The post above strengthens the case for the -8i. Sim already in place, crew already qualified, port surveys already carried out, eng trained just a few hours required to update the ca with new IFE etc. The figures from the -8F indicate the running costs better than 773 provided that the ac is 85% full.
However, there must be peer pressure on
JS as the cx flagship is a freighter, and his mindset against 4 eng 4 long haul. CX need a vla and will lose out as the competition fly their flagships into HKG, another missed opportunity because our execs are so narrow minded that they can only see 50 of their own big picture.
For me the business case for the -8i outstrips the 380, but I would be happy to see either in cx colours, but I won't hold my breath.