Airbus Faces Wide Gap in A350 Orders

Wall Street Journal ^ | Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | DANIEL MICHAELS and J. LYNN LUNSFORD

[Yo-Yo]

With the Paris Air Show less than a week away, Airbus has so far been unable to lure crucial customers to its proposed A350 jetliner despite making sweeping changes to the plane a year ago, giving rival Boeing Co. a major opportunity to cement its market dominance for the next decade.

Airbus had hoped to shore up its credibility with customers before the industry's most closely watched trade show of the year. Five years behind Boeing in developing a new midsize long-haul jetliner, Airbus has booked only 13 firm orders for the A350, compared with nearly 600 for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

The European plane maker must move quickly. Customers are racing to secure delivery spots in the Dreamliner order book, making it difficult for Airbus to catch up. In recent weeks, Airbus has offered steep discounts and other incentives for A350, said one airline and others familiar with the matter.

[Yo-Yo]

Only 13 of the previous 150+ commitments for various incarnations of the A350 have been converted into firm orders?

What a massive display of "wait until they discount it below cost" by the airlines.

[11th Commandment]

I also remember reading some of the customers that committed to the A350 ended up purchasing the 787. Yesterday, someone posted an article on the 787, what a plane.

[gcruse]

“What sort of incentive will you give me to buy your A350, Yves?”

“I will give you, monsieur, anything you want. But that’s my final offer.”

“You’re not much of a negotiater, Yves.”

“I am French, monsieur. What more can I say?”

[hermgem]

This difference:
Do not remain in a copy cat stage, but go and be:
Innovative, creative, resourceful, use latest technology, incorporate research, test, design.
Airbus geniuses got hung up on trying to be the biggest greatest ever with their 500 plus seat monster trying to pull one over the U.S. by copying but out sizing the 747.
They quite simply fell behind.
If it would not be for endless, continuing government financing this outfit would be bankrupt several time over.

[Erasmus]

Ahh, yes. Airbus’ best salesman. They call him “Christmas Yves.”