New Boeing 747-8.

The Boeing company rolls out the newest version of its 40-year-old 747 jumbo jet
at its headquarters in Everett, Wash. The 747-8 Intercontinental will seat 467
passengers, 51 more than the current version of the 747, and burn less fuel
while offering passengers more comfort, Boeing said. It is the first appearance
of a radically new version of the passenger jet since the first jumbo, with its
humped two-storey cabin and 196-foot (69 metre) wingspan.

An attendee touches the belly of a Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, the company's
newest and largest passenger plane, during an unveiling ceremony, Feb. 13, at
the company's factory in Everett, Wash. The new plane features quieter, more
fuel efficient engines, more seating and a redesigned interior. The first plane
also featured a red paint job, a departure from the traditional Boeing blue.
As the only airplane in the 400 to 500-seat market, the 747-8 Intercontinental
will give operators an airplane perfectly suited for long, heavily traveled
routes around the world," said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager,
Airplane Programs, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The new 747-8 Intercontinental
will set a new standard in economic and environmental performance, while
providing a world-class passenger experience."
The 747-8 Intercontinental will have the lowest seat-mile cost of any large
commercial jetliner, with 12 percent lower costs than its predecessor, the
747-400. The airplane provides 16 percent better fuel economy, 16 percent less
carbon emissions per passenger and generates a 30 percent smaller noise
footprint than the 747-400. The 747-8 Intercontinental applies interior features
from the 787 Dreamliner that includes a new curved, upswept architecture giving
passengers a greater feeling of space and comfort, while adding more room for
personal belongings.
View photos of new
Boeing 747-8
More photos of new
Boeing 747-8