You can be sure Airbus doesn't appreciate Branson much these days... not only is he saying this but he's also just chosen to purchase a bunch of B-787's rather than the A-350.
excerpt only - full article at:
http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2481069.ece
news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2481069.ece
Branson warns of threat to A380 maker
By Michael Harrison, Business Editor
Published: 24 April 2007
The chairman of Virgin Atlantic, Sir Richard Branson, one of the launch customers for the new Airbus A380 super jumbo has warned that the aircraft is likely to be a "financial disaster" for its manufacturer.
Sir Richard, whose long-haul airline has placed a $2bn (£1bn) order for six A380s, said he feared the 555-seater aircraft would never sell in sufficient numbers to cover its development costs.
His comments are a major setback for Airbus, which has invested a huge amount of its reputation on the success of the delayed and heavily over-budget aircraft.
Airbus is investing $15bn in the A380 - 30 per cent more than the original estimate - but has so far sold only 149 aircraft, compared to the 450 it needs to sell to break even. The aircraft will be two years late entering service when it begins flying with Singapore Airlines this autumn.
Sir Richard praised the A380, saying it would be a highly efficient aircraft for Virgin, but he questioned whether it would ever pay its way for Airbus. "I think it will be a financial disaster because I can't see how Airbus will ever sell sufficient numbers of the aircraft," the Virgin chairman said.
(see link for full article) |