general

Boeing may need to rethink one of the most distinctive features of its proposed new mid-range jet -- a small freight hold -- to win over customers in Asia, potentially the plane’s largest market. The planemaker faces a “cargo conundrum,” for the jetliner dubbed the 797 by industry observers, said Domhnal Slattery, CE of Avolon Holdings. Major US carriers and their counterparts across the Pacific have very different views on how much baggage and freight the airliners should haul -- specifically, the Asian companies want to carry more. The disagreement potentially calls into question the distinctive oval-shaped fuselage that Boeing is planning for the 797, which suggests a leaner cargo mission. “Typically in the states, it’s bags plus 5 tons of cargo,” he said. “The Asians want bags plus 10 tons for this aircraft. So who do you build it for?” <br/>

Imminent airline decisions on US$10b of wide-body plane orders could influence the fate of Airbus' A330neo even before the recently upgraded jet completes flight trials, industry sources said. A Tuesday announcement from Hawaiian Airlines that it had dropped its order of 6 Airbus A330neos in favour of 10 787-9 Dreamliner jets by rival Boeing was a sharp blow to the suffering wide-body program. American Airlines said in January it was reviewing the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and shorter-range Airbus A330-900, which is in test flights before entering service this summer. The airline aims to buy some 25-30 wide-body jets and could make a decision in coming days, one of the sources said. Even Boeing's most vigorous supporters doubt Airbus would give up on the A330neo, which is key for its bottom line. <br/>