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Old 15th Apr 2006, 09:18
  #89 (permalink)  
Digitalis
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Would this be from a Boing pilot who doesn't want to go Airbus, by any chance?

It's a good rumour, but I can't find any substantiation for it, yet I can find considerable substantiation for the A380 programme continuing. However, the idea of the B777 replacing the B744 on Caribbean and other non-A380-capable routes makes some sense.

The A346 may not match the B777 on fuel costs, but overall ownership costs are pretty competitive - and Airbus themselves said that they would offset any extra running costs incurred by A346 operators. And the accountants love its freight capacity!

If I was a betting man (I'm not), I'd bet on the 6 VS A380 options being taken as A380-900s in high-density Orlando-stylee fit, and the first 6 A380-800s being exchanged for -900s at the earliest opportunity but with an LHR-JFK-friendly fit. I would expect to see the first two A380-800s in service as planned. The B777 will come, but not instead of the A380. The A346 will remain the mainstay of the ultra-longhaul routes.
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