Boeing fights back with a super jumbo

BOEING is poised to launch a rival to Europe's giant Airbus 380, the world's biggest civilian plane which had its maiden flight on Wednesday.

The American giant is fearful that if it does not come up with a new model, it will effectively hand over the large-plane market to Airbus, in which BAE Systems has a 20 per cent stake.

Boeing's 747 Advanced will be a larger and more economical version of the present jumbo jet and will increase the 380-seat capacity to 450.

Boeing is confident that it will be 20 per cent cheaper to operate than the Airbus 380, thanks to a new hightech engine and ultramodernwings. Orders for the 747 have fallen since Airbus announced it was building the 555-seater A380.

Boeing has argued for the past couple of years that the future of aviationis smaller, faster, long-range aircraft, so building a 747 Advanced will be regarded as a U-turn.

A firm decision is expected in the next three months.