Airliner Production Question

[Hover Auto]

Hey guys I have a Question for you:
Why did Boeing build a 767-400 when they had the 777-200....
....and..... Why is Airbus going to build the A350 when they already have the A330-300?

Any Comments/Views?

[Mad (Flt) Scientist]

Fundamentally, the same reason GM make Chevy's and Pontiacs, or Bombardier make dash8s and CRJs, or why Burger King sell something else as well as Whoppers.

There are customers willing to buy them. The fact that the products may be similar doesn't matter, if they aren't identical.

[WHBM]

Actually there weren't too many people wanting the 767-400. Continental and Delta each placed one small order for it. That's it.

Boeing didn't seem to have the R & D money after the 1980s aside from the 777 and the (rework only) of the 737 into the 737 NG. So following the succesful reworking of the 747 into the -400, they launched into a series of stretches that became "stretches too far".

737-900, 757-300, 767-400 and (for many years at least) the 777-300. All of these were shunned by the market in favour of the standard-sized product (or in favour of Airbus, although I DON'T want to start an A v B debate).

The A350 seems to be more a range than a capacity stretch which is a slightly different proposition.

[GlueBall]

For the same reason why Boeing had built the 707-200 derivative for Braniff (-227), or the special long range edition of the 707-100 series for Quantas (-138)...because the paying customers had ordered it.

[El lute]

I believe the A350 is actually a shrunk version of the A330 and is supposed to be the Airbus answer to the Boeing Dreamliner.