Boeing Falls Short of 7E7 Goal
Boeing Co. fell short of its 2004 goal of winning orders for 200 of its new 7E7 jetliners.
Boeing has announced commitments for 126 7E7s, with 56 of those completed. Winning 200 orders would have been the best launch for a new plane in Boeing’s history.
Boeing is counting on the 200- to 300-seat 7E7 to help it recapture the lead in commercial aircraft production from Airbus as passengers demand longer-range, nonstop flights.
Airbus in early December countered with plans to produce the A350, with similar range and size. That may have caused some airlines to hesitate before ordering the 7E7, the first of which is scheduled to be delivered in 2008. Airbus says the A350 will have its first flight in 2010.
Boeing has received deposits for about 200 7E7s, and historically, about 90% of those turn into completed orders, Michael Bair, who heads the 7E7 program for Boeing, said in July.
Airbus surpassed Boeing in 2003 to become the world’s biggest commercial aircraft maker with 305 deliveries, compared with 281 for Boeing.
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