There should be two versions of 7E7 in ser-vice by 2010 spearheading a Boeing revival and a new era in air transport economics. The new details, released by Mike Bair, the senior vice president for the super efficient airliner project, ought to give back to the wounded giant of aviation a grip on the agenda in commercial aviation that has weakened in recent years. The basic model 7E7 will be about the physical size of the Airbus A300-600, but with 200 passengers in a nominal three class configuration and a range of 6600 nautical miles. His choice of words and range are highly significant. 'Nominal' seating in Boeing-speak means far more seats than airlines offering long-haul business class would offer in the current rush to offer sleep-friendly configurations like the new Qantas product. This basic 7E7 configured to even a two-class long-haul Qantas standard might have as few as 160 seats; and be able to fly nonstop on every route it now serves, if not even further.
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