oh, oops, sorry for the mis-quoted
by the way, here is another quote
Air France confirms the already announced retirement of its B744 fleet.
AF is currently operating a fleet of 23 B744 : 13 B744 PAX and 10 B744 Freighters.
- F-GIUF, a B744ERF will be returned to KLM next September (replaced by the first B777F of which AF is the launch company).
- F-GEXB (a PAX a/c) will be retired next March 2009
- F-GITC (a PAX a/c) will be retired next April 2009
- F-GISA (recently converted into a Freighter) will be retired in Nov 2009
- F-GISF (Freighter) will be returned to lessor in Dec 2009.
ALL the B744 (PAX) will be replaced before summer 2012 one for one by the additional B77W ordered last year.
A few B744F should remain in service a bit longer beside the 8 B777F.
Sad to see the legendary "big bird" leaving the Air France fleet ... end of a great adventure begun with F-BFVA, the very first AF B747-100, on ORY-JFK in June 1970 ...
I will see more major airlines in the industries are going to retire their 747 fleet. The point is, I really doubt that A380 would be suitable for Cathay since they are saying "A380 is an option.'' In my point of view, twins engines aircraft are more likely to play in a role at this case, more 77w would be logical.