Taildragger, you have no concept of the market. BA alone has 57 747s, about the same 777s. On their prime markets, 3 LAX 747s could become 2. 3 SINs a day could become 2 380s. BKK could go to 2. HKG to 2, without taking much option away from the passengers. I don't know how many Qantas 747s plow up to the UK. SIA has an incredible number. CPT to 2 A380s a day, JNB. That is today's traffic. If the Far East economies keep expanding, we can add another A 380 to each of those places....a day. And that is just BA and the UK! When SIA, Korean, China, JAL start attacking the US West Coast, wherever you have 3 747s, 2 A380s will handle it, allowing a third before too long.
BA's hesitancy in ordering doesn't mean anything. In fact in the near future a 380 is coming to them to be closely examined. BA usually waits to place orders. I'm convinced in 20 years time, BA will be operating a very big fleet, SIA a ginormous one, JAL too. Meanwhile, US carriers, all in bankruptcy 'protection', will be telling everybody how knackered 777s and little 787s offer the customer 'a better travel experience'! Bit like their ancient 767s competing on prime routes.
Airbus is in nowhere near the situation Boeing was in 35 yeas ago. The 747 was close to breaking the company, and Seattle. And it had serious problems-gear collapses, excrutiating engine problems and flight control problems. Any airliner program has problems, that's why not every country can build them. Some of you are acting as if you'd never seen such a thing before. But now the spotters are up in arms.....over a 'firm' landing, a yaw on touchdown, rudders that deflect, engines that appear to be close to the ground, and wings that un-deflect on touchdown! Why do people who know nothing make so much noise?