Airbus or Boeing is a never ending fight.  But the main thing is...no matter how big or how small these new aircraft are...airlines are still going to cram as many seats in as possible and not give a damn as to how comfortable it is in Economy.  Therefor...new aircraft are not any better for the passenger imho   You might get there faster, but after two 14+ hour flights on an Malaysia 747-400 (LAX-TPE-LAX) it didnt matter how fast we flew...5 hours in it was already misserable and couldnt get much worse after 6 hours.  So unless the airlines finally say screw "max revenue" and leave out a few rows...theres not much great about a new plane other then the fuel savings

alledgedly the A380 could even have a swimming pool!!! I don't think the airlines will use it just to have hundreds of seats!!|  That wasn't it's design spec although it cold be fitted out that way. 
Vololiberista

expat wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2007 at 11:06am:

Let's just say that hopefully Airbus have retained the computerised flight dynamics that allow only for 1g manouevres otherwise when the a/c lands and opens the doors at the ramp there would probably be a waterfall!!!
Mind you that would be a good idea for evacuation. It would flush the pax out of the a/c in record time!!!!!!
Vololiberista

The A380 dosn't replace the 747. Anyway, MOST of the time, the A380 is in a slightly diferant market than the 747. Theres what? 100 seats diferance? 300 000 pounds?

AND guys the 787 isn't a distant dream. All parts of the thing have been built and tested, the reason it isn't flying now is it needs to be refined, tested (NOT flight testing), and finalizing. Boeing are going through parts, and maybe making some sections of composite thinner, then maybe changing steel components to titanium.

Boeing is already under the weight of what was promised to airlines, and are currently reaching internal goals.

Personally, I don't see the 787 being delayed by a year or two like the A380. Why? Boeing is years ahead of Airbus in the management game.

It seems Airbus solved the wiring problem for it's 1st airframe that goes to Singapore Airline.  However, what was revealing is a practice that both Airbus and Boeing are forced to operate by: deeply discounting their aircraft as compensation for delays.  I suspected this goes on, but here's proof.  According to this article, Airbus offered Thai Airway 12 A330's at practically 50% off to compensate for A380 delays.  Yikes, that's alot of money.  I wonder at what margins do aircraft manufactures operate by.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/301405_airplaneprices27.html

Ivan wrote on Jan 29^th, 2007 at 4:09pm:



Er - the Singapore Airlines A380 currently at Hamburg being redied for delivery is an 800, or am I missing something?

Quote:

I'll believe that when I see it. I'd be suprised if the 787 had been delivered by the end of 2008.

dcunning30 wrote on Jan 31^st, 2007 at 12:14pm:

Sure. Except Singapore and Thai airlines arn't the only airlines that have ordered A380's. Also, you only say that Thai have only refused half price A330's. You don't say that they've cancelled all their A380 orders.