The A-380 - Stay in Production or cancel?

[fholbert]

@damiross

Uh, one consolidates. Take 3 flights a day with 250-300 seats each and consolidate into 1 flight with just under 900 seats.

So you cancel the morning and noon flight and put an 800 seat aircraft on the afternoon flight. The next thing you know United and American have Jumbo jets covering your old time slots. Your A380 is flying with a half load.

[jcisuclones]

I say they should start working on the A380F. It would be a great freight aircraft!

[mduell]

@jcisuclones

I say they should start working on the A380F. It would be a great freight aircraft!

It’s an OK package carrier, but can’t carry enough weight (given its size) for general freight.

[jcisuclones]

@mduell

@jcisuclones

I say they should start working on the A380F. It would be a great freight aircraft!

It’s an OK package carrier, but can’t carry enough weight (given its size) for general freight.

Wait, take that back. Just read that the A380F would require a different kind of cargo loader than the 747 uses so that might cost the air cargo company some extra money

[flyboy97222]

@mduell

@jcisuclones

I say they should start working on the A380F. It would be a great freight aircraft!

It’s an OK package carrier, but can’t carry enough weight (given its size) for general freight.

Hang some bigger noise makers off that bad boy… wait on second thought, let the program die, it might actually save lifes if Airbus went out of business

[damiross]

@fholbert

@damiross

Uh, one consolidates. Take 3 flights a day with 250-300 seats each and consolidate into 1 flight with just under 900 seats.

So you cancel the morning and noon flight and put an 800 seat aircraft on the afternoon flight. The next thing you know United and American have Jumbo jets covering your old time slots. Your A380 is flying with a half load.

We are not talking about domestic USA flights. We’re talking about ultra long distance flights that have lots of passengers such as France/Reunion. I don’t see them in domestic service.

[damiross]

Here’s an interesting article, dated March 5, 2007. on the A380F specifically and Airbus in general. The summary is below; the full article is at glgroup.com/News/Implication … -9057.html

-UPS, last customer for ill-fated A380F, gives up on Airbus promises

-Manner of contract termination speaks volumes about Airbus management disarray

-Airbus Germany disproportionately hit by latest A380 setback

-US confidence in Airbus could have knock-on effect on USAF tanker deal

-Airlines, politicians, workers all sending the same negative message to Airbus

The decision by small-package specialist UPS to follow FedEx’s lead in canceling orders for the putative Airbus A380F not only reduces to zero the number of customers Airbus has for the 150-ton-capacity freighter but presages a further $2.5 billion hole in the Airbus accounts at a time when revenue is very much at a premium and the company is struggling to keep its balance-sheet afloat. UPS didn’t just cancel a 10-aircraft order, it sent another strong, negative message to Airbus, one that will be heard around the world for years to come.

[buckhead720]

@wazzu90

@damiross

@drdisque

The problem with that is that you will be able to fill the aircraft about 3 weeks out of the year then have to keep making the full lease payments the other 39 weeks of the year with the plane either parked or flying around 1/3 full.

What about the other 10 weeks of the year (39+3=42)

I think it will work if you set up hubs in all 57 states.

And I know some damn fine underused airports in those 57 states where the A380 could be put into regular service:

CHA
JAN
COS
CSG
TLH
DSM
and the new monstrosity at PFN (or whatever the new code is)

[fholbert]

@damiross

Here’s an interesting article, dated March 5, 2007. on the A380F specifically and Airbus in general. The summary is below; the full article is at glgroup.com/News/Implication … -9057.html

That must sting!