re: Qantas cancels orders for Airbus A380

Qantas is actually cancelling orders for a further 8 A380s, as they currently have 12 in their fleet.

Emirates will eventually have 162 A380s in their fleet. The later orders will have updated engines.

In the end, Airbus is as much to blame for the gloomy outlook of the A380 as Boeing is. The A350 which is the competitor of the 787 is an excellent aircraft and a huge seller in the twin-aisle, super efficient/long range twin engine market. Airbus is also selling the A330NEO which also hurts the SuperJumbo.

quote:

---

Did a Finance case on this in business school. The A380 case never made sense in even the most favorable scenarios.

---

I believe this to be true, today. I also think 9/11 was a blow to the A380 program. Things could have been different, at least in terms of interest and in the initial phase of orders had the downturn of global air travel not changed airline growth projections. But ultimately, the aircraft was too impractical for use, outside of the heaviest point to point destinations.

The outlier is Emirates, which has monstrous financial backing that other airlines don't have. They can fly the A380 in markets that turn borderline profit margins, or even operate at a loss, just to get the competitive advantage by offering a superior product. They have enough money to burn money. At least for now.

Boeing needs to stop being lazy AF and announce the 797 or Airbus is going to whip their asses with the A321LR.

The market is there for a return of the 757 or if they prefer, the 797.