Boeing queries Airbus projections

Boeing, the world's biggest civil aviation company, yesterday raised the stakes in its battle with Airbus for supremacy in global air travel by dismissing its European rival's plans for a superjumbo jet as "too late, too risky".

Boeing said the world jetliner fleet would more than double over next 20 years to 26,200, with 17,000 new planes worth $1,200 billion (£853 billion) delivered.

But Boeing said in its annual market outlook that demand for bigger jets would be small. Mr Bruce Dennis, vice-president of marketing, said the projected requirement for airplanes of 500 seats or more would amount to 425 before 2017, against the 1,300 estimated by Airbus.