Saturday, January 10, 2009

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES INFORMATION


Continental Airlines (IATA: CO, ICAO: COA, and Callsign: Continental) (NYSE: CAL) is an American airline. Based in Houston, Texas, it is the 5th largest airline in the U.S. and the 6th largest in the world. Continental's tagline, since 1998, has been Work Hard, Fly Right.
Continental flies to destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia from its three hubs at at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (in Houston, TX), Newark Liberty International Airport (in Newark, NJ near New York City), and Hopkins International Airport (in Cleveland, OH). Additionally, its affiliate airline, Continental Micronesia, covers cities in Hawaii, Polynesia, Micronesia, Australia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia from its hub at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam.
Continental is a minority owner of ExpressJet Airlines, which operates under the trade name Continental Express. Cape Air, Colgan Air, CommutAir, and Gulfstream International Airlines feed Continental's flights under the "Continental Connection" name.
Since September 2004, Continental has been a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, which it joined alongside Northwest Airlines and KLM. Previously, it was part of the now-defunct Wings Alliance. In addition to extensive code-share arrangements with SkyTeam partner airlines such as Delta Air Lines, the airline also code-shares with Amtrak to some cities in the northeastern United States, and with SNCF French Rail to stations in France.
Continental's fleet consists entirely of two-class aircraft (First and Economy on domestic flights, and "BusinessFirst" and Economy on international flights). The fleet comprises the following aircraft (at January 2006):
18 Boeing 777-200 - found on intercontinental flights (further 2 on order)
16 Boeing 767-400 - two versions exist; one is used by Continental Micronesia and is also used for mainland flights to Hawaii, while the other has more BusinessFirst seating and is used for flights to Europe and Asia
10 Boeing 767-200
14 Boeing 757-300
41 Boeing 757-200 - used on both domestic and international flights, with domestic flights (shown on the schedule as 757) having 24 regular first class seats, and international flights having 16 BusinessFirst sleeper seats (shown on the schedule as 752)
47 Boeing 737-300
63 Boeing 737-500
36 Boeing 737-700
99 Boeing 737-800
12 Boeing 737-900
In addition, Continental and Boeing announced on December 29, 2004, that the airline had agreed to purchase 10 787-824 aircraft from Boeing, with first delivery starting in 2009. This makes Continental the first major US airline, and second US carrier overall (after Primaris Airlines) to order the new advanced plane from Boeing.
Continental Airlines was one of three carriers (American Airlines and Delta Air Lines being the other two) to sign an exclusivity agreement with Boeing in the late 1990s. When Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas, the European Union forced Boeing to void the contracts. However, both parties have been adhering to and intend to adhere to the terms under a gentlemen's agreement.

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CONTINENTAL AIRLINES ENTERTAINMENT
The world's fifth-largest airline and has hubs in Cleveland, Houston, and New York, has been a bit slow to add in-seat fun. In 2007, Continental began upgrading 767s and 777s, particularly in Business-First class, with in-seat power and entertainment.
Continental Airlines Video: Overhead screens are installed on most planes. Domestic Boeing 767s and 777s have in-seat screens in Business-First cabins, with Audio Video On Demand (AVOD), which allows customers to choose from up to 25 movies and 25 television programs.
Continental Airlines Music: Nearly two dozen stations on most planes. Planes with AVOD offer access to 50 albums' worth of songs.
Continental Airlines Games: On the 767s and 777s, up to 25 games, including Invasion.
Continental Airlines Power: Continental offers the EmPower system, allowing you to plug in and power up on the Boeing 737-800 and 757-200. There are two units per row, located between each power enabled seat just below the seat cushion. The Boeing 767 has one Power unit for each power enabled two seat unit.

AMERICAN AIRLINES INFORMATION PICTURES AND FACTS


American Airlines is the largest airline in the world in terms of total passengers transported, and the second-largest airline in the world (behind Air France-KLM) in terms of total operating revenues. A subsidiary of the AMR Corporation, the airline is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, adjacent to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. American operates scheduled flights throughout the United States, as well as flights to Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, Japan and India. The chairman and CEO of AA is Gerard Arpey.
By many measures, including passenger traffic, fleet size, and number of employees, American is the world's largest airline. As of February 2006, AMR Corporation served 171 cities with a fleet of 993 aircraft handling 80 million passengers a year with an average of 2,600 daily departures. American carries more passengers between the US and Latin America (12.1 million in 2004) than any other airline, and is also strong in the transcontinental market.
American has seven hubs: Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare, Miami, St. Louis, Boston, LaGuardia, and New York JFK. Dallas/Fort Worth is the airline's largest hub, with AA operating over 84 percent of flights at the airport and traveling to more destinations than from any of its other hubs. Los Angeles International Airport and San Juan serve as a focus cities and international gateways. American operates maintenance bases at Tulsa, Kansas City, and Fort Worth Alliance.
American Eagle Airlines is an airline based in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. It is a regional airline partner of American Airlines (both are wholly owned by AMR Corporation).
American is a founding member of the oneworld airline alliance.
American operates a relatively young fleet, with an average age of 10.5 years [2]. Almost half of its fleet is comprised of McDonnell Douglas MD-82 and MD-83 series twinjets, referred to by AA as "Super 80," denoting the type's original name, "DC-9 Super 80." Much of the Super 80 fleet dates back to the early 1980s, although they own some newer examples acquired from TWA. Regardless of age, most of AA's aircraft have been refitted with new interiors in the last few years, with the exception of many Boeing 757s. AA has also introduced new aircraft to its fleet: the newest are the Boeing 777-200ERs, which replaced MD-11s on key transoceanic routes in the late 1990s such as Tokyo Narita, and 737-800s, which replaced 727s and the BAC-111s on some domestic and Caribbean routes.
American has discontinued three-class service on most aircraft, but continues to offer business class on 777 and 767-200 aircraft. First class passengers on 777 routes to London and Frankfurt enjoy the "American Flagship Suite," a first class seat that can swivel inwards toward a personal work area and also recline 90 degrees to become a bed. 767-200 flights between JFK, SFO, and LAX offer three-class "American Flagship Service" which replicates the passenger service offered on long international flights.
On all American aircraft (except ex-TWA 757s), passengers in all cabins have a cigarette port DC power port at select seats. All classes of service on the 777-223ER have personal video screens, although they lack Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD) systems. These personal video screens offer GateConnect, a feature which allows passengers to view maps of the destination airports (gates, security checkpoints, baggage claims, etc) and find out information on connecting flights from that same airport such as gate, aircraft, etc.
Most recently, American has taken the unique step of redesigning its schedules so that each hub city receives certain aircraft types more often than others, which is intended to simplify maintenance and last-minute fleet substitutions. Currently, Chicago, DFW and St. Louis get most Boeing MD-80(S80), 757-2Q8, and 757-231 service, Miami gets most 757-223 and 737 service, and JFK gets most A300 and 767-200 service. 777-223ER's and 767-323ER's are usually reserved for high density domestic markets and international flights.
American Airlines was one of three carriers (Continental Airlines and Delta Air Lines being the other two) to sign an exclusivity agreement with Boeing in the late 1990s. When Boeing acquired McDonnell Douglas, the European Union forced Boeing to void the contracts. However, both parties have been adhering to and intend to adhere to the terms under a gentlemen's agreement.

BRITISH AIRWAYS INFORMATION HISTORY PICTURES AND FACTS



The airline's origins go back to the birth of civil aviation and the pioneering days after the First World War. On 25 August 1919 its forerunner company, Aircraft Transport and Travel (AT&T), launched the world's first daily international scheduled air service, between London and Paris. On 31 March 1924, Britain's four fledgling airlines - Instone, Handley Page, Daimler Airways (a successor to AT&T) and British Air Marine Navigation - merged to form Imperial Airways, which developed its Empire routes to Autralia and Africa.
Meanwhile a number of smaller UK air transport companies had started flights. These merged in 1935 to form the original privately-owned British Airways Ltd. Following a government review Imperial Airways and British Airways were nationalised in 1939 to form the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Post-war, BOAC continued to operate long-haul services, other than routes to South America - these were flown by British South American Airways, which was merged back into BOAC in 1949. Continental European and domestic flights were flown by a new airline, British European Airways (BEA).
The 1950s saw the world enter the passenger jet era - led by BOAC, with the De Havilland Comet flying to Johannesburg in 1952, halving the previous flight time. The birth of the mass package-holiday business meant changes for the airline industry. BEA met this by establishing BEA Airtours, which took off in 1970. In 1972 BOAC and BEA were combined under the newly formed British Airways Board, with the separate airlines coming together as British Airways in 1974. British Airways, simultaneously with Air France, inaugurated the world's first supersonic passenger service with Concorde in January 1976.British Airways is based at London Heathrow Airport in London, England. It also has a commanding presence at Gatwick and Manchester International Airport. BA has succeeded in dominating Heathrow to the point that the airport is commonly referred to as Fortress Heathrow within both the airline and its competitors.
As an incumbent airline, BA had grandfather rights to around 36% of takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow, many of which are used for the lucrative trans-Atlantic market. Some competitors, such as Virgin Atlantic, bmi and United Airlines, assert that this stifles competition and some political think-tanks recommend an auction of slots. In recent years British Airways has been buying slots from other airlines including United Airlines, SN Brussels and Swiss International Air Lines, and now owns about 42% of slots at Heathrow.
Some British Airways services are operated by various subsidiaries and franchisees.

APPRAISE A PLANE AND PLANE VALUES



Appraise an Aircraft and Plane Values - Certified Aircraft Appraisal
What is an Aircraft Appraisal?
An appraisal is an impartial opinion of the value of an aircraft, prepared by experts who know all the factors which make up the current behavior of the used aircraft market. It is an opinion of value based upon experience and repeated analysis of these factors. It is an opinion of value which can be substantiated and justified. It is an opinion of value made by a certified, recognized, professional aircraft appraiser.
Why is an Aircraft Appraisal Important?
An Aircraft Appraisal is a Valuable Tool for both potential buyers and sellers.
For Buyers - The appraisal acts as an impartial professional opinion as to the value of the particular aircraft they are planning to purchase. The appraisal can assist in expediting the sale of the aircraft because the buyer and seller know the fair market value and relative condition of the aircraft through the independent appraisal.
For Sellers - The appraisal offers the confidence of knowing the condition and the current fair market value of their aircraft. The appraisal is a great selling tool because it helps a potential buyer get a solid feel for the aircraft in the words of an objective evaluator.
A proper aircraft appraisal is even valuable to the banker involved in the sale.
It's been said that "An aircraft is worth what someone will pay for it." Therefore, when setting a selling price for something as valuable as an aircraft more factual advice than that given by a well-meaning friend is both a necessity and just common sense. Of course, this is just as important on the corporate level. Costly mistakes can be avoided through the use of a professional aircraft appraiser.
How does an aircraft appraisal work?
The professional aircraft appraiser must acquire all the facts about the aircraft in question. The appraiser thoroughly examines the aircraft log books, inspects the exterior and interior of the aircraft, and pays close attention to the present condition and the maintenance history of the aircraft.
What is the Purpose of an Appraisal?
To obtain a professional opinion of the present fair market value on an aircraft.
To obtain a professional opinion of the value on an aircraft to be renovated or modified.
An expert opinion of the value of an aircraft is useful as a prudent safeguard against excessive tax assessments, capital gains and other taxes. Appraisals are used to verify damage claims resulting from fire, hail, windstorms, accidents and other disasters. An appraisal may provide the basis for decision-making in the commitment of funds for acquisition. Provides persuasive independent evidence of the condition of an aircraft. Assist a prospective purchaser in obtaining financing or insurance. Assist the financial institutions by substantiating the nature and value of the aircraft as it relates to collateral. Assist the financial institution by supporting the loan portfolio for examination by the loan committee and/or bank examiner. Distinguishes sellers aircraft from others that may be listed for sale. It can reduce the time required to sell an aircraft by more than 50%.
Market Analysis:An estimate of value based on historical data. An accurate assessment of an aircraft’s fair market value.Certified Aircraft Appraisal and A certified airplane appraisal is a detailed and accurate assessment of an aircraft’s fair market value based on a comprehensive examination of the aircraft’s present physical condition and past flight history. The only true way to determine an aircraft's fair market value is to perform a certified appraisal examined in detail by a certified aircraft appraiser. The exterior will be inspected for damage, corrosion, loose or missing fasteners, paint condition, airframe condition, and tires condition. It will be checked for oil and fluid leaks around engine and landing gear. The interior of the aircraft will also be inspected with emphasis on the cockpit, passenger area, and baggage compartment. The condition of seats, carpets, head and side panels, glass, glare shield, etc. will be recorded. The appraisal will include a thorough search of logbooks and records for latest service bulletins, airworthiness directives (AD’s), damage history, completeness of the logbooks, maintenance history, etc. A detailed final report will be delivered to the client in a time frame agreed on between the aircraft appraiser and the client.
Market Value Analysis: A Market Analysis is a low cost method to estimate market value of an aircraft based on historical data and information provided by the client. The information provided is documented and researched to insure it is as accurate as possible without the appraiser actually visiting the aircraft. A comprehensive report will be generated and delivered to the client. A Market Analysis is suitable for establishing or negotiating a purchase price for an aircraft.
What is an Aircraft Appraisal?:It's been said that "An aircraft is worth what someone will pay for it." Therefore, when setting a selling price for something as valuable as an aircraft more factual advice than that given by a well-meaning friend is both a necessity and just common sense. Of course, this is just as important on the corporate level. Costly mistakes can be avoided through the use of a professional aircraft appraiser. Improper evaluations of aircraft by persons who are not qualified to make them, or by those who have their own agenda in pricing the subject aircraft, lead to trouble for unsuspecting buyers. High values are far more common than low values. No matter whether you are a buyer, seller, banker, or insurance company executive, you have a major stake in ensuring that the amount paid for the aircraft is reasonable.
For the Buyer - The appraisal is an impartial, professional opinion as to the value of the particular aircraft being purchased. But it is much more than that. It is a thorough description and inventory of the aircraft that verifies the major selling points for the buyer and financing entity. Further, the appraisal can assist in expediting the sale of the aircraft because the buyer and seller know the fair market value and relative condition of the aircraft through the independent appraisal. Information is knowledge, and that is what you get in a certified aircraft appraisal from a member of the National Aircraft Appraisers Association.
For the Seller - The appraisal offers the confidence of knowing the general condition and current fair market value of the aircraft being sold as seen through the eyes of an independent third party. The NAAA Certified Appraisal is a great selling tool because it gives a potential buyer a solid "feel" for the aircraft in the words of the objective evaluator. After reading the NAAA appraiser's report the potential buyer will have more confidence in the condition and appearance of that airplane than he would another airplane where all that is available is the owner's description.
For the Banker - The NAAA Certified Appraisal documents the value and general condition of the aircraft. The appraisal also supports the bank's collateral position in the aircraft loan by verifying that the aircraft is what it is said to be. Any Banker who does self-evaluations without any manner of verifying the collateral exists, or that the aircraft is equipped as represented, is putting his bank at risk for a major loss should the client default. There is absolutely no reason to accept a risk of that magnitude when there are NAAA appraisers throughout the United States and Canada who can detail the value and general condition of the aircraft for you.
What is the National Aircraft Appraisers Association (NAAA)?: NAAA provides a broad range of services to the aviation industry through its professional approach. to aircraft valuations. The NAAA is equipped to serve the lender, seller, or buyer needs through an extensive network of Certified Appraisers,a comprehensive data processing center and experienced Senior Appraisers.
What is the Purpose of an Appraisal?:
To obtain a professional opinion of the present fair market value on an aircraft.
To obtain a professional opinion of the value on an aircraft to be renovated or modified.
To obtain a professional opinion of the value of an aircraft as a prudent safeguard against excessive tax assessments, capital gains and other taxes.
To verify damage claims resulting from fire, hail, windstorms, accidents and other disasters.
To provide the basis for decision-making in the commitment of funds for aircraft acquisition.
To provides persuasive, independent evidence of the condition of an aircraft.
To assist a prospective purchaser in obtaining financing or insurance.
To assist a financial institution in substantiating the nature and value of the aircraft as it relates to collateral.
To assist a financial institution by supporting the loan portfolio for examination by the loan committee and/or bank examiner.
To distinguishes sellers aircraft from others that may be listed for sale. An NAAA Certified Aircraft Appraisal should reduce the time required to sell an aircraft by 50%.

SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT IN STUDY BY THE JAPANESE


The first mystery we can address is what happened to the designations in between A340 and A380. Airbus apparently conducted some sort of market research when looking for a name for its latest product, originally known as the A3XX. Immediately eliminated was the designation A370 since the number 7 is so often associated with rival Boeing. For whatever reasons, the numbers A350 and A360 were also deemed unpopular and appear to have been skipped, perhaps permanently. A380 was eventually selected primarily because the cross-sectional shape of the fuselage resembles the digit 8, but also because 8 is considered a special number in Asian cultures, the primary market at which the A380 is aimed. As for future projects, it was mentioned earlier that the A300/A310 series is nearing the end of its production run, and a replacement for this class of airliner is the most probable candidate. The company is considering a number of different options, including a stretched variant of the A320, known as the A322, or a shortened variant of the A330, dubbed the A330-500. However, a more likely possibility is a completely new class of airliners to fill the gap between the narrow-body A320 and widebody A330. If built, this class of airliners would probably include a shorter-range 200-passenger model and a longer-range 250-passenger model, both with a tentative service entry around 2010. This class of airliners has tentatively been named the A305, and no plans have yet been announced for any A390. Airbus has in fact committed to this new airliner, but it was given the designation A350 instead of A305. Again, this decision appears to have been made purely for marketing reasons as Airbus wanted to emphasize that the A350 is a new design and not merely an update to the aging A300 family.
Though this answer has included a number of possibilities and been vague on what might actually happen, you must remember that Boeing and Airbus are bitter rivals who purposefully obfuscate their intentions to keep each other off balance and maintain their competitive edge. As a result, we really have no idea what projects they might actually decide to pursue or when. We can only make our best educated guesses as to where the airline market is going and what classes of aircraft are likely to be in demand.

Airbus A380










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BOEING SONIC CRUISER CONCEPT
Future Airbus And Boeing Airliners Information and Facts...


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There are as yet no official plans for any Boeing 797. Up until a couple years ago, most people believed Boeing's next major project might be a follow-on to the 747 to compete with Airbus's super-jumbo A380. While Boeing pushed developing an upgraded 747 model, most airlines indicated that they would prefer an entirely new design instead. The only publicly released concept I've come across for this potential new-build aircraft is shown below. Boeing's internal designation for this design study was the 763-246C. If it had gone into production, it would likely have been rechristened the 797 to conform to the standard Boeing naming convention. Now that the 787 designation has been assigned, any new replacement that Boeing might launch to replace the 747 would probably be called the 797. Once the 7-7 designations are exhasted, it is unknown what convention Boeing might adopt next. Possibilities include 8-8 or maybe 7--7. Only time will tell.
Boeing 763-246C
As illustrated in the following image, the 763 concept not only provided room for 450 to 550 passengers, but could be equipped with sleeping berths in an upper deck for longer intercontinental routes up to 9,000 nm (16,740 km).
Boeing 763-246C internal cross-section
Nevertheless, Boeing abandoned both the upgraded 747 and any potential replacements, at least temporarily, when it announced plans to focus on a completely different market for its next major project. Instead of building a very large jetliner to carry 500 or more passengers, Boeing believed a more lucrative market existed in carrying about 250 passengers over very long ranges at higher speeds than is possible with conventional airliner designs. This philosophy was reflected in the Sonic Cruiser concept unveiled in early 2001. This aircraft would have been a competitor in the 767 and A310 class of airliners.
Boeing Sonic Cruiser concept
The Sonic Cruiser created somewhat of a sensation when first announced, but airlines and Boeing became progressively less enthusiastic over the ensuing months. The aircraft would require rather substantial improvements in technology to achieve its stated goals of cruising at about Mach 0.95, compared to Mach 0.8 for most commercial airliners, over a range between 6,000 nm and 10,000 nm (11,120 km to 18,530 km). This kind of technological advancement could well drive up the cost so much that most airlines showed no willingness to commit to the idea. Even the percieved advantage of a faster commercial aircraft caused concern because of all the scheduling difficulties it would raise. The terrible financial situation of the airlines after September 11 only worsened prospects for launching the design. Due to this lackluster response and its inability to make a strong business case for the aircraft, Boeing officially shelved the Sonic Cruiser concept in December 2002.
In its place, the company has decided to refocus its attention on a conventional 250-seat design that had been under consideration in tandem with the Sonic Cruiser. The conventional design, originally known as Project Yellowstone, will cruise in the Mach 0.8 region but incorporate advanced "super-efficient" technologies to significantly lower operating costs in comparison with today's airliners. However, the new airliner is apparently not to be known as the 787 but has been designated the 7E7, E standing for Efficient. We now know that the 7E7 designation was only temporary and the new Boeing aircraft has been officially renamed the 787. Since the basic designs of both the 767 and A310 are getting upwards of 25 or 30 years in age, a replacement in that market is probably a wise move on Boeing's part. In addition, the potential savings in operational costs offered by the new efficient technologies are very appealing to cost-concious airlines.
Blended Wing Body concept
A completely different path that Boeing may choose to pursue in the near future is the Blended-Wing-Body, or BWB. Despite your rather unappreciative comments, some of our staff have had the opportunity to meet with and talk to one of the concept's creators, and we've found it to be a most interesting design. The BWB is related to the flying wing, but is a somewhat more sophisticated concept that resulted from a study to determine the optimum low-drag shape to contain a given volume of passenger space. The resulting fuselage resembles a flattened sphere that tapers down and blends into the outboard wings, hence the name Blended-Wing-Body. The thick center-section could hold some 500 to 800 passengers, as illustrated below. Additional studies have focused on smaller variants in the 250- to 300-passenger range, and a recently reported study indicated that a cruise speed of Mach 0.9 over a range of 7,500 to 8,900 nm (13,875 to 16,465 km) might be an optimum design point.
Blended Wing Body internal layout
The BWB was first created by the commercial aircraft division of McDonnell Douglas (MDD), a firm that was purchased by Boeing in the mid-1990s. Though Boeing expressed little interest in continuing most of MDD's projects, they have shown the foresight to carry on low-level development of the revolutionary BWB. However, Boeing has not yet provided any indication that the design will go into full-scale development or production. While such an aircraft could potentially reduce operating costs significantly, concerns have been raised about compatibility with existing airport infrastructure and the difficulty of evacuating so many people from the deep interior cabin in an emergency. In addition, many airlines are worried that passengers may be unwilling to fly an aircraft that is so different looking from what they are used to.
That pretty much sums up what we know of the possible future directions Boeing may take, but Airbus is even more of a mystery. The multinational conglomerate has focused so much of its efforts on developing the latest variants of the A330 and A340 as well as the completely new A380 that little is known of what its next big project might be.
Airbus A380
The first mystery we can address is what happened to the designations in between A340 and A380. Airbus apparently conducted some sort of market research when looking for a name for its latest product, originally known as the A3XX. Immediately eliminated was the designation A370 since the number 7 is so often associated with rival Boeing. For whatever reasons, the numbers A350 and A360 were also deemed unpopular and appear to have been skipped, perhaps permanently. A380 was eventually selected primarily because the cross-sectional shape of the fuselage resembles the digit 8, but also because 8 is considered a special number in Asian cultures, the primary market at which the A380 is aimed. As for future projects, it was mentioned earlier that the A300/A310 series is nearing the end of its production run, and a replacement for this class of airliner is the most probable candidate. The company is considering a number of different options, including a stretched variant of the A320, known as the A322, or a shortened variant of the A330, dubbed the A330-500. However, a more likely possibility is a completely new class of airliners to fill the gap between the narrow-body A320 and widebody A330. If built, this class of airliners would probably include a shorter-range 200-passenger model and a longer-range 250-passenger model, both with a tentative service entry around 2010. This class of airliners has tentatively been named the A305, and no plans have yet been announced for any A390. Airbus has in fact committed to this new airliner, but it was given the designation A350 instead of A305. Again, this decision appears to have been made purely for marketing reasons as Airbus wanted to emphasize that the A350 is a new design and not merely an update to the aging A300 family.
Though this answer has included a number of possibilities and been vague on what might actually happen, you must remember that Boeing and Airbus are bitter rivals who purposefully obfuscate their intentions to keep each other off balance and maintain their competitive edge. As a result, we really have no idea what projects they might actually decide to pursue or when. We can only make our best educated guesses as to where the airline market is going and what classes of aircraft are likely to be in demand.

Blended Wing Body internal layout


The BWB was first created by the commercial aircraft division of McDonnell Douglas (MDD), a firm that was purchased by Boeing in the mid-1990s. Though Boeing expressed little interest in continuing most of MDD's projects, they have shown the foresight to carry on low-level development of the revolutionary BWB. However, Boeing has not yet provided any indication that the design will go into full-scale development or production. While such an aircraft could potentially reduce operating costs significantly, concerns have been raised about compatibility with existing airport infrastructure and the difficulty of evacuating so many people from the deep interior cabin in an emergency. In addition, many airlines are worried that passengers may be unwilling to fly an aircraft that is so different looking from what they are used to.
That pretty much sums up what we know of the possible future directions Boeing may take, but Airbus is even more of a mystery. The multinational conglomerate has focused so much of its efforts on developing the latest variants of the A330 and A340 as well as the completely new A380 that little is known of what its next big project might be.