Looks like CX is about to order the A380

[SMOC]

Airbus close to A380 deal with China-newspaper
Sat Jan 15, 2005 05:52 PM ET
LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Airbus (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) is close to clinching two large orders for its Airbus A380 from China which could be worth about $3 billion, The Sunday Times reported, citing industry sources.
The newspaper said Airbus, the largest unit of European aerospace group EADS, was in talks with the Chinese government and Hong Kong's main carrier Cathay Pacific (0293.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) . The orders will be unveiled on Tuesday.

The Chinese government order, which is likely to be split between two airlines, Air China (0753.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) and China Southern (1055.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) (600029.SS: Quote, Profile, Research) (ZNH.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , will be for five aircraft and a similar number of options to buy more. Cathay's order could be the same size.

http://yahoo.reuters.com/financeQuoteCompanyNewsArticle.jhtml?duid=mtfh25798_2005-01-15_22-52-34_l15544871_newsml

[404 Titan]

This report doesn’t fit the timetable CX is working to. I have been told not to expect a decision from CX until later in the year. CX still aren’t convinced on the economics of the A380 and certainly don’t won’t to be a launch customer or close to it for airbus ever again after their experience with the A330 and A340-600. CX has been pushing Boeing very hard to build the next generation B747 because it makes better sense and they would buy it today if it was announced.

[DDDOF]

If this does happen.
Any speculation on what routes they would use them on?
Would they be in addition to the rest of the fleet or to replace something, maybe to convert more 747's to Cargo???
Guess we'll see on Tuesday with this announcement??

[Chronic Snoozer]

Can't be arsed researching it right now, so any of you airline types know why the economics of the A380 might not be up to scratch? More to the point, why would a 747 Advanced be better? What happened with the A340-600/A330 in Cathay?

[christep]

What I have heard is that CX's requirement is that the A380 has to be able to do LAX-HKG non-stop year-round at full load. They have yet to be convinced of that.

[Canadian Beech]

I heard that it would actually be 2 other Airlines that would be interested in the 380... not Cathay, or Dragon...