>>> Boeing plans larger B747 variant
by Derek Yeo


FINALLY, BOEING HAS decided to take on Airbus head-on in the war of the mega-jumbos. The famous airplane maker plans to produce a bigger variant of its ubiquitous B747 jumbo-jet.

Named B747-8, the new plane is Boeing's latest strategy to help recover her number one spot in the air transport market. Boeing lost it to Airbus in 2003.

This year, Airbus pips Boeing again with sales of 360 airliners to 290.

Despite years of differing with Airbus over the market viability of Ultra Large Aircraft (ULA), Boeing now realised that there is in fact, room for two ULAs.

That Boeing chose to announce its new aircraft now is significant. Airbus has just wrapped up a successful A380 Asian and Australian tour. By doing so, Boeing hopes to take some shine off that success. And shift global attention to the B747-8.

Boeing aims for a slice of the market with a B747-8 - based on a stretched 747-400 airframe - which is lighter, and powered by quieter engines with less emissions. However, from Boeing figures just released, A380 edged her rival in capacity and range. B747-8 can seat up to 450 passengers compared to A380's 555. The Boeing has a range of 14,815 km as against the Airbus' 15,000 km.

Boeing expresses optimism in an estimated market share of around 900 B747-8s over the next 20 years. For the same period, Airbus projects sales of 650 to 700 A380s.

How accurate these forecasts will be, only time will tell.