When new aircraft types are under development, and especially when the first production series are built, there is always ample talk about the manufacturer being able, or not, to meet expected empty weight goals. Being able to meet or failing to meet that goal affects all the rest: payload, fuel burn, range, endurance, landing and take off performance and especially the CASM.
When the manufacturer fails to meet the target Empty Weight, the ZFW is bumped to compensate and maintain the expected payload. This requires an increase in MTOW to maintain expected range. This requires more Power which increases fuel burn. The increased weights increases the take off and landing distances as well, and all this can and has, in the past, compromised certain sales.
Last edited by Gilles Hudicourt; 13th Jan 2015 at 15:28.