Originally Posted by Threy
Considering that CO is an airline focussing mainly on thin intercontinental routes, beside some bigger ones justifying B 777 equipment and since CO is the main operator at IAH the only chance to see an A 380 there is, when Airbus makes a promo tour, however considering that some of the most stupid comments about Airbus came from Gordo they will likely skip IAH, although he is retired as well as the CO Airbus
Beside that human mistakes are still the main reason for airplane crashes, the newer Airbus cannot be flown into tragedy anymore, cause the computer will not allow the pilot to do so, it is a widely discussed topic, but would have saved 270 people on an American A 300-600 in Queens, NY in 2001 in an accident where the co pilot was simply doing a tragic mistake, an instruction which would have been rejected by the computer on the newer Airbus aircraft...
The A 380 will be a huge success, putting aside all those stupid Euro-US Boeing-Airbus discussions, it will be used by those really big intercontinental airlines connecting big hubs on several continents or within Asia, I guess.
Considering LH flies two 744`s to LAX , BKK or MEX from FRA within a few hours, those destinations alone easily justify an A 380.
I disagree with your analysis that the A380 will be a big success. Regardless of what some think, you need a much bigger load to break even on the A380 as compared to the 747. Thus, I think that this airplane, while custom-made for certain destinations (LGW/LHR-JFK/EWR/IAD/LAX/MIA/ORD/NRT/SYD/HKG, etc), it is not good for most. When you must rely on getting...say 450 people on a plane as opposed to...say 300...that's a big difference. The 777, 747, 7E7...and for that matter...the A330-340 can do this just as well with a lower passenger capacity. You may say: What about casinos, cabins, shopping that will be on the A380? HUH? Are you kidding? Maybe Emirates or Virgin will put those on their planes, but not much. When they have to fill that plane up to capacity, and they can have a crappy Duty-Free shop or another 50 seats...guess what will win out in the end? Those planes will be fitted to capacity with seats, which will mean 45-minute loading and unloading, and monstrously long waits for drinks, meals, etc.
Overall, I think that they A380 will just break even. I just hope that the new crew on Smith Street keeps Gordo's philosophy of Boeing jets only. Thoughts?