Originally Posted by
crosscutter
Both Boeing and Airbus will say they have the equipment to do it. Despite what some say about the insignificance of QF, they both want the order. The 350 can do it, with the load QF are planning (thru necessity or otherwise). The 777 available can’t do it but Boeing are compensating QF for the reduced load until the new 777 is available and then saying the FIRST 777s COULD REPLACE THE A380s at which time compensation would stop. This means QF get the best of both worlds. Variable capacity, common type, and overall less airframes required with greater flexibility.
Of note QF are aware that the SH EA offer had no stone unturned by the pilots because of the social media platform used. For LH EA they are holding a 3rd Webinar in an attempt to preemptively get the growth message out without serious back and forth discussion possible. Time will tell if QF are prepared to engage in discussion like that which happened in SH. Sometimes the guilty are best not to take the stand.
It's worth noting that while both B and AB want the order, QF purchases alone wouldn't justify development of any special performance variants. The manufacturer's strategy in either case is to get an order from an airline whose business model could greatly benefit from ULH flights, so they can sell bulk orders to airlines who would want to be able to offer the same points of difference.