A346 Economics
THISKIWICANFLY
<Not only does it use 20% less fuel than a 744, but it has double the underbelly cargo capacity and the economics of that advantage must be huge - carries slightly less pax though.>
Actually, if you use the same passenger density for the 744 as Airbus does for the A346, you get 480 pax in a 744 vs 380 pax in an A346. ( 26% more pax in a 744)
For cargo, the A346 has a volume of about 207 cu m vs 182 cu m in the 744. (14% more cu m in an A346, far from the 50% more you're claiming)
IOW, the 744 carries 26% more passengers & 14% less cargo.
Knowing that passengers bring in much more revenue than cargo, a 744 with a full load of pax will be more profitable than an A346 with a full load of pax, despite the latter's lower fuel burn isn't it ?