Japan Refuses To Fly Airbus Superjumbo

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 12-8-2003 | Andrew Clark

[blam]

Japan refuses to fly Airbus superjumbo

Andrew Clark in Tokyo
Monday December 8, 2003
The Guardian (UK)

Japan's two international airlines, which are the world's biggest carriers outside America, have snubbed the new A380 superjumbo in a crushing blow to the European manufacturer Airbus. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) are the leading users of the Boeing 747 jumbo jet, which the A380 is intended to replace, and are regarded as a make-or-break market for the new aircraft.

As recently as last week, senior Airbus executives were saying they expected to sell the A380 to Japan, claiming that the plane could be packed with 900 seats on busy domestic routes between Tokyo and Kyoto or Sapporo.

But the two airlines have resisted intense pressure from Airbus to sign up for the A380. ANA's chief executive, Yoji Ohashi, this weekend ruled out a purchase before 2010, saying he intended to stick to the company's existing long-haul fleet of Boeing 747s and 777s.

Keisuke Okada, ANA's corporate planning director, criticised the design of the superjumbo, saying larger aircraft created too many problems at airports: "Already, when I take a ride on a 747, I have to wait a long time to board - it's a crazy stress." He said baggage handling was frequently "chaos" when jumbo jets, which carry more than 560 people on domestic routes in Japan, arrived en masse.

Experts said failure in Japan leaves the Toulouse-based manufacturer with an uphill struggle to break even on the A380 - to the dismay of the British government, which provided £500m of "soft loans" for the project which are only repayable if the plane makes a profit.

Andrew Doyle, an aviation expert at Flight International, said: "The A380 programme can't be judged a success without sales to Japanese airlines. It's still possible Airbus could make a return on the A380 without them, but it makes it extremely difficult."

The first A380s are due to roll off the production line within three years. The wings are being manufactured in Broughton, Wales.

Airbus has 129 orders for the double-decker aircraft, including deals with Virgin Atlantic and Air France, but says it needs 250 to break even. No American carriers have signed up.

The bosses of 15 carriers in the world's biggest airline partnership, the Star Alliance, met in Tokyo last week to discuss the outlook for the industry.

With mergers still prohibited outside Europe by national ownership laws, the airlines are planning closer integration within the alliance to cut costs. They plan to set up a company based in the US next year to buy aviation fuel collectively, securing discounts.

Star Alliance carriers, which include BMI British Midland, also want to work together in negotiating with aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Embraer and Boeing. In a pilot project, four members - Air Canada, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and SAS - are jointly negotiating the specifications for a new range of 70 to 110-seat regional jets with aircraft makers, in the hope that by agreeing standard fittings they can secure a cheaper price.

Star Alliance's chief executive, Jaan Albrecht, said he ultimately envisaged joint ownership of aircraft between alliance members.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Aside from the A300 series, the Airbus planes (A319, A320, A321, A340, A340-500/600) all have pretty good safety records, much better than some american built planes, like the awful MD11. There are enough orders for the A380 to make it a go, the main benefit is the cost per passenger will low for the airlines. Boeing attempted to sell a similar plane, a 747 variant with the upper deck stretched to the tail, but no one wanted it. Then they pitched the Sonic Cruiser, a plane that travelled about 20% faster than the current planes, and no one wanted it. Now they are pinning their future on the 7E7, an extended range widebody that is very fuel efficient, I think it will sell, but if not Boeing is in trouble...

[Central Scrutiniser]

Next time you get on a 737, check the engines, most likely they are GE Snecma engines, built in France. Or when you get on a 757 and it has Rolls Royce engines, built in England...

[Central Scrutiniser]

Continental and Cathay and United have been doing the pole for over 2 years now, Chinese and Russian airspace have been open for longer than that. The 777 runs that route, but the A340-500 will be doing it for the SIN-JFK route.

[BushMeister]

The first A380s are due to roll off the production line within three years.

So the above pic is a simulation as to what the A380 would look like at a terminal?

[PokeyJoe]

The vertical tail only departs the aircraft when it is used at full deflection to compensate for crosswinds, and to make coordinated turns.

[longtermmemmory]

How about the USS Free Republic ?

[GOP Jedi]

As recently as last week, senior Airbus executives were saying they expected to sell the A380 to Japan, claiming that the plane could be packed with 900 seats on busy domestic routes between Tokyo and Kyoto or Sapporo.

And then Bush dropped steel tariffs. We'll get more out of Japan than this (see Iraq), but there's horse trading going on all over.

[Itzlzha]

LOL! That's my new desktop!

[StriperSniper]

OMG! That's a 747 to it's right?!?!

[MediaMole]

The DHL incident shows what really happens when a jumbo gets hit by a shoulder-fired missile. It was hit on takeoff, but was able to go around and land safely without any injuries.

[GeronL]

Experts said failure in Japan leaves the Toulouse-based manufacturer with an uphill struggle to break even on the A380 - to the dismay of the British government, which provided £500m of "soft loans" for the project which are only repayable if the plane makes a profit

A government subsidy.. wait, isn't that why they are threatening with us?? Hey! Lets threaten a trade war with them!

[McGavin999]

Well good, congratulations to you, I hope it's a success. However, based on this article, it seems like it might not even break even and the Brits won't be getting their taxpayer's money back. Neither will the french who are bankrolling this on the backs of THEIR taxpayers too.

The article could well be wrong, in which case the poor taxpayers might be getting their money back, but I think most people associate the Air Bus with the french and that will leave a very nasty taste in people mouths.

[GeronL]

Goodness, thats one big plane. I'd hate to be hit by a falling winglet though. (They come off under certain conditions)

[StriperSniper]

I'd hate to be hit by a falling winglet though.

I was fishing right where the tail of Flight 587 landed in Jamaica Bay about an hour before the crash. I was looking down re-rigging at the time but my buddy saw it falling, I just saw the fireball. We were about two miles away.

[GeronL]

wouldn't want to be much closer than that

[GeronL]

So, not Air Force and Mt Rushmore then??

I wonder if someone can make it look really good with the name being USS Free Republic?

[Skibane]

Keisuke Okada, ANA's corporate planning director, criticised the design of the superjumbo, saying larger aircraft created too many problems at airports: "Already, when I take a ride on a 747, I have to wait a long time to board - it's a crazy stress." He said baggage handling was frequently "chaos" when jumbo jets, which carry more than 560 people on domestic routes in Japan, arrived en masse.

Well, I'll be dipped...An airline manager that actually knows his business!

[StriperSniper]

We started to head to the scene until we realized it hit land and not the bay. When we realized that we wouldn't be able to help, we called it quits and went right back to the dock since we needed to cross two bridges to get home to Jersey and didn't want to get stuck when they shut them down. They were only shut for a short time, but we weren't taking any chances if it turned out to be a bigger deal than it was.

[CasearianDaoist]

On the other hand a great many of the new Airbus sales use GE-PRatt Whitney engines. That is how folks out there keep both the EU and the US happy. BTW, Airbus has not made a dime yet in profits.

[the invisib1e hand]

i'm tittering, and hopeful.

it's like this. it's a lot cheaper to buy a Boeing in $'s than it is to buy a freaking socialist-made Aero-bus in Euros.

Keep up the good work, Mr. Soros (though I think you have the present administration to thank for the lower $, you schmuck)

Tee hee. I don't think even the quasi slave labor of the EU can compete in price war like this.

aside: I had no idea that the euro jet was so huge.