablo:
By: gary o - 9th June 2006 at 13:20
It’s probably the first production aircraft for the passenger variant,i bet that the “Boeing Flight Test Department” has ordered it 😀 ,if it was a genuine order i’m sure boeing would be shouting from the roof tops about it,not keeping it hush hush.
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June 9, 2006 at 9:30 am