Airbus Considers Shutting Down A380 Production Line

[silverknapper]

Mana

I'd personally disagree. I pax on emirates a lot positioning to start rotations. And I deliberately choose where possible A380 flights.

The business class offering is fantastic. If it's an afternoon flight I enjoy the craic at the bar. If I'm tired I can have a good sleep without being stepped over/having to step over. If the person next to me has an unpleasant odour I have plenty of space. All attributes the 777 doesn't have.

My experience from chatting to fellow pax indicates I'm not alone.

Now if only they would de plane the top deck first........

[wapses]

Airbus can no way make money on an aircraft that is only of interest to one airline ... an airline subsidised by its government.

[SMT Member]

Thought people had learned by now, to take anything coming out of the media with a very large bucket of salt. If it concerns aviation, add another bucket.

What the CFO did at the conference, was list a long list of potential options to secure the continued growth and profitability of Airbus. Some of those options were far more theoretic than others, and the discontinuation of the A380 line was indeed communicated as such an option. That did not, of course, deter the press from hanging their collective hats on that single bit of information, then turn it from a non-realstic theory into near-fact.

A lot of people fall for that, for the simple reasons very few bother reading past the head-lines, or look up the original sources.

But, to make it clear: The CEO and COO of Airbus have been quick to clarify what the CFO meant, and have indeed made it clear the future of the A380 is not obscurity, but updating in the form of new engines, aerodynamic, cabin and weight improvements. The A380neo will happen, whether or not a -900 version of that aircraft will be built is still not clear. But, again, Airbus are more likely to launch such a derivative than they are closing down the line.

Frankly I'm not overtly bothered about what the blokes in Toulouse, or their Pugent Sound competitor, roll off their assembly lines. As long as it keeps the wheels of the industry turning, I'm good.

[nolimitholdem]

Mana

I'd personally disagree. I pax on emirates a lot positioning to start rotations. And I deliberately choose where possible A380 flights.

The business class offering is fantastic. If it's an afternoon flight I enjoy the craic at the bar. If I'm tired I can have a good sleep without being stepped over/having to step over. If the person next to me has an unpleasant odour I have plenty of space. All attributes the 777 doesn't have.

My experience from chatting to fellow pax indicates I'm not alone.

Now if only they would de plane the top deck first........

Nah this is just trolling, ignorance, or both. J class on the 380 sucks compared to the B777. The seats with the narrow space to stick your feet in. The random seats you have to crawl over your seatmate to get into. The last couple rows where trying to sleep while drunken Irishmen try loudly and unsuccessfully to hit on crew in the bar for the duration of the flight. It's like trying to rest in a hotel room next to well, a bar. The fact that when you cram more than 70 seats in the same space, the inflight service suffers. By the time they finish bringing the trays to the back, the front has been waiting for 20 minutes to have theirs taken away. Hardly progress, all of it. Thankfully the last time I was in J was years ago.

First? The suites are identical, except the walls a few centimetres lower on the 380 than the 777. So you have crew and curious onlookers peering in as they go past. The shower is nice. And yes, it is quieter. But still not hard to tell you're on an airplane.

Personally I didn't care where I sat as long as it was taking me away from Dubai, I'd even take Y for that! But with the possible exception of the shower, I'd hardly describe the premium classes on the 380 as superior to the 777, in fact the opposite.

But if someone wants to pay more for the privilege, hey fill your boots! One born every minute, as they say.

Frankly I'm not overtly bothered about what the blokes in Toulouse, or their Pugent Sound competitor, roll off their assembly lines. As long as it keeps the wheels of the industry turning, I'm good.

It's Puget Sound. Or else we start calling it To-Lose. Just as funny, right?

But I'll take it one further. I only care that the money goes in the account each month. Beyond that nothing matters.

[P7xkk]

Confidence. That's the key, just like the Stock Market, and look what the statement by the AIB CFO did to their share price.
As for Mr T, does he really know better than the rest of the CEOs in the airline industry? Or does the autocratic bank rolling of EK by the ruling family make all the difference?

[vfenext]

EK is not being bank rolled, it makes a rather large profit.

[Payscale]

EK is more likely Dubais' growth engine

[fatbus]

It's funny how some people have no idea how this place works . I still laugh at the " gas for free" comments.

[Neptune Spear]

I completely disagree that Emirates makes a large profit. Yes it makes a good profit but with the Labor costs they have (non existent), A/C utilization and and benevolent GCAA their declared profit should be much much higher. After all look at the US airlines profits.
There is serious money going out the back door at a Emirates. The only question is where is the money going?

[MrMachfivepointfive]

The only question is where is the money going?

I think that answer should be easy. Abu Dhabi wants the 2008 bail out money back.