XPost: soc.culture.russian, soc.culture.europe, soc.culture.french   
   XPost: soc.culture.german   
   From: 50CaliberBarrett@AuthorizedUseOfLethalForce.com   
      
   Analysts now say that over 300 A380's must be sold just to break even.   
   That's because the delays and redesigned costs will add billions to the cost   
   of the program. Problem is, Airbust has orders for 159. That's good right?   
   Well, when you consider that Airbust hasn't sold any A380's in a year and a   
   half, that's bad. There have been various reports that the problems with the   
   A380 go well beyond the wiring issue. That goes a long way to explain why   
   everybody all of the sudden got cold feet. At Farnborough, Singapore   
   Airlines made a lot of noise about buying more A380's but so far there are   
   no signed orders.   
      
   It could be decades before the A380 ever turns a profit, but Europe is   
   forced to build it because it's more about European pride than business   
   economics. Look at what sells. Nearly 80% of Airbust's sales are   
   single-aisle aircraft. The number for Boeing is around 70%. Boeing sells   
   more wide-bodies and they have higher profit margins. That's why, by value,   
   Boeing outsold Airbust last year. So if your customers want point-to-point   
   aircraft, why would you adopt hub-to-hub as your primary strategy?   
      
   Another sentence from Boeing that really scares Airbust "Let's design a new   
   737". The 737 is already a hot seller but I think Boeing is probably already   
   figuring out what they want in a new 737. An announcement from Boeing would   
   really put a damper on Airbus sales and with both the A350 and A380 flubs   
   and subsequent re-designs, Airbust is in no position to take on a third   
   major design effort.   
      
   Airbust sold 22 aircraft in August, no 350's and no A380's. Their total for   
   the year stands at 222.   
      
   Boeing's orders are 548 for the year.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)