Originally Posted by
Speedbirdjclass
The accountants obviously now rule - they would rather have a 100% loaded 787 with high yield due to limited availablity of seats than an 80% load on a 747 for example - fine until you price yourself out of the market as everyone one is flying on cheap seats on other carriers A380's???
There really was no point Boeing ever developing the 747 as everyone now wants small aircraft ??When will be BA ever learn the shrinking market share will never make more money. They are doing wel to get there cost case down with mixed fleet etc etc - now its time to start taking other carriers on again - they are year on year carrying less passengers
The 787s aren't really a replacement for 747s, they're a replacement for the 767s and the older 777-200s and are the right capacity for that. The 777-300s and A380s currently in the pipeline are the first tranche of replacements for the 747s. With 12 of each in the pipeline that's 24 of the 50ish strong 747 fleet replaced with greater overall capacity. The next longhaul order is likely to be around 25 aircraft, either 777-X or A350, which will be direct replacements for the remaining 747s. Expansion can be serviced by delaying the exit from service date of each existing hull by a few months, leading to a rolling increase in capacity over current levels.