Boeing may increase facilities on larger aircraft

Airline Industry Information, Dec 1, 2000

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Boeing Co, the US aircraft manufacturer, is apparently considering equipping the new stretched version of its 747 aircraft with sleeping berths and other facilities.

A brochure released by Boeing said, 'By moving crew quarters and galley stowage to the airplane crown, space is freed for additional seats or innovative uses such as conference rooms, bunks, shops, or changing rooms.'

The suggestion is a surprise one from Boeing, which had previously mocked plans by Airbus Industrie, the European aircraft manufacturer, to equip its planned new superjumbo A3XX aircraft with facilities such as shops, bars and hotel-style bedrooms according to Reuters.

Boeing claims however that it has not changed its opinion on the issue, with Gordon McHenry, the director of marketing development for the Commercial Airplanes Group, stating 'The purpose of these graphics is to show that, if the airline chooses to have these kinds of passenger amenities, our planes, our structures easily allow them to have that.'

McHenry also indicated that airlines are currently more interested in seating capacity than facilities.

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