Larger 787 might land Boeing order from Emirates

Boeing may beat Airbus for a 50-plane order worth up to $7.5 billion from Arab carrier Emirates if it is willing to develop a larger version of the 787 it already has on offer.

Emirates, the largest Arab airline, is talking to Boeing and Airbus about the purchase of long-range planes seating 300 passengers.

The carrier may lean toward Boeing if it agrees to develop a 300-passenger version of the 787, Emirates' Group Managing Director Maurice Flanagan said.

"An absolute commitment from Boeing might encourage us," said Flanagan, one of more than 1,500 global business and political leaders gathering for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"It could swing us that way."

Mike Bair, head of Boeing's 787 program, said in December that Boeing would consider building a bigger version of its 787, the 787-10X.

Boeing has three models in the works. The initial version, the 787-8, will have 210 to 250 seats and fly 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles. The 787-9, seating 250 to 290 and flying up to 8,800 miles, is scheduled to enter service in 2012. The 787-3 will carry up to 330 people over shorter distances.

The list price for the 787-8 is "$145 million, plus or minus $5 million," Bair said then. A 787-10X, if built, would probably be more expensive.

Bair said in December that several customers had expressed interest in the 787-10X and that it seemed "very likely," though the model wouldn't enter service before 2012, he said.

Emirates wants a version of the 787 that carries at least 300 passengers over more than 8,800 nautical miles, Flanagan said.

He said having to wait until 2012 or 2013, rather than 2010, when Airbus' A350s will be ready, isn't a concern.

Flanagan said he expected to choose between Boeing and Airbus long-range midsize models by April or May.