Originally Posted by
13901
I think we're saying the same thing! Replacement of the 747s and the first 772 (non ERs). The 779s weren't meant to replace the 77Es, originally.
I'd start things off by not buying Boeing. I honestly don't know what possesses those in BA who influence IAG's decisions, but if one looks at past performance we had the 788s arriving some 7 years late; the 789s were delivered in a state that was borderline shocking; the 78Xs are both late and badly built. Now the 779s are about 4 years late, and counting. Latest I've heard (fourth hand rumours, granted) was that the CAA reckoned they were at least 2 years away, based on previous experience, from certifying the type in the UK. Entry into service of the 788s was bad too, it wasn't called the Plastic Pig for nothing. The 380 didn't arrive on time either, but all of its problems are due to (before Covid) lack of reserve planes and heavy use and (after Covid) the impact of storing them. The 350 EIS was a breeze, ditto for the 32x neos.
I really liked working with Boeing back in the day, I found my stakeholders to be a lot more positive and solution-finding than the Airbus folks, but the product is just not there.
Why does any airline go back? It’s all about price and efficiency. Everything you’ve said about the 787 is true and not just for BA but I’d reckon most carriers but it’s still the best selling widebody of all time.
and I suspect when you do get round the initial problems, they operate quite well. The efficiency of the jet is well known that’s a given. Particularly the -10 on routes less than 5000 nautical miles the economics are almost impossible to beat.
The 787 is just very good at what it does, that airlines are willing to take delivery days and EIS issues (get compensated for it anyway) and have them deliver top class efficiency for a long time.
last year, Boeing told United they’d get about 1-2 less Dreamliners this year than initially planned. Not much but still a delay. They then ordered 50 more Dreamliners and added 50 options to the backlog. It’s the same cycle everywhere. The Dreamliner sells faster than most narrow bodies
and it doesn’t help the 350 that it’s single engine source. The 787 comes with the GENx which is very reliable and cheaper to maintain compared to the XWB
plus the 787s are far more versatile than the 350.
so whilst everything you’ve said is true. It doesn’t stop that the aircraft itself is still very good. It’s held back by Boeing getting in the way of itself.
i always say imagine the 787 having come into service on time, the situation at Airbus would be very different. But you know….Boeing.
the bottom line really is just price. Especially for an airline like BA that doesn’t have range demands. All they care about is price. And you could argue it’s why they run into problems but with the kind of financial results they’ve just had I suspect they won’t be changing their formula anytime soon
as for Boeing. I hope they sort themselves out, the US government doesn’t seem to be giving them much a choice a the moment