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In the 30+ years of the 747, Boeing has sold something like 1200 of them, IIRC. They will continue to sell them for quite a few more years and they will continue to be operated for decades. Boeing may soon be coming out with an updated version of the 747, further extending the life of that aircraft line.

Seriously now, does anyone honestly believe that in the next 20 years Airbus will sell 300 more A380s than Boeing sold 747s over 30 years?!!? No way the market is that big. Even with population increases, there will not be that many people wanting to fly frequently enough on enough routes for it to be profitable to use the A380. It has its place, they will sell enough to make the airplane profitable, but it will not be the success the 747 was.

As a frequent flyer all over the world, I have to agree with Boeings vision: I want to fly from Seattle to Nice, not Seattle to LA on a 737 or A320, then LA to Amsterdam on an A380, then Amsterdam to Nice on another 737 or A320. I don't want to go through customs with 800 of my closest friends, let alone sweaty, tired, cranky strangers. I've gone through baggage claim and customs when two 747s landed at the same time. It is not something I want to do again.

Exactly.

As a frequent flyer all over the world, I have to agree with Boeings vision: I want to fly from Seattle to Nice, not Seattle to LA on a 737 or A320, then LA to Amsterdam on an A380, then Amsterdam to Nice on another 737 or A320. I don't want to go through customs with 800 of my closest friends, let alone sweaty, tired, cranky strangers. I've gone through baggage claim and customs when two 747s landed at the same time. It is not something I want to do again.

TRue -- so would I. But for frequent, shorter routes like say Dubai to Bombay or Shanghai to Hongkong, the demand would be for cheaper flights and that's what the A380 would aim for.