Originally Posted by Fendant

Folks, if the new cabin comes with the 747-8 intoduction forget the date 2013.
Boeings history in keeping delivery promises lately ( the -8 seems to ne no exception, they just sacked the -8 program manager today ) indicates that the first delivery to launch customer LH will be in the 2015/2016 timeframe.
There are also serious doubts in the financial world about Boeing keeping the momentum, resources and cash-out into the -8 program. Pretty much looks as if they might call it quits in the next 12 months without any major follow on order outside LH.

The US airlines will go for 787 plastic ( oh its really cheap ) which is the highest subsidised aerospace development project ever undertaken, the Japanese goverment has poured billions of $'s into it ( milliarden for the Europeans ) in order to build up uncompetitive Japanese aerospace suppliers