"In the next 20 years, 900 [mid-sized] aircraft are estimated to be delivered all the over the world. Of that, 500 are to expected to be sold in the Asia Pacific region," said Randy Tinseth, Boeing's vice president for marketing and service for the Boeing 747-8 range. "Boeing sees an opportunity in all countries for [mid-sized] aircraft, including Thailand," he said.

The market for medium-sized aircraft, or those with 100 to 450 seats, is grow rapidly, he added.

Boeing unveiled the latest 747-8 models last November. The 747-8 Intercontinental seats 450 passengers in a typical three-class pattern and offers the lowest seat-kilometre cost of any

passenger airplane. It provides operators a 14,815km range, 21 per cent more

cargo volume and 9 per cent lower

seat-kilometre costs compared to the 747-400.

The 747-8 Freighter can fly 8,275km with a maximum payload capacity of 154 tonnes. It offers 16 per cent more revenue cargo volume and 15 per cent lower tonne-kilometre costs than the 747-400F with a slightly greater range.

Boeing plans to assemble the Freighter in 2008 and the Intercontinental in 2010.

"The new 747-8 family is designed to meet customer's needs, particularly lower fuel consumption and greater flying distance," said Tinseth.

Last year, Boeing had great success with its 787 Dreamliner, with the number of orders reaching 1,054.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation