Rumor that A350 is dead
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Rumor that A350 is dead
I heard a rumor that the A350 will be scrapped, and Airbus will spend $10B to develope a completely new 300 seater. Anyone else heard anything about this? I picked this up from financial news.
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Read about it here http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...+wing+and.html
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.....and
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...+for+A350.html
These two articles sort of answer my question as to what's the better a/c, the 777 or A330/340. Not from a pilot's POV but at least from an operator's POV.
http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles...+for+A350.html
These two articles sort of answer my question as to what's the better a/c, the 777 or A330/340. Not from a pilot's POV but at least from an operator's POV.
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Call it what you like, but if it's got new wings, engines and a fuselage, then it ain't the A350 anymore. ILFC sunk it, and others soon followed, including SQ. The rejigged A350, or whatever Airbus call it now, won't be ready until 2012 at the earliest, giving even more of the market to the 787. Boeing have jst announced the -10 version, who wants to bet Emirates won't buy 100 of them?
I know Boeing may have underperformed in years gone by, but they really have stolen a march on Airbus this time! I feel the same may be true of the A380: too big, too costly, too much wake turbulence and only a few airports that can use it. Anyone remember the last time Airbus sold one? If Virgin cancel as rumoured here on Pprune, then like the A350, it will be hard to see how it can sell enough to make any money on them.
I know Boeing may have underperformed in years gone by, but they really have stolen a march on Airbus this time! I feel the same may be true of the A380: too big, too costly, too much wake turbulence and only a few airports that can use it. Anyone remember the last time Airbus sold one? If Virgin cancel as rumoured here on Pprune, then like the A350, it will be hard to see how it can sell enough to make any money on them.
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This says pretty much the same thing although from an investor's perspective:
Motley Fool
It's Boeing's Race to Lose
Friday May 12, 1:33 pm ET
By Brian Gorman
In the duopoly that is the aerospace business, one company's weakness can strengthen the other.
There has been another indication of Airbus' weakness in recent days, making Boeing (NYSE: BA - News) seem stronger than ever. But it's important to keep in mind that a good part of this power struggle is over planes that have yet to take to the skies. As a result, investors should be aware that Boeing could still feel some turbulence.
Word leaked out Thursday that Airbus is seriously considering a total redesign for its A350, the plane that is supposed to compete with Boeing's 787. Airbus has taken flak from prospective customers for the current version of the A350, which uses the body design of the A330 but features redesigned wings, tail, and cockpit. Sources indicate that such a redesign would double the A350's development cost to $10 billion and delay it until 2012. Airbus had already indicated that its launch date for the current version of the A350 was more likely to be in 2011 rather than in 2010, as initially planned, so it's possible that a totally new A350 would launch even later than 2012.
If Airbus goes ahead with this plan, it means Boeing's 787 would have at least four years of flying time before a competitor appeared. Even if Airbus' plane is more fuel-efficient than Boeing's, four years is a long time for airlines to wait while operating older gas-guzzlers, especially if fuel prices remain high. Boeing's competitive position clearly looks very strong right now.
That strength is reflected in Boeing's share price. Investors should remember, though, that Boeing is producing the 787 in a radically different way, both in its use of a large amount of composites rather than aluminum and in its disaggregated global manufacturing scheme. Things could go wrong, and that may lead to a sharp drop in the stock.
All this is not to say that Boeing is a poor pick for the long term. For instance, even if the company does encounter manufacturing snags with composites, once perfected, that technology seems to have a good chance at becoming a new industry standard, given its ability not only to increase fuel efficiency but also to reduce maintenance costs. Boeing is likely to keep flying high over the long term, but before the 787 takes wing there are still potential pitfalls.
http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/060512/114745522914.html?.v=1
Motley Fool
It's Boeing's Race to Lose
Friday May 12, 1:33 pm ET
By Brian Gorman
In the duopoly that is the aerospace business, one company's weakness can strengthen the other.
There has been another indication of Airbus' weakness in recent days, making Boeing (NYSE: BA - News) seem stronger than ever. But it's important to keep in mind that a good part of this power struggle is over planes that have yet to take to the skies. As a result, investors should be aware that Boeing could still feel some turbulence.
Word leaked out Thursday that Airbus is seriously considering a total redesign for its A350, the plane that is supposed to compete with Boeing's 787. Airbus has taken flak from prospective customers for the current version of the A350, which uses the body design of the A330 but features redesigned wings, tail, and cockpit. Sources indicate that such a redesign would double the A350's development cost to $10 billion and delay it until 2012. Airbus had already indicated that its launch date for the current version of the A350 was more likely to be in 2011 rather than in 2010, as initially planned, so it's possible that a totally new A350 would launch even later than 2012.
If Airbus goes ahead with this plan, it means Boeing's 787 would have at least four years of flying time before a competitor appeared. Even if Airbus' plane is more fuel-efficient than Boeing's, four years is a long time for airlines to wait while operating older gas-guzzlers, especially if fuel prices remain high. Boeing's competitive position clearly looks very strong right now.
That strength is reflected in Boeing's share price. Investors should remember, though, that Boeing is producing the 787 in a radically different way, both in its use of a large amount of composites rather than aluminum and in its disaggregated global manufacturing scheme. Things could go wrong, and that may lead to a sharp drop in the stock.
All this is not to say that Boeing is a poor pick for the long term. For instance, even if the company does encounter manufacturing snags with composites, once perfected, that technology seems to have a good chance at becoming a new industry standard, given its ability not only to increase fuel efficiency but also to reduce maintenance costs. Boeing is likely to keep flying high over the long term, but before the 787 takes wing there are still potential pitfalls.
http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/060512/114745522914.html?.v=1
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What about Airbus's credibility?
Much as I admire Airbus - and I genuinely do - I think they've got themselves into a very serious situation with their widebodies; it's not just the fact that the A350 has been the winner of this year's Edsel Award for Product Development, but the fact that there are very few airlines happy with the A340's performance (particularly the -600) and then, the delivery delays.
I can't help wondering how foolish airlines that have ordered the A350 must feel - not the "fluffy" ones, but the good ones, like Finnair. How embarrassing must this be?
Even if the A370 (as it's rumoured to be called) comes to fruition and outdoes the 787, how much credence will be put in Airbus's figures; remember that Airbus has been insisting that the A350 would beat the 787 in almost every field and there are existing Airbus widebodies which fall short of airlines' performance promises. That's not a healthy combination.
This is a disaster for Airbus because the 250-350 seat long haul market is one of the biggest in the business and now, Airbus is coming close to losing it. For airlines, this is a massive commitment to; take an airline like Aer Lingus - an established Airbus customer, but also one which facing a huge and extremely risky expense. It sees two competing manufacturers: one which has a brand new aircraft and which itself has a good record of turning aircraft out on schedule (take the 777 for example) and within performance promises. And there's another which, although the most suitable from a commonality viewpoint, has produced an aircraft which is not up to scratch, but which is producing figures which show it's ahead of the (brand new) competition, while its existing widebodies are cheesing off airlines all over the world. As a CEO or director, which would you see as the best risk?
I can't help wondering how foolish airlines that have ordered the A350 must feel - not the "fluffy" ones, but the good ones, like Finnair. How embarrassing must this be?
Even if the A370 (as it's rumoured to be called) comes to fruition and outdoes the 787, how much credence will be put in Airbus's figures; remember that Airbus has been insisting that the A350 would beat the 787 in almost every field and there are existing Airbus widebodies which fall short of airlines' performance promises. That's not a healthy combination.
This is a disaster for Airbus because the 250-350 seat long haul market is one of the biggest in the business and now, Airbus is coming close to losing it. For airlines, this is a massive commitment to; take an airline like Aer Lingus - an established Airbus customer, but also one which facing a huge and extremely risky expense. It sees two competing manufacturers: one which has a brand new aircraft and which itself has a good record of turning aircraft out on schedule (take the 777 for example) and within performance promises. And there's another which, although the most suitable from a commonality viewpoint, has produced an aircraft which is not up to scratch, but which is producing figures which show it's ahead of the (brand new) competition, while its existing widebodies are cheesing off airlines all over the world. As a CEO or director, which would you see as the best risk?
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Qatar may review $10 bln A350 deal with Airbus
Sun May 21, 2006 11:09 AM ET
By Dayan Candappa
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 21 (Reuter) - Qatar Airways may review a $10 billion deal with Airbus to buy A350 planes, after the European firm signalled plans for changes to the aircraft that could delay delivery, the airline's chief executive said.
Qatar Airways, based in the booming Gulf Arab region, became Airbus's largest customer for A350s when it signed a letter of intent last year to buy 60 of the mid-sized planes, which are being outsold by U.S. rival Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
Chief Executive Akbar Al-Baker said Qatar was still committed to the deal but could not place an order until it knew the specifications of the new model, and warned that delays created by an expected overhaul could upset the airlines' plans.
"We have not signed a purchase agreement because we cannot ... purchase an airplane which is undefined," Baker told Reuters in an interview on Sunday.
"The definition will change, the performance will change, the fuel burn will change. So many things will change that the aeroplane that we signed for in last September is not there anymore," he said. "So we have to, of course, review all our options."
Airbus, under pressure from airlines for a bolder new model, signalled last week that it could make sweeping changes to the A350 to help it battle the Dreamliner.
Analysts said that, if Airbus switched to an all-new design, customers would probably have to wait an extra two years, until 2012.
"However, this puts us in a dilemma, because we will get an aeroplane nearly ... two years later than originally envisaged," said Baker.
"And of course we will have to go to the market and buy aeroplanes that would fill in the gap, or else even look at an alternative because airlines cannot freeze their plans because a manufacturer cannot deliver in the time that we require."
Airbus Chief Executive Gustav Humbert said last week that details of changes to the A350 would be announced in the next two months.
Baker declined to be drawn on whether he would consider Boeing's mid-sized 787, which together with its larger long-range sibling, the 777, outsold similar Airbus models 10-to-1 last year.
"Airbus tried to put up a product as a reaction to the 787 and I don't think they did their homework properly," he said.
"But we have a commitment with Airbus and we will stick to that commitment provided our requirements are met. And met in the correct timeframe."
Qatar, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, hopes to expand its fleet from 46 mostly Airbus aircraft to 115 early in the next decade.
The airline had announced plans to buy Boeing 777 planes earlier this year but said it was still reviewing the deal and could opt instead for the Airbus A340.
"We are still saying that. We are talking to both aircraft manufacturers and we will decide imminently on which way we are going to go," Baker said, adding that a decision was likely within weeks.
The state-owned airline has one cargo plane and will convert two passenger aircraft into freighters this year, he said.
Qatar Airways carried 6.3 million passengers in the financial year to March and hopes to double that number over the next five years. Baker forecast that passenger numbers would rise to 8 million in the current financial year.
Although the airline is owned by the government of Qatar, a major oil and gas exporter, Baker said it received no fuel subsidies and was feeling the pinch of rising energy costs.
"Unfortunately we are not hedging at the moment. When we realised that we had to hedge, it was already too late," he said.
"Once the oil prices go down, then of course we will hedge."
Sun May 21, 2006 11:09 AM ET
By Dayan Candappa
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, May 21 (Reuter) - Qatar Airways may review a $10 billion deal with Airbus to buy A350 planes, after the European firm signalled plans for changes to the aircraft that could delay delivery, the airline's chief executive said.
Qatar Airways, based in the booming Gulf Arab region, became Airbus's largest customer for A350s when it signed a letter of intent last year to buy 60 of the mid-sized planes, which are being outsold by U.S. rival Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.
Chief Executive Akbar Al-Baker said Qatar was still committed to the deal but could not place an order until it knew the specifications of the new model, and warned that delays created by an expected overhaul could upset the airlines' plans.
"We have not signed a purchase agreement because we cannot ... purchase an airplane which is undefined," Baker told Reuters in an interview on Sunday.
"The definition will change, the performance will change, the fuel burn will change. So many things will change that the aeroplane that we signed for in last September is not there anymore," he said. "So we have to, of course, review all our options."
Airbus, under pressure from airlines for a bolder new model, signalled last week that it could make sweeping changes to the A350 to help it battle the Dreamliner.
Analysts said that, if Airbus switched to an all-new design, customers would probably have to wait an extra two years, until 2012.
"However, this puts us in a dilemma, because we will get an aeroplane nearly ... two years later than originally envisaged," said Baker.
"And of course we will have to go to the market and buy aeroplanes that would fill in the gap, or else even look at an alternative because airlines cannot freeze their plans because a manufacturer cannot deliver in the time that we require."
Airbus Chief Executive Gustav Humbert said last week that details of changes to the A350 would be announced in the next two months.
Baker declined to be drawn on whether he would consider Boeing's mid-sized 787, which together with its larger long-range sibling, the 777, outsold similar Airbus models 10-to-1 last year.
"Airbus tried to put up a product as a reaction to the 787 and I don't think they did their homework properly," he said.
"But we have a commitment with Airbus and we will stick to that commitment provided our requirements are met. And met in the correct timeframe."
Qatar, one of the world's fastest growing airlines, hopes to expand its fleet from 46 mostly Airbus aircraft to 115 early in the next decade.
The airline had announced plans to buy Boeing 777 planes earlier this year but said it was still reviewing the deal and could opt instead for the Airbus A340.
"We are still saying that. We are talking to both aircraft manufacturers and we will decide imminently on which way we are going to go," Baker said, adding that a decision was likely within weeks.
The state-owned airline has one cargo plane and will convert two passenger aircraft into freighters this year, he said.
Qatar Airways carried 6.3 million passengers in the financial year to March and hopes to double that number over the next five years. Baker forecast that passenger numbers would rise to 8 million in the current financial year.
Although the airline is owned by the government of Qatar, a major oil and gas exporter, Baker said it received no fuel subsidies and was feeling the pinch of rising energy costs.
"Unfortunately we are not hedging at the moment. When we realised that we had to hedge, it was already too late," he said.
"Once the oil prices go down, then of course we will hedge."
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Even BBC news have picked up on it now (which means somebody in the BBC has the job of reading and reviewing aviation magazines... what a gucci job!):
BBC News: The Plane Truth
BBC News: The Plane Truth
