FedEx cancels order for 10 Airbus A380s

AP newswire ^ | 7 Nov 2006 | AP

[Rokke]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - FedEx Corp. said Tuesday it has canceled its order for 10 Airbus A380 jets, the new jumbo double-decker plane that has been dogged by numerous delays.

The company's FedEx Express unit has ordered 15 Boeing Co. 777 Freighters, and has options to purchase an additional 15, FedEx said in a news release. The company cited Airbus' production delays as the reason for the decision.

[DungeonMaster]

Answer: Because that's not really the problem.

I've never believed that it was wiring. I think it is the network, which happens to use wires. It just sounds a lot easier to fix if you say it's the wires.

[Mr. K]

Remember: Airbus is essentially a GOVERNMENT PROGRAM in France- Having worked for the government let me tell you this- I would not want the people I worked with running a candy store, let alone building an airplane ( or controlling my health care)

Those who can't do, teach. Those who can't do or teach become govt employees.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Jerry Lewis is hugely popular in France and wasn't he in a movie named:"Boeing Boeing"?
So I am glad FedEx is going to American made Boeing.
Obviously the Airbus folks need to go back to the drawing board. I heard the jumbo jets are over five tons overwieght.It's not easy to shave off five tons from an airplane. As Llloyd Bridges said in the movie"I picked a fine day to stop flying Airbus"!

[norton]

"lead times are going to go way out at Boeing unless they build new plants..."

Been to Long Beach lately?

[Pukin Dog]

I posted yesterday that the A-380 will be cancelled by next summer. Singapore and Emirates are NOT happy with what they see, and Boeing is prepared to toss them some 747's for almost nothing if they put a stake through Airbus' heart.

[RayChuang88]

I think the biggst problem for Airbus was that they should have kiboshed the A380 back in the late 1990's and developed a true 777 competitor back then (Airbus actually had a winner in the A330-200 but didn't cash in on that success).

Meanwhile, Boeing's gamble on the 777-300ER has paid off BIG TIME despite the high price for the plane, and 787 orders are massive indeed.

[July 4th]

This is the most damaging news on the A380 yet. In all practicality though, I think Airbus will force the line for a decent-sized run, people will wait out the deliveries, and then if FedEx wants some - they'll pick them up cheap after someone else has already taken the initial depreciation.

[RayChuang88]

I personally think that Boeing is ready to jump in with a 30 plane order for Singapore Airlines and 45 plane order for Emirates Airlines for the 747-8I if Airbus decides to kibosh the A380.

[Andyman]

It is pronounced "Knee-Nair, knee-nair"

[Proud_USA_Republican]

I saw a documentary on the A380 on the discovery channel. The construction of the plant were the freighters were to be assembled near Hamburg, Germany was way behind schedule and appears the A380 freighter was going to be heavily delayed as well.

[Pukin Dog]

Take any chance you can get to experience some GE-90 love. Its a beautiful thing.

[Plutarch]

I wonder how you say "Ouch" in French?

[watsonfellow]

I am in Singapore and I will tell you this much. SQ or SIA (depending on how you look at it) has been looking forward to the Airbus Massive Elephant for years.

They have had to change their marketing campaign "First to Fly the A380 in 2005" about four times now.

Believe you me, you do not want to be on the wrong side of a TLC linked company out for blood.

[Rokke]

"Wow. Are the upgrades on the Memphis runways necessary for the 777?"

Nope. And Memphis isn't the only airport redoing runways, taxiways and ramps. The whole A380 program has already cost many countries and airlines millions (billions?!). It could go down as one of the biggest corporate blunders ever.

[Pukin Dog]

Singapore and Emirates are only now finding out how much gas that pig eats. The financial models are blowing up all around them. If they cant make money with that beast, they wont buy it.

[armymarinemom]

Nope. And Memphis isn't the only airport redoing runways, taxiways and ramps

Oh man. Leave it to the french to hurt others while they shoot themselves in the foot.

[gridlock]

The construction of the plant were the freighters were to be assembled near Hamburg, Germany was way behind schedule and appears the A380 freighter was going to be heavily delayed as well.

But tell me they did not make them work in August! I could not bear the thought that anybody would have to work in August!

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


Rokke


This is huge news and a MAJOR setback for Airbust.


I believe (not positive) that Honeywell Commercial Aerospace acquired Fed-Ex a couple of years back.

I believe (as I recall) that Honeywell was working closely with Airbus for systems and compoents for Airbus aircraft.

If (and I might be in error) those two possibilities are accurate, then that means that Honeywell Commercial Aerospace might be privately throwing-in the towel with Airbus in general, but then again, only with the A380 program.

Just speculation ...


Patton-at-Bastogne

"May God and His Angels Guard Your Sacred Throne, and May You Long Become It."

Shakespeare, Henry V, Act I, Scene II


.

[Rokke]

"Take any chance you can get to experience some GE-90 love. Its a beautiful thing."

You bet. You were the first person I thought of when I heard rumors of this a few days ago. The MD-11 is nice, but everyone I know who has flown the 777 says it's a dream. I am really looking forward to getting a chance to fly it.

[straps]

Bet your bottom pair of boots they got a sweet heart deal. PanAm and Eastern got a beautifull deal check this out.

$1 per year for 10 years than normal price unless the leaser decides the Aircraft is unmaintainable.
100 percent of the floor support seat tracks had to be replaced with Boeing Seat Track cause the Frenches don't know how to mix ingredients successfully for metal strength.
Both companies were on the verge of returning them cause they were nightmares to maintain.......