Boeing cuts B747 production
Boeing has announced plans to reduce the production rate for the B747-8, due to a lack of demand for the new aircraft.
The planemaker is currently producing two B747-8s per month, but the revised schedule will see this cut to 1.75 jets per month. To-date only 40 passenger versions of the B747-8 have been ordered, with Lufthansa the only airline currently operating the model.
Air China, Korean Air and Nigeria-based Arik Air are the only other customers for the passenger model. A further 70 freighter versions have been ordered.
Despite its predecessor, the B747-400, being a hugely popular long-haul aircraft, the new B747-8 has been largely overlooked in the large aircraft market in favour of the Airbus A380. While the B747-8 is the longest commercial aircraft in the world, it seats fewer passengers than the A380.