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Subject: A380, it just keeps getting better
ambush    2/24/2007 2:40:25 PM
Or not: Cargo A380 may be ditched UPS pact 'a recipe for cancellation' By MARY SCHLANGENSTEIN BLOOMBERG NEWS United Parcel Service Inc., the world's largest package shipper, and plane maker Airbus said Friday that they have agreed that either company can cancel an order this year for 10 A380 freighters after repeated production delays. UPS will decide whether to retain the $2.8 billion order after getting new delivery dates from Airbus, UPS spokesman Mark Giuffre said in an interview. The companies declined to provide details of the accord. Airbus' ability to void the order heightens chances that the manufacturer may scrap the troubled cargo version of the world's largest commercial jet amid cost overruns and customer cancellations. Atlanta-based UPS is now the only buyer for the A380 freighter. "Two out of three customers cancel or convert orders, not a lot of market demand, engineers needed elsewhere. That's a recipe for cancellation," said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of Teal Group, a Fairfax, Va.-based aerospace consulting firm. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/304975_airbusups24.html?source=rss
 
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reefdiver       2/24/2007 4:32:40 PM
Airbus (/Northrup) really, really needs to win the USAF tanker competition that they just threw their name back into after first having Northrup threaten to quit.
 
I note that some industry analysts have been calling for them to consider tabling the A-350 and concentrate on getting the A-380 working as well as get an A-310/320 replacement instead. 
 
Then note all the political fallout between nations as Airbus is trying to restructure (meaning take jobs from 'member' countries...). Its not a pretty picture.
 
 
 
 
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scuttlebut steve    boeing slayer stumbling   2/24/2007 5:02:20 PM
Isnt the cargo version the one that requires much less modification for airports to use them?  One day this will be a fine aircraft that will be seen at most major airports but boy did the experts get it wrong a couple of years ago when they predicted that the A380 would drive boeing out of the airliner game!
 
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reefdiver       2/24/2007 6:19:48 PM

Isnt the cargo version the one that requires much less modification for airports to use them?  One day this will be a fine aircraft that will be seen at most major airports but boy did the experts get it wrong a couple of years ago when they predicted that the A380 would drive boeing out of the airliner game!


Thats the one thing that isn't talked about enough - the A-380, in spite of early production glitches, is a marvelous aircraft. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be quite successful.  It may even help lower ticket costs just like the 747 did. In fact, the only thing I have against it is that (a) Boeing didn't build it..., and (b) its going to be even more annoying waiting in an even longer line at the restroom (or WC for those speaking "pure" English) near the gate on arrival. I'm gonna have to cut down on beer consumption on the flights...
 
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DNS77       2/24/2007 6:34:21 PM
I was just reading on this subject yesterday,
h**p://money.cnn.com/2007/02/23/news/international/airbus_ups/index.htm?section=money_latest
It's a shame because it looks to be one hell of an aircraft.
Somebody really screwed the pooch on this one.
 
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PowerPointRanger    Maarvelous?   2/25/2007 1:45:15 AM
I don't know how you can say the A380 is a marvelous aircraft.  An important part of an aircraft being good is whether or not you can make it work.  The Concorde, for example, was technically impressive.  But it never turned a profit because it was a gas hog.
 
As for the A380, if it's so complex that it can't be mass produced, then it's just another such Euro-white elephant.
 
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flamingknives       2/25/2007 4:44:20 AM
Of course, only the recidivist Euro-weenies are susceptable to industrial folly.
 
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reefdiver       2/25/2007 2:21:24 PM

I don't know how you can say the A380 is a marvelous aircraft.  An important part of an aircraft being good is whether or not you can make it work.  The Concorde, for example, was technically impressive.  But it never turned a profit because it was a gas hog.

 

As for the A380, if it's so complex that it can't be mass produced, then it's just another such Euro-white elephant.


Hey, its also not entirely certain the Boeing 787 won't run into additional glitches in production. It too is an extremely complex aircraft full of new technology.  I hope this doesn't happen.  Nonetheless, much as I always like to see Boeing pull ahead in dominance, I still wish the 380 well. The competition is good.
 
On another note, I see all (?) of the  Boeing 747-8's ordered so far are freighters. This is going to add to the 380's pain. I'd recommend its time to start watching the 747-8 more. Here are the claims for the 747-8 direct from the Boeing web site:
 
"Operating economics will offer a significant improvement over the A380. The 747-8 is more than 11 percent lighter per seat than the A380 and will consume 10 percent less fuel per passenger than the 555-seat airplane. That translates into a trip-cost reduction of 19 percent and a seat-mile cost reduction of more than 3 percent, compared to the A380. Both the 747-8 Intercontinental and 747-8 Freighter can use the existing infrastructure and ground equipment at most airports worldwide."
 
Not insignifiant claims.  I wonder if we'll see UPS go with the 747-8?  The freighter side of the jumbo jet business has always been extremely important. The B-747-8/A-380 battle is going to be one to watch. If airline companies start picking up the 747-8 for freight, they might just decide to forgo the A-380 and use the 747-8 for passengers also. For an airline executive, the 747-8 might end up being the easier decision to make - especially if the A-380 is delayed even a few months more.
 
 
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JohnBarry       3/2/2007 3:28:30 PM
"UPS to Nix Order for 10 Airbus A380 Air Freighters"
 
 
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JohnBarry    UPS to Nix Order for 10 Airbus A380 Air Freighters   3/2/2007 3:31:33 PM
UPS to Nix Order for 10 Airbus A380 Air Freighters
 
 
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scuttlebut steve       3/3/2007 5:11:51 AM
I would guess that now the cargo version will be cancelled since nobody is buying any now.  Now the only questions will be : when will the passenger version be available?  how long will it take for the airport alterations to be made throughout the world?
 
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