[July 4th]

I heard a lot about the A380 before 9/11. I figured the design might have been scaled back afterwards. Apparently not. It looks like those Richard Reid types will have a new target, 500+ people at a time.

[dark_lord]

I suspect this thing is doomed, because:

(1) Imagine how long it will take to get on and off this monster. Given a choice, people will fly smaller planes.

(2) This thing will only be profitable flying between heavily travelled areas. So it can't be profitable on most routes. That is, a competitor might fly 3 trips between two points for every one that this one flys. This gives the competitor more flexibility for travel times.

(3) Imagine the impact if one of these is pulled out for maintenance. Getting everyone offloaded and onto other flights.

(4) Airlines are lower cost if they fly fewer types of airplanes. So this is just another airframe that requires specialized pilot and mechanic training, and parts.

DOOMED.

[Billy_bob_bob]

I am certainly no expert, but I am thinking that this is exactly the wrong design at the wrong time. From what I can tell the future belongs to smaller jets landing at smaller airports working on some sort of point-to-point strategy, and this future will place more emphasis on smaller and even civil airports and less on commercial airports. So this new Airbus strikes me as a purposeful move in the wrong direction, and I predict it will be only a modest success at best.

However, I freely admit that I could be totally wrong. It will be interesting to see how this all works out.

[holyscroller]

And after the kiss-off the French have just given us, they can take this plane and eat it. I'll NEVER fly it. And I've got some pretty long-term boycotts to my credit. (Haven't had a Seattle PI in my house since 1967, haven't bought anything from Tyson since I found out about their funding of Slick. Boycotts are easy, and it's one little way we can each vote "NO!" with our shopping choices.

[mhking]

Brings new meaning to the term "Big A$$ Plane" --

"Hold muh beer 'n watch this!" PING....

If you want on or off this list, please let me know!

[ContentiousObjector]

Send one of these over to Alaskan Airlines, they will be able to cram atleast 1000 people into an A380.

[Ronin]

It these things were anywhere near as potentially profitable as the Euro-weenies are making out, Boeing would be building them -- or a Boeing version of them.

The fact that Boeing has looked into this market and has decided against putting in any chips leads me to believe that they either have a better idea or are willing to let the froggies work out the bugs before they commit.

Either way, if Boeing doesn't want to play, I'll stand pat too.

[Myrddin]

This reminds me of the lesson learned by the tuna seiner industry. The boats in San Diego ranged from family owned 400 ton converted banana boats to 2200 ton super seiners with a helocopter and airplane aboard. The 400 ton boats were always profitable and manageable. 1200 ton boats could go on longer trips (more fuel) and seemed to be an optimal size. At 2200 tons, the first fish caught during the trip was beginning to rot before the vessel could be filled. A odd thing happened. There was a succession of terrible accidents resulting in all of the 2200 ton boats sinking. I suspect this new monster aircraft will have something in common with the 2200 ton tuna seiner. Too big to be economical (you have to keep the seats full to cover the payments. Partially filled won't do). Too slow to load/unload. Too much to lose if it gets attacked.

[N. Theknow]

Airbus planes are lousy.

I quit flying in them two years ago and refuse to fly on them. They are like flying in a tube of tin foil.

Only place this one is going to do any good is in the Pacific Rim and Southeast Asia.

[sphinx]

Has Airbus ever turned a profit?

[Experiment 6-2-6]

..transport them by sea to Bordeaux. From there they will be towed by special barge 100 kilometres down the River Garonne to the town of Langon...

Silly reporter. IT'S TOWED UP THE RIVER INLAND. IT'S TOWED DOWN THE RIVER TOWARDS THE SEA

It goes with the downstream thingy.. not north or south..