Monday November 12, 2007
International Lease Finance Corp. is talking to Airbus about a 30-ft. stretch of the A380 for entry into service in 10-12 years, ILFC Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy told ATWOnline on the sidelines of the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Cancun last week. In addition to boosting passenger capacity, the stretch would expand the space available for belly cargo on passenger flights. Cargo capacity on the A380-800 that entered service with Singapore Airlines last month is "dismal," Hazy said, because baggage takes up so much space.
He also said that the 787-9 is around 14,000 lb. over budget on its operating empty weight. In addition to the challenge this presents for the -9, it creates a problem for the proposed 787-10 because the additional weight on the already heavier platform could mean a heavier landing gear as well as higher-thrust engines, changes that would cause it to lose a lot of commonality with the smaller -8 and -9 variants, he said. He is not excited about the 747-8 Intercontinental, the passenger version of the newest iteration of the aircraft. The airframe "is a great freighter," he said.
by Perry Flint
ATWOnline
International Lease Finance Corp. is talking to Airbus about a 30-ft. stretch of the A380 for entry into service in 10-12 years, ILFC Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy told ATWOnline on the sidelines of the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum in Cancun last week. In addition to boosting passenger capacity, the stretch would expand the space available for belly cargo on passenger flights. Cargo capacity on the A380-800 that entered service with Singapore Airlines last month is "dismal," Hazy said, because baggage takes up so much space.
He also said that the 787-9 is around 14,000 lb. over budget on its operating empty weight. In addition to the challenge this presents for the -9, it creates a problem for the proposed 787-10 because the additional weight on the already heavier platform could mean a heavier landing gear as well as higher-thrust engines, changes that would cause it to lose a lot of commonality with the smaller -8 and -9 variants, he said. He is not excited about the 747-8 Intercontinental, the passenger version of the newest iteration of the aircraft. The airframe "is a great freighter," he said.
by Perry Flint
ATWOnline