Originally Posted by
cheltzel
+1
And it isn't just the 747. I suspect the A380 is on the same path as well.
I suspect the B747 and A380 will both be dinosaurs in 10 years (or less). It will be like the B77L and A345. Nice planes designed to fit a narrow market segment that have been sidelined because they are too expensive to operate.
Can Boeing and Airbus respectively make it less expensive to operate the traditional 747 and A380? If they can get it down to about what the newer models cost to operate, then we'll see these two models around for a lot longer. Simply, Airlines are looking to reduce fuel consumption which is their largest cost, IIRC about half of operating costs on the Income Statement.
Plus there is the aspect that airlines are going green in the consumers' eyes.. probably means that mileage runs will cost more in the future.