Airbus A380 Woes Continue

[Saj_A]

Louis Gallois admission that Airbus’ flagship A380 will experience another period of languishing sales comes as no surprise.

What is surprising is that Gallois is “absolutely convinced” it would be a “success” ignoring the fact that despite being on the market for a decade, it has more than doubled in cost to produce yet cannot sell in any large enough numbers despite the heavy discounting to entice buyers in the first place.

Despite the biggest order boom in aviation history between 2005-2007, the A380 failed match the huge orders seen for the A330, A350, 777 and 787 and now has even less prospect of garnering future business as frequency growth takes charge.

More here.

[Ash W]

Pretty melodramatic thread title, for what is at the end of the day old news, regurgitated by a blog written by a one Saj Ahmad. Oh that's you isn't it? So in effect your are quoting your own website blog.

[Nigel C]

Ash, it may be trivial to some, but I think you left out a few things. Here, let me give you a hand...

[Ash W]

Too true Nigel.

By the way Saj, the meaning of the word Woe is:

n. archaic or literary 1 affliction; bitter grief; distress.
2 (in pl.) calamities, troubles.
3 joc. problems (told me a tale of woe).

Now if you were talking about the A380 program in it's development then yeah the title could well be applicable. But slow sales are far from a woe. Does Airbus seem all that concerned at present?

If we were talking about the continuing problems at Beoing with the 7late7 and 747-8 programs then yeah they would be woe's. Where are your reports of woe about these programs?

[Saj_A]

Originally Posted by Ash W

Now if you were talking about the A380 program in it's development then yeah the title could well be applicable. But slow sales are far from a woe. Does Airbus seem all that concerned at present?

If we were talking about the continuing problems at Beoing with the 7late7 and 747-8 programs then yeah they would be woe's. Where are your reports of woe about these programs?

One is clearly going to make more money than the other:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...-update1-.html

And contrary to your assumption about Airbus' concern about the A380, I would kindly refer you back to Tom Enders comments earlier this year and remarks from 2009 where he described it as a financial liability.

BUt I digress

[Ash W]

The 'other' will make money for sure, of course only once it actually starts to make it to the customers respective fleets which is still some time off and like the A380 is several years behind schedule and over budget.

No one is arguing the A380 program in terms of sales has been well below expectations, but to say that the A380's woes continues and to have a blog entitled "Shoot the dog part five" is overly melodramtic and far from reality.

Over the past two years the A380 has proved itself in service and there clearly is a market for it but, yes sales are slow and it will take years to cover the costs of development and make a profit. All known facts and nothing new at all.

[Steve S... 2]

No tears from me if they ever stopped production... lol.

[Andrew McLaughlin]

Guys

Apart from the odd one or two , most passengers agree that the A380 has introduced new standards of passenger comfort to airline travel - I've travelled on QF, SQ and EK and would pick an A380 ahead of any other airliner currently flying if given the choice, except perhaps a 77W/L.

That said, Airbus hasn't done itself any favours with the aircraft's industralisation issues, slow production ramp up, and range of options offered to launch customers, and I believe the jury is probably still out on whether Airbus will ever sell the ~500 required to turn a profit on the program.

I also doubt the launch airlines have configured the A380 in the best and most efficent way, hence QF's decision to re-configure its last eight jets, and may not be using it to its potential either. I guess later configurations and routing will tell. The IFE problems that people complain about are airline furnished equipment, and generally not related to the aircraft itself.

[matthew mcdonald]

I couldnt agree more with everything you have said Andrew.

[David Knudsen]

Originally Posted by Andrew McLaughlin

Apart from the odd one or two

IFE problems not notwithstanding? Friends and relatives who've flown on the A380 all comment to me how quiet and smooth it was, especially the landings. I remember my dad used to tell me the same thing about the 747's when I was a young fella.