The A380 and sonic cruiser were/are BOTH PR stunts IMHO.

Since Boeing actually needs to make a profit on the a/c it sells (something that has never been much of a concern to the Airbus consortium) it rightly backed off the sonic cruiser when all airlines looked at the seat costs #'s and just couldn't see who they could make a profit on the airplane.

Instead Boeing is now using VERY advanced technology to design an aircraft in the 767 size range (the project is known as the 7E7 at the moment) with very efficient seat mile costs because they know there will be a market to replace all of those A300/A310 & 767 a/c over the next 20-25 years.

Airbus has instead, bet the 'house' (or at least their respective government's 'house', considering that they are underwriting the development - and they will take the 'bath' if it fails) that they can sell at least 350 (or more depending on how sweet they have to make future deals) of these planes over the next 10 years.

Don't get me wrong, the A380 is a marvelous technological achievement (there is a great article in ATW this month about the A380's overcome technical hurdles) - I just have doubts whether there is a sufficient market for a plane of this size in the worldwide market. Boeing did too - hence the reason they were not willing to go farther than offering another update to a forty year old airframe design.

There are still only orders for 95 (25 to LH & AF) of these planes at 'giveaway' rates with very liberal buy-back/escape terms rumored on many of positions.

In (another) ominous sign for this aircraft's market potential, Airbus just lost a huge order this last week to ANA who instead will just opt for smaller 773's.


[This message has been edited by CoMooter (edited 04-12-2003).]