Boeing unfazed by lack of orders for new 747

SEATTLE — The head of the team developing Boeing Co.’s larger, more fuel-efficient 747 says he’s not worried the company hasn’t yet won any orders for the passenger version of the jumbo jet.

The Chicago-based plane manufacturer launched its double-decker, four engine 747-8 last November to put competitive pressure on rival Airbus SAS and its A380 superjumbo.

Boeing has won orders for 18 747-8 freighters from two cargo carriers so far. Jeff Peace, vice president and manager of the program, said he expects orders for the so-called “Intercontinental” passenger plane to come soon.

“We’ve got a lot of proposals out for the Intercontinental. We fully expect to receive the first order this year,” Peace said Thursday in a conference call with reporters.

Peace said soaring fuel costs have forced many airlines to take a decidedly cautious approach to updating their long-haul fleets. He also said many airlines are happy enough with their four-engine 747-400 fleets and are not in a hurry to replace them.

Airlines have more choices to make today than when the 747 was their only option for flying a lot of people on really long routes, Peace said.

“Now they’re looking at replacing and augmenting their 747-400 fleets with 787s, with 777s, with 747 Intercontinentals and with A380s — sizes all the way from 250 seats to 550 seats,” Peace said. “That’s complex analysis to try to figure out 10-15 years down the road what routes you’re going to fly, what your customers are going to want, what the configuration of the airplane should be in terms of comfort.”

Boeing, which assembles its commercial jets in the Seattle area, says the 747-8 will seat 450 people, up from 416 in the 747-400. The A380, which will replace the 747 as the largest passenger jet when it enters commercial service at the end of the year, can hold about 550 passengers in a standard three-class configuration.