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By: 20th June 2000 at 15:07 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-RE: AIRBUS 3XX???
Hi there!
I think that the future market will be large enough to sustain both aircraft. If China alone keeps growing at its present rate the there will be millions each year that can afford air travel for the first time, and will ot wait long to buy their first ticket. So that in the medium term not one half of the world's population but getting close to one fifth will indeed be stting in airplanes. And growth in air travel is still taking place in Europe and America (especially Latin America)so that, if ATC is not to break down completely, larger aircraft will be needed - and in such numbers as to give both manufacturers enough to build.
By: 22nd June 2000 at 10:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-RE: AIRBUS 3XX???
Concerning airport infrastructure, I guess one could fairly say that the markets where the stretch 747s and/or A3XXs are likely to be needed first are gearing their airports up to be able to cope - HKG, SIN, KUL, KIX are all projects that are large enough and BKK and SEL are following suit. But elsewhere? Parts of Europe are already de facto eco-dictatorships where mentioning "airport expansion" will raise massive objections...
By: 14th August 2000 at 20:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-RE: AIRBUS 3XX???
I doubt the A3XX will be a success. Reasons why?
1. Many of the world's major airlines already see the erstwhile 747 as being too large for many of their existing routes.
2. Due to the reason above, 747 sales have died off in recent years, and this is a smaller aircraft than the A3XX.
3. Twin jets are the future. Just look at how well the A330, 767 and 777 have done in long haul markets in recent years. Many airlines view four engined airliners as more expensive to maintain. Airlines with 747's as their long haul workhorse have twice the number of engines to maintain than say an airline which operated a fleet of 777's. Which do you think would be the more expensive fleet to maintain?
4. Expansion is needed at many airports to cope with the sheer size of the A3XX. Trouble is, expansion is a dirty word at many major airports these days. Just look at Heathrow. Terminal 5? Yeah, right.
I wish Airbus all the luck in the world, I really do. They have produced some fine aircraft in the past, but I just don't think they have thought this one through enough.
By: 15th August 2000 at 18:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-RE: AIRBUS 3XX???
Heathrow's terminal 5 was concieved with exactly the A3XX in mind. The arguements for it are more passenger movements with little or no increase in aircraft movenments. The direct benefit is that one larger aircraft will move more pasengers with less noise than two smaller aircraft. Also slots are at a premium at some airports such as LHR, therefore aircraft movements cannot increase as a result of increased passenger movements.
Whether it is liked or not, air travel is on the increase, so the choice is either more airports or maximise the use of existing airports with larger aircraft. If we look five or six years ahead when the A3XX is due to enter service then for the reasons above there will be a market for it. Boeing also seem to think so as they are actively sounding out their customer base for a stretched 747.
The main problen face by airports will be passenger handling. As for the physical size of the aircraft, it will fit into a standard 80 square meter box which most major airports allow for, so where the 747 ventures the A3XX will follow.
If the A3XX is launched then there will be a market for it and it will be a success.
By: 18th August 2000 at 13:53 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-RE: AIRBUS 3XX???
I will a success because;
-Air traffic congestion and limited slot.
-Alliances will tend to concetrate flights with code-share.
-Growing number of passangers in places like China, Japan,
..etc.
-Extra space for extra fancies. It´s clear that the times of
packed cabins with seats is over. Airlines are racking their
brains to offer things which others don´t (cabins in Virgin,
dancing floors, synagogas, lounges and so on. There´s a battle
to offer the very best). If the plane offers the same operating operating costs than a B777 or A340 with extra space I don´t see any problemn of having extra space.
-Regionalization of long haul flights, ETOPS flights are good for the USA. In Europe long haul flights departs from a limited number of airports. Many european airlines operate fully booked B747-400 and would appreciate bigger planes rather than more fecuencies (in terms of operational costs).
-Passangers like big four engines aircraft. This is trivial but may incline the preference of many people to get a A3XX flight.
-No competence in that segment. High season charter flights,
flights to Mecca, cargo options, transport of other big things...and so on.
-EADS should have good reason to launch it and having such a colossal risk.
By: 24th August 2000 at 21:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-RE: AIRBUS 3XX???
Competing with an old design, an stretch is a poor idea. I expect something more original from Boeing. Innovation....please.
By: 15th September 2000 at 03:35 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-RE: AIRBUS 3XX???
What is to stop both the 747X & the A3XX from both being successful? take the A320 vs 737 battle, same sized aircraft,same range, about the same price and both have/are being sold into their thousands. Airlines pick a jet, usually having a specific route in mind because of its operating costs and payload size and if there are two companies vieing for the same market the airline will buy the one with most commonality with its other aircraft. Airlines prefer one company over another, Qantas & Air New Zealand are both Boeing operators, Swissair/Sabena & JetBlue are Airbus operators, if an airbus operator decides to put the A3XX on a route against a Boeing operator, the boeing operator will have no choice but to put the 747X on the same route just like what happens today with the various markets round the world. And currently many of the largest airports in the world are about the same age, so in the course of upgrading their terminals they are expanding facilities. Besides an aircraft photographer like me never turns down more photo oportunites, I think there'll be some awesome photography in the next 10 years or so as a whole lot more airliners reach our skies, There won't just be today's business to contend with, there'll be new airlines and regional airlines going long distance because of these two great airliners......Imagine in 10years time EasyJet might be flying 747Xs & JetBlue flying A3XXs, exciting times await in the aviation industry.
Posts: 1
By: SCHMOLTZ - 20th June 2000 at 07:32
Howdy Ho!
I want to talk about the new airbus to be released in 2006. The thing is; boeing already have plans to build a larger 747 and have already found potential customers. If the two companies continue getting bigger, we won't need other aitcraft because half the population of the world will be able to fit onto one flight.
I really don't think the 3XX will be successful enough to get off the ground (not literally), and I think boeing will stiil be ahead.
See ya!