Originally Posted by
bhrubin
For the next 20 years, it is nearly impossible for Airbus to even come close to breaking even with current order for the A380, and at the rate they are now discounting the A380, it would be impossible for Airbus to break even in 30 years. That would be considered a failure for Airbus, no matter how you time out the discussion. [Removed quote of now-deleted material] Airbus missed the boat on its prediction that a bigger 4 engine plane was the way to go for the future for the airline industry. Emirates is not the industry, and Airbus, and everyone else, knows it.
In the mean time Airbus has made a lot of money selling A330s due to production problems Boeing has had with the 787 s. The A350 along with the revamped A 330 neo is being competitive with Boeings 787 and 777. The reality is that not all modes of anything whether planes, cars, phones or computers are successful, however there is a requirement to have all market segments covered in case there is a change in market conditions.
Having viable competition is always a good thing as is choice. The point is just as much that Airbus needs to cover Boeings market segments and vice versa or run the risk of not having the correct equipment for changing markets and finding themselves uncompetitive.