I think Boeing was actually rather generous in its estimates...LOL!
But that continues to look like an optimistic assumption, for everything appears to be conspiring against the A380, not least the value of the dollar, the currency in which all commercial aircraft are sold. When Airbus launched the programme six years ago, it needed to sell 300 aircraft to cover its costs. Because of the way the dollar has weakened, Airbus now needs to sell 420 planes. The order book stands at 149.
And this little "problem", i.e., the weakening dollar...likely will get a whole lot worse as presaged by the continuing, non-stop increase in the trade imbalance. And who knows what the impact of bugging out of Iraq will be...
The American mail company FedEx has become the first launch customer to cancel its order for 10 freighter versions of the aircraft, and at least one passenger airline has indicated it could follow suit. If the cancellations turn from a trickle to a flood, then the consequences would be catastrophic.
T I M B E R ! Look Out Below!!!!
Ha! The irony...
On November 14, the French-American Chamber of Commerce (FACC) honored Fred Smith as "Person of the Year" at an evening gala event in New York. The honor recognized the contribution Mr. Smith and FedEx have made and continue to make to the economic relationship between France and the U.S. through the leadership and international strategy of FedEx. Mr. Smith was the first American to receive the honor in seven years and only the ninth American to receive the honor in its 23-year history.
"Fred Smith, through his vision of the world, has created a global enterprise that has transformed the logistics and transportation industry and accelerated economic activity in dozens of countries," said Serge Bellanger, president of the FACC....
http://www.investinfrance.org/NorthAmerica/Newsroom/News/?p=news&id=2006-11-15&l=en
Come on. The euro is supposed to be the new currency of oil, airplanes, the world.
The Chicoms hold bucks. The Saudis have greenbacks. FedEx has dollars. Now to switch it takes $1.28+/- to make a euro. Used to be about 80 cents.
And to buy some of those 380 UK wings? A pound costs about $1.90.
yitbos