Are QF under any obligation to take delivery of the remaining 8 A380's as they were ordered after the initial 12, heard a swap for A350's is on the cards.
Qantas are quite adept at playing the divide & conqueror strategy. Given there are only two aircraft manufacturers, realistically, the only way to drive the best bargain is to maximise the threat of buying the oppositions product.
Could the very public QF B787 campaign actually be a smokescreen to get airbus to really sharpen its pencil on the A350? What better way to do it, get the pilots do it for them. There has been surprising little secrecy around the B787 since the beginning of the year. Given the extensive planning for the carbon free day, they have demonstrated they have the ability to manoeuvre in the shadows. its much easier to keep aircraft purchase negotiations secret. Is the best route to the A350 via the B787?
We are told what they want us to be told, for what motivation is the question? Is this a sophisticated bait-and-switch strategy? All we can do is speculate & marvel at their magnificence [/S]. Only a handful of people know the truth.