A340 - Slow Sales and Fuel prices

[chrisstiles]

Hi --

In last weeks economist, there is an article stating:

"Meanwhile the European firm is losing out in the next size up, where Boeing sold 155 of its 777 long-haul planes last year, compared with only 15 Airbus A340s, which suffers from having four engines in a time of high oil prices."

Urm .. is that right? Surely in terms of passenger miles/gallon the difference isn't that much (and is solely accounted for extra weight of engines - which presumably can be made up with weight savings elsewhere).

[AnEviltwinEr]

A quick search shows that airbus have sold a little more than 15 a340's.

and a340 doesnt suffer from their shoose of 4 engines at all, that was the whole point, getting away from ETOPS requirements.

[Magoodotcom]

A quick search shows that airbus have sold a little more than 15 a340's.

Last year, not in total:rolleyes:

and a340 doesnt suffer from their shoose of 4 engines at all, that was the whole point, getting away from ETOPS requirements.


In economy terms, it does suffer. The 777 engines use about 1/3 more fuel than those on the A340, however there are only half as many engines on the 777. For all but the ETOPS critical routes of which there are very few left, the 777ER/LR is the favoured airplane at the moment.

Magoo