My friend, who works at the Airbus training center in Miami, told me that Airbus has definitely won the 2007 orders race despite recent press reports that suggested Boeing may have managed to keep the crown they won in 2006. Confirmation came when he saw facilities folks unfurl part of a huge banner on the ground in the parking lot late yesterday evening. According to him, the banner had the number "1427" in a yellow starburst and the number "53%" in a green starburst next to the words "Widebody Market". His internal sources told him that the banner is going to be placed on the roof of the training facility facing the runways at Miami International Airport from January 17th through the end of the month.
Can someone please explain this playground obsession with who has sold the most aircraft?
Both companies manufacture good aircraft, all types of which have their good and bad points..
Both companies provide jobs both directly and indirectly, for hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, and constantly develop cutting edge technology to make aircraft safer and more comfortable.
Those who buy the aircraft play one manufacturer off against the other - it's called competition, and it keeps the businesses healthy.
These are the important points.
In twenty year's time most commercial aircraft will probably be made in China anyway - that'll put an end to the willy-waving!
There has been such 'competition' among road vehicle manufacturers for any years. Of course this usually means that the biggest has more service outlets (though not necessarily in proportion to the vehicles sold) and this can attract buyers to the brand (well at least from among the masses) so the momentum is sustained.
Out of interest, in the 1980s, the most popular car (which sold the most) in Denmark was the Lada . . .
It was also one of the cheapest (in a market there is no native manufacturer and where import duty was 180%) and it coped well with the cold.
I'm not sure that those buying airliners are so fickle. Maybe the salespeople will offer discounts in order to achieve orders from high-profile customers, but maybe those with full order books might choose to dissuade some customers to avoid time (delay) penalties for late delivery?
Quote:
Out of interest, in the 1980s, the most popular car (which sold the most) in Denmark was the Lada . . .
Was in Denmark a couple of weeks ago, but didn't see any. As discussed on a previous thread, they're probably all back in Ladaland by now...
Indeed, there are very few Ladas here in the UK, they were bought up and shipped back (many through Hull).
Funny old world, eh?
Last edited by G-CPTN : 13th January 2008 at 19:44.
My post got quoted in a mainstream news article today. I didn't think they read stuff like this! My friend had better be right about the banner! I would hate to diminish the reputation of PPRuNe.
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