Airbus A380: So big; it's useless.

[Scarpozzi]

The A380 is only useless in markets that don't have the guaranteed capacity to make it efficient. I'm sure by the time you consider ticket costs, staffing, insurance, maintenance, and fuel costs together a bigger plane is cheaper than a couple of smaller planes. You're running less risk by getting economies of scale.

The problem with the US is that competition is fierce, personal vehicles are plentiful, and schedules aren't guaranteed full unless it's a holiday weekend. Furthermore, ticket costs are on the rise due to fuel costs and this is driving overall demand down.

Like the US markets, the European market is suffering from low-cost airlines...but high speed trains reduce the need for air travel within Europe.

Developing countries in Asia are the obvious market and the A380 may help make whichever cities can handle its capacity thrive, if it can reduce ticket costs substantially.

 

[CVSiN]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sluggo

Originally posted by: Calin

Originally posted by: Googer
This thing is a monster!

What is the red and white thing in the top left corner of the image?

Looks like a fighter plane of some sort, possibly a Mirage.

I believe it is an F-18.

ok youre officially a dumbass..

its a MiG-29 belonging to the soviet air demonstation team..

as has been posted 4 times above..

and if you think that looks anything like a Hornet youre blind and stupid.

I did not finish reading the thread.

You are right I am a dumb ass because I cannot see enough detail.

what more DETAIL do you need? its PAINTED in Russian Airforce Demonstation colors with a HUGE star on its back which has been the MILITARY designator for Russian aircraft for 60 years.

dude seriously you know NOTHING about aircraft.. next time stick with a topic you know something about.

 

[sandorski]

In 20 years Airbus will be making a profit on the A380 and some people are gonna eat their words. [/]

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: dethman
so is this googer idiot just an airbus troll from boeing or something? blatantly making up facts? wtf

Just a troll

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: sandorski
In 20 years Airbus will be making a profit on the A380 and some people are gonna eat their words. [/]

As much as I hate to say it. I'd bet the same thing.

 

[KDOG]

The french made it though.... *shudder*

 

[foghorn67]

I do believe it will turn a profit, but it's not what they are going to expect.

 

[crystal]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: sandorski
In 20 years Airbus will be making a profit on the A380 and some people are gonna eat their words. [/]

As much as I hate to say it. I'd bet the same thing.

This. So your 20 yrs to make profit is really bad in term of investment.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: crystal

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: sandorski
In 20 years Airbus will be making a profit on the A380 and some people are gonna eat their words. [/]

As much as I hate to say it. I'd bet the same thing.

This. So your 20 yrs to make profit is really bad in term of investment.

Not the greatest, but these types of planes are built/sold for many decades. It's not like the Auto Industry that comes out with major changes every 5ish years. Airbus will do just fine.

 

[iversonyin]

Originally posted by: sandorski
In 20 years Airbus will be making a profit on the A380 and some people are gonna eat their words. [/]

Right....If the Dreamliner delivers...it would be much more fuel efficient than the A380.

Boeing > Airbus just as America> France....I know it sound arrogant and ignorant, but if you give it a thought, you would realize I'm only speaking the truth.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: iversonyin

Originally posted by: sandorski
In 20 years Airbus will be making a profit on the A380 and some people are gonna eat their words. [/]

Right....If the Dreamliner delivers...it would be much more fuel efficient than the A380.

If you would bother to read the earlier posts, you'd realize that:
1. The dreamliner and the 380 are aiming at two different markets
2. You can't talk about fuel efficiency when you try to compare a 300-seater vs a 800 seater. The airlines are more concerned with fuel use PER PASSENGER.

 

[intogamer]

Airbus is going to risk it just as Boeing did with their 747?

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sluggo

Originally posted by: Calin

Originally posted by: Googer
This thing is a monster!

What is the red and white thing in the top left corner of the image?

Looks like a fighter plane of some sort, possibly a Mirage.

I believe it is an F-18.

ok youre officially a dumbass..

its a MiG-29 belonging to the soviet air demonstation team..

as has been posted 4 times above..

and if you think that looks anything like a Hornet youre blind and stupid.

I did not finish reading the thread.

You are right I am a dumb ass because I cannot see enough detail.

what more DETAIL do you need? its PAINTED in Russian Airforce Demonstation colors with a HUGE star on its back which has been the MILITARY designator for Russian aircraft for 60 years.

dude seriously you know NOTHING about aircraft.. next time stick with a topic you know something about.

I don't know much about Russian Aircraft, however I can identify mostAmerican and Vintage European planes.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: nCred

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: B00ne

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Shawn
Looks pretty damn cool to me.

It's so big that Airport terminals cannot accomodate it. In order to board such a beast, you will have to walk from the front enterance to the last terminal then walk some more all the way accross the tarmac and then stand in line and wait to be boarded. Once you are boarded, you will have to wait even longer for every one else to get on.


Finaly the plane takes off and the flight is smooth but when time comes for you to land. THe process will start all over but in reverese

Wait to get off, walk accross 1 mile of tarmac, walk some more, and keep walking.


The A380 is a big passanger timewaster. But if could prove usefull if China decides to jump on the Illegal Immigration Bandwagon that was started by Mexico. One A380 is a heck of a lot cheaper than providing food and healthcare for 15 million Chinnese Citizens.

I guess Airbus, and all the airlines that ordered it should have asked you before they made their decision.

btw it aint that much bigger than a 747 - and that is the plane the 380 could be compared with not the 787, which is a different different concept. Like van vs. a bus

Most airlines are now cancelling their orders.

umm nope..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5405524.stm

Airbus says that nobody has threatened to cancel any orders, but several airlines have made belligerent statements.

Emirates, the A380's biggest customer with 43 planes on order, called the new delay a "serious issue" and said it would "review its options".

There is speculation that it is in talks with rival plane maker Boeing about swapping half of its A380 order for the US manufacturer's new 747-8.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5405524.stm

Fedex just canceled and may others are considering canceling. I should have rephrased that and added the world considering-

Most (many) airlines are now (insert: considering) cancelling their orders.

 

[Googer]

I should also make it known that I do have a Bias twords Boeing and McDonnal Douglass. (Mc DD I Know Now Part of Boeing)

 

[SolMiester]

OP, are you just jealous that its the Europeans building this, or what. I think its a great idea.

I have over 3 weeks in 12+ flights and can tell you, that bigger will mean more comfort.

Oh, BTW, the French built the Concord, the plane with the best flight/safety record in the world.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: SolMiester
OP, are you just jealous that its the Europeans building this, or what. I think its a great idea.

I have over 3 weeks in 12+ flights and can tell you, that bigger will mean more comfort.

Oh, BTW, the French built the Concord, the plane with the best flight/safety record in the world.

I am not jealous. The Germans made some awesome figheters/bombers during WWII and I think the Concorde is a great airplane and I felt a bit disapointed the day they decided to stop flying it accross the atlantic. As a kid I had always wanted to fly on it.

It's just that you can only get so big before you start running in to complecations and other issues (money, space, enviroment, time, etc) that could make a large aircraft rather undesireble. I feel this same way (to a degree) twords the 747. The most profitable Airline in the USA (Southwest Airlines) chooses to use the smallest Boeing they can buy: The 707. In my opinion small fuel effcieant 707-ish sized jets are the way the future is headed.

 

[iskim86]

Originally posted by: AccruedExpenditure

Originally posted by: Googer
This thing is a monster!

You would spend more time walking accross the runway then boarding the A380 than the time spent actually flying. A plane on the ground is a plane that is not making money. Also there are a total of TWO airports that capable of landing such a large aircraft. Pointless and null due to it's size.

This plane isn't built for America. It's built for Asia, and they'll find a market there.

like what? importing a bunch of chinamen to the states for cheap labor?

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: B00ne

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: dethman
omg i'll bet everyone at airbus wishes they had consulted with you before they built and engineered the craft. they would NEVER have thought of all these things prior to building such a plane. thank THE LORD JESUS we have you to show us the light.

ummm. He was not the only one to think that when it was announced. Some of the best critics said it was a niche aircraft that will hard time reaching the break even point.

A niche market? Pretty much every international flight I've been on has been a 747 - so I guess it aint that much niche...

800 passengers vs 400-500ish

Trust me, there wont be an A380 with 800 passengers. The 747 has 350-400 something the A380 will have some 550

 

[DanTMWTMP]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sluggo

Originally posted by: Calin

Originally posted by: Googer
This thing is a monster!

What is the red and white thing in the top left corner of the image?

Looks like a fighter plane of some sort, possibly a Mirage.

I believe it is an F-18.

looks more like one of those russian planes (mig-29 i think)

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: Googer


I don't know much about Russian Aircraft, however I can identify mostAmerican and Vintage European planes.

No you can't. You say you have a bias towards Boeing and McDonnal Douglass, yet you confuse the Mig-29 for one of their planes. They don't even look similar. The wings are shaped completely differently.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: ShadowOfMyself
Boeing 797 FTW

http://katoributa.com/img/julaug2006/797.jpg

That thing looks like some sort of sexy alien technology.

 

[Number1]

Thanks for the pic. It's my new walpaper now.
This plane is a marvel of technology. I hope they make money with it.
I also hope I can get a ride in one one day...

Very nice.

 

[Number1]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: CVSiN

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Sluggo

Originally posted by: Calin

Originally posted by: Googer
This thing is a monster!

What is the red and white thing in the top left corner of the image?

Looks like a fighter plane of some sort, possibly a Mirage.

I believe it is an F-18.

ok youre officially a dumbass..

its a MiG-29 belonging to the soviet air demonstation team..

as has been posted 4 times above..

and if you think that looks anything like a Hornet youre blind and stupid.

I did not finish reading the thread.

You are right I am a dumb ass because I cannot see enough detail.

where are my spectacles? Don't want to look foolish.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: George P Burdell

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: Shawn
Looks pretty damn cool to me.

It's so big that Airport terminals cannot accomodate it. In order to board such a beast, you will have to walk from the front enterance to the last terminal then walk some more all the way accross the tarmac and then stand in line and wait to be boarded. Once you are boarded, you will have to wait even longer for every one else to get on.

Where exactly are you getting this information?

Finaly the plane takes off and the flight is smooth but when time comes for you to land. THe process will start all over but in reverese

Yes, but cheaper tickets >> slight inconvenience.

Wait to get off, walk accross 1 mile of tarmac, walk some more, and keep walking.

Isn't this why they have buses on the tarmac and travelators in terminals for? You obviously need to travel some more.

The A380 is a big passanger timewaster. But if could prove usefull if China decides to jump on the Illegal Immigration Bandwagon that was started by Mexico. One A380 is a heck of a lot cheaper than providing food and healthcare for 15 million Chinnese Citizens.

You

I am getting this information from two personal and very credible sources:
I have family who worked in the Airline Buisness and know a Commercial Pilot. Continental Airlines former CEO Gordon Bethune said (in a company newsletter) that they had looked in to acquireing an A380 but there would be no real advantage to using it over the other planes in the Company's fleet. Two, Southwest airlines is the most profitable corporation in the buisness and they choose to use the smallest plane Boeing makes: The 737. Three I have flown on countless 747 Jumbo Jets and I cannot even begin to count the number of empty seats. An A380 would not be much better and those extra empty seats would cost the company more money and they in return would have to charge a higher ticket fee.

Three a close contact in the Airline industry told me that the trucks on the A380 are so big and so wide that it cannot turn around or steer it's way off 99% of America's runways.

Link

Then you know an idiot; The track of the A380 is roughly 8 feet wider than a 747.