With 45 units on order, if Emirates takes a powder then it is all over for the A380! As it is, I doubt they will ever make a dime on this project.
'"There are still an extra six tons of weight we can't get out of the A380. That will cost us extra money in operation for the next 10 or 15 years," Clark said.'
I think this is closer to the truth.
They haven't been able to meet the weight spec. The wiring issue is just a PR distraction.
"Clark said he likes but which would not be able to fulfill certain missions important to the carrier, like nonstop Dubai-Los Angeles service with 400 passengers and a full cargo payload."
like being able to carpet bomb LA is their hold up
Pity.
The A380 is a neat machine. So was the Concorde. But the Concorde didn't make economic sense, and it's looking like the 380 won't, either. I'd like to fly on one -- because it's a heavy airframe, making it impossible to pack in passengers like cattle, it'd be a nice ride, with enough room to stretch out and maybe even a lounge or duty-free shop on board. Some of Branson's plans even had an airborne casino on board.
I've done ATL--> LAX--> NRT --> BKK on an older-generation Northwest 747, and I can tell you that riding in that cattle car is no fun at all. After multiple delays, I was re-booked on ANA for the NRT-BKK leg of the run -- and let me tell ya, the difference between Noethwest and ANA wasn't night and day -- it was more like night and supernova.
Most of the passenger airlines that were early adopters of the A380 have been ones that put a premium on luxury and service -- Emirates, Singapore Air, Virgin Atlantic, and so on.
But as private planes and charters become more affordable, you have to wonder if there's a sustainable superluxury airliner market. There wasn't enough for the Concorde. And it's increasingly looking like there isn't enough for the A380.
I just passed through LAX the other day and had a good look at the runway expansion there for the 380. That's got to cost millions, not to mention the taxiway and jet way upgrades necessary to handle the thing. Emirates won't be the only company or govt pissed if this thing doesn't fly. I foresee a lot of lawsuits if Airbus doesn't get it together.
this topic wings a bell...
Sales of A380 not taking off
Chicago Tribune | March 18, 2007 | JULIE JOHNSSON
Posted on 03/18/2007 1:51:31 PM EDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1802839/posts