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| Boeing 787 Dreamliner arrived in Seoul |
All Nippon Airways (ANA), one of Japan’s flagship carriers, became the world’s first airline to add the state-of-the-art aircraft to its fleet last month after three years of delay. Boeing is scheduled to deliver 10 planes to Korean Air from 2016. About 50 international airlines have ordered a total of 800 aircrafts.
``The 787 Dreamliner is 20-percent more fuel-efficient, compared to other aircraft of the same size. The plane also releases 20-percent less carbon dioxide and flies 15-percent faster because it is made of ultra-light carbon fiber,’’ said Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, during a press conference at the Westin Chosun Hotel, Tuesday.
He then said Boeing projects 1,250 new airplanes will be delivered to Northeast Asian carriers valued at approximately $200 billion over the next 2 decades.
``The combined effect of liberalization and rapid economic growth is driving passenger traffic in the region. Air travel in Northeast Asia is expected to grow moderately at 4.3 percent annually over the next 20 years,” Tinseth said, pointing out that Korea’s dynamic economy as well as the nation’s thirst for air travel will fuel growth for the region.
Two-thirds of Northeast Asia’s projected 1,250 airplane deliveries will be for growth, he said, adding that taking into account airplanes set to retire, the fleet in Northeast Asia will increase from 690 airplanes today to 1,520 in 2030.
``Northeast Asia is a big market for twin aisle and large aircraft. These aircraft account for about 45 percent of the region’s demand for aircraft in terms of units and almost 70 percent in terms of value. Airplanes such as Boeing’s 787, 777 and 747-8 are ideally suited to meet this market demand,’’ the vice president said.
Tinseth said all of these aircraft are on order by Korean airlines, stressing the airplanes offer unsurpassed efficiency, compelling economics, longer range and a superior passenger experience.
``In Korea, Incheon International Airport serves as a major hub in the region and the Korean peninsula is perfectly situated between Japan and China, allowing it to continue as a gateway to key markets in Asia,’’ he noted.
Boeing also forecasts single-aisle jetliners will account for 46 percent of new airplane deliveries to the region.
``The demand for single-aisle airplanes is driven by the growing number of low-cost carriers providing intra- and inter-regional service. Single-aisle airplanes like the Boeing’s next generation 737 and 737 MAX will continue to draw strong demand from this important market segment,’’ Tinseth said.