Rumors are floating around that Emirates wants another big batch of jumbos.
The airline defines what it would take for them to buy the 747-800. A list
of Emirates performance parameters is where Airbus fears to go. The Boeing
response explains what they could pull out of the hat for Emirates. Whether
Emirates floats a short list on design and performance metrics remains to be
seen, but I think Emirates is game for doing this, because Airbus is
dithering on an A380 Neo. This would be a "terminal velocity get" for Boeing
if it's 50 747-8ixs with fifty options. The follow-on orders by others would
pretty much kill the A380.
Airbus has struggled to sell the planes. Orders have been slow, and not a
single buyer has been found in the United States, South America, Africa or
India. Only one airline in China has ordered it, and its only customer in
Japan has canceled. Even existing customers are paring down orders.
The biggest question is, can Boeing pull it off?
The 747-8 can be delivered faster than an A380NEO. I would imagine the 747-8
can be used on routes where a A380 is overkill and to more airports that can
receive the 747 but not the A380. If Boeing can improve the fuel burn, it
might go over with Emirates. 30 to 50 would be a nice order.
It takes more than two years from the time Boeing orders the parts it needs
for the aircraft to the final product, which means that the company could
stop taking orders for the 747s. On the other hand, there have been no
orders for A380s since February, 2014.
"The 777X is being built for a packed house. The 747-8ix should be built for
an exclusive house." And that's just what they'll do for Emirates:
http://liftndrag.blogspot.com/2015/02/pondering-747-8-after-five-years-flying.html
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/12/11/airbus-a380-production-end-emirates-pissed/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/engineering/11342235/Airbus-defends-A380-superjumbo-as-it-reveals-order-success.html
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/dec/28/airbus-a380-future-in-doubt
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/11/us-emirates-airbus-group-idUSKBN0JP0W020141211
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2871441/Is-Airbus-going-dump-super-jumbo-Production-state-25billion-A380-halt-firm-struggles-sell-aircraft.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-2884068/Airbus-not-scrap-A380s-despite-order-drought-CEO.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fury-at-airbus-after-it-hints-the-superjumbo-may-be-mothballed-9919512.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/business/oversize-expectations-for-the-airbus-a380.html
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