'If They Come, We'll Build It'

In a perfect example of the cyclical nature of the airliner business, American planemaker Boeing has seen its fortunes take a turn for the better over the past few years, just as European rival Airbus has hit some turbulence... but that's not to say all is roses and caviar for the American manufacturer.

In June, Boeing hinted its upcoming 787 may come in over the company's weight goals, though the manufacturer it will still be within design parameters... and there are rumors, though unconfirmed, of a slight delay in the first flight of the plane as well.

Boeing also has yet to find a confirmed customer for the passenger version of its new 747-8, which applies Dreamliner technology to the venerable jumbo jet platform.

The 747-8 is not lacking for orders -- with 30 received so far for the freight-hauling variant of the plane, including 12 by Atlas Air announced this week -- and it may come to pass Boeing won't need to build its "Intercontinental" passenger-version of the plane at all. But that's not to say Boeing's vice president of commercial airplane marketing, Randy Baseler, would turn any interested customers away.

"If an airline wanted to buy it, we would be happy to do it," Baseler told reporters this week, according to CBS Marketwatch.

Baseler went on to say the same goes for any customers looking for the larger 300-passenger version of the 787... which has garnered interest from Emirates, and as many as 12 other customers. But none of those airlines have placed orders for the larger 787-10 just yet.

Truth be told, there isn't much of a rush. Baseler says Dreamliner production is sold out through the first few years... and the -10 wouldn't be ready until 2012 at the earliest, anyway.

FMI: www.boeing.com