Originally Posted by qf94
There will be no increase in the number of A380's for a number of years, if at all, due to AJ deferring/cancelling the remaining order of 8. As the number of international sectors decrease, so does the requirement for extra aircraft.
The important part being "AJ deferring/cancelling".
Unless you expect that when the 380 team was set up they should have acted with the knowledge that would occur then you are utilising the power of hindsight and claiming it as some kind of flaw in AJ that he didn't. Current 380 numbers were based on projections as per fleet strategy at the time and allowed for increased aircraft numbers, natural attrition and even accelerated attrition based on people like Emirates and SIA poaching a number of people with 380 licences and experience.
The 380 team looks big for what it does I agree, but not for the future that was predicted for it. That was the key point.
Originally Posted by qf94
Redundant statement. No ramping up of aircraft numbers, therefore too many "attendants".
No, that's a flawed analysis. The ramping up of aircraft numbers or lack thereof could not possibly have been acted upon at the time the 380 team was set up. For you to go back and claim that somehow the number of people working the 380 should be spot optimised for the current situation is an example of the worst type of management thinking that AJ and Co are regularly accused of around here.
Originally Posted by qf94
Also, the A380 can't be used on the DFW sector, but the outdated 747 can, albeit the return sector is via BNE. What happens when the 747's are finally retired? No 787 to replace them, and the A380 is useless, unless it carries a greatly reduced number of passengers.
When did DFW start? Do you think it was included as part of 380 strategy planning? Methinks not.
Again, you need to stop using hindsight to criticise decisions taken based on a very different set of beliefs.