THE race between Airbus Industrie and Boeing to win out in a new ultra-long-haul aircraft category is heating up, with Cathay Pacific Airways and Singapore Airlines being strongly pursued as launch customers.
The two manufacturers are now in discussions with the carriers, hoping they will convert existing options into firm orders and, even better, place new orders.
Airbus says it is planning to launch an 8,000-nautical-mile range version of its four-engine A340, dubbed the A340-8000, and Boeing has announced plans to market a 'shrunk' version of its new twin-engine 777, to be known as the 777-100X.
Plans for the two models were revealed at the Paris air show in June.
Although no orders have yet been placed for the 250-seat 777-100X, Airbus has secured an early order from Air Canada for two 230-seat A340-8000s, Flight International reported.
The airline's chairman, president and chief executive officer, Hollis Harris, said at the air show that the aircraft, which would be able to fly more than 18 hours without stopping to refuel, would be ideal for use on the new Toronto-Hong Kong route to be inaugurated in December.
