Can anyone shed any light on if this project is actually going to go forth?
Production of the A380 officially began in January 2002, when the first metal cutting began in the Airbus plant near Nantes.
RR, PW and GE all have an engine in production in line with customer orders.
This aircraft
is going to happen!
US certification is due around July 2005, with the first aircraft due to enter service in 2006.
With the skies reaching ever higher congestion, the Airbus thinking of less planes with more PAX seems to be a sensible step forward.
Most people seem to be polarised as either in the 'Boeing' or 'Airbus' camp, but you cannot argue with the facts.
There are 97 confirmed orders for the A380, and with no credible Boeing equivalent even on the drawing board, Airbus will continue to take ground in the long haul market.