What's all this about crushing A343? Who's going to be buying (as opposed to renting existing frames) them now, let alone 2009/2010? If we are going to have comparisons, lets have comparisons with a/c actually selling, like 345/346.
Why are most posters here hung up on pax when freight is often the guy who pays the piper on LH? EI went through very bad times pax wise but kept the ship afloat with bumper cargo - 33x/34x were designed around cargo container widths remember!
The new aircraft must carry goods in bad times and bags in good times - only the LCCs of this world (sadly including EI SH these days) are interested in bags only. Could this be why flyglobespan are among the first in line for 7E7?