Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Boeing Company cannot emphasise enough that the Boeing 747 represents a size on its own among the very large airplanes... A 747 is not too big - that means it can be flown on less frequented routes as well, contributing to the development of a little hidden regions, too... A 747 is not too small either - that means additional comfort, capacity and revenue compared to twin-jets...
Now if The Boeing Company have got the unique Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental in their program, the model-range of the airliner could be extended by its unique predecessor, the Boeing 747-400ER, as well... The Boeing 747-400 doesn't have the modern engines and wings and the size of the new Jumbo Jet... However it was the most successful variant of the 747 and it doesn't make a sense to end a success story so prompt...
Two actual variants of the Boeing 747 had the following advantages:
a) the Boeing 747 was represented in its unique market segment twice as strong,
b) both variants of the 747 could have different images: the Intercontinental Cruiser and the Ecoliner for shorter and frequented routes (safety),
c) the production lines of Boeing could work to capacity,
d) I think that a variety of airplanes is much more attractive to customers who can express their image better that way, who can offer a better service to their passengers and who can deploy the best airplane of the world in many different contexts,
e) of course, the interior of the Boeing 747-400 should be perked up by Dreamliner-inspired elements, but the Jumbo Jet could still remain the most affordable very large airplane on the market,
f) Airbus can produce the Airbus A340 with 4 engines at request on the production line of the Airbus A330 - this flexibility should also function with the Boeing 747...
Oh, yes: why doesn't the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental sell so good? Perhaps because the big international airports are already too crowded... Airlines bought many Airbus A380s for their most frequented routes that means that the departure and destination airports are already very cluttered by the largest airplane of the world... I guess there was the need for the Boeing 747, too however these machines couldn't move at airports any more... So the solution must be building new international airports in developing regions of the world...
Best wishes, Joseph de la Mikula and Team
