Airbus super-jumbo in new delay

[Naim 6]

Latest on A380 delay.

 

 

Last Updated: Tuesday, 3 October 2006, 20:21 GMT 21:21 UK

Airbus super-jumbo in new delay

 

EADS has confirmed a further delay to the delivery of its giant flagship A380 super-jumbo of about a year.

 

The Airbus parent firm will only be delivering one A380 aircraft in 2007, having previously promised nine.

 

Emirates, which has the biggest order of A380 airliners, will see its first delivery arrive 10 months late, and says it is now reviewing its options.

 

Total delays are now two years late, leading EADS to see operating losses of 2.8bn euros ($3.56bn) up to 2010.

 

The firm aims to deliver 13 more A380 aircraft in 2008 and 25 the following year, it said in a statement. In 2010, a further 45 of the aircraft are due to be delivered.

 

...

 

read more at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5402922.stm

 

A380 ORDERS SO FAR

Emirates: 43 aircraft

Lufthansa: 15

Qantas: 12

Air France: 10

Singapore Airlines: 10

Fedex: 10

International Lease Finance: 10

UPS: 10

Thai Airways: 6

Virgin Atlantic: 6

Korean Air Lines: 5

Etihad Airways: 4

Qatar Airways: 2

China Southern Airlines: 5

Kingfisher Airlines: 5

Malaysia Airlines: 6

Source: Airbus

[Raj 0]

Airbus is in BIG BIG BIG Problems..

I guess MAS will Be very happy while SQ,EK,QF and Virgin Atlantic will be Screaming their heads off at Airbus..

[Keith T 2]

It is alleged that SQ will only receive its first A3UGLY in October 2007. This will cause SERIOUS problems with fleet planning...

[Imran K. 0]

Emirates says it is reviewing all options

http://archive.gulfnews.com/business/Aviation/10072235.html

 

10/04/2006 08:16 AM | By Saifur Rahman, Business News Editor

 

Dubai: Emirates, the largest A380 superjumbo customer, yesterday gave Airbus a warning that it was "reviewing all its options" including cancellation after being informed of another 10-month delay in the first delivery.

 

"Emirates has been advised by Airbus of a further 10 month delay to its A380 programme, which means that our first aircraft will now arrive in August 2008. This is a very serious issue for Emirates and the company is now reviewing all its options," Tim Clark, Emirates president, said in a statement.

 

Emirates' 43 orders worth nearly Dh50 billion ($13.5 billion) at list price, represents nearly a third of the total 159 orders, including 135 passenger versions.

 

The latest setback represents a total two-year delay from the initial date of delivery to Emirates, which, according to an Emirates spokesperson, will "definitely have an impact" on growth.

 

Well well well...looks like the s#1t has really hit the fan...

[Tony 1]

Total of 18 months delay (from initial delivery date) for Qantas.

 

Also heard that the breakeven unit for A380 has gone up to 400 units.

[Pieter C. 5]

October 3, 2006

Airlines revealed production troubles on the Airbus A380 will now delay it by two years, putting a board meeting at parent EADS under fresh pressure to map out how it will get the USD$15 billion superjumbo back on track.

 

Emirates, the biggest buyer of the A380 with 43 on order worth USD$13 billion at list prices, called the program's latest delay "very serious" and warned it was reviewing how to respond.

 

"Our first aircraft will now arrive in August 2008. This is a very serious issue for Emirates and the company is now reviewing all its options," Emirates President Tim Clark said.

 

Emirates said its planes would come 10 months late, while Lufthansa said it now expected a fresh delay of a year.

 

Air France said it would receive its first A380 only by spring 2009. A spokeswoman said the original delivery target of spring 2007 had already been postponed by a year.

 

Virgin Atlantic and Qantas also confirmed a delay in deliveries.

 

EADS had no comment.

 

One newspaper report said Airbus could slow 2007 deliveries to just two aircraft, down from a target of 25 that was chopped to nine in June. Analysts have said Airbus needs to deliver about 300 of the planes to break even.

 

Airbus Chief Executive Christian Streiff was appointed in July to sort out the company's problems and has pledged to put an end to its fitful performance on delivery of the A380 and launch of the mid-sized A350.

 

He presented the EADS board on Friday with a proposal to revamp how and where Airbus builds planes, which major shareholders DaimlerChrysler and Lagardere objected to, according to France's Les Echos newspaper.

 

It said Streiff threatened to quit if his reforms were not adopted.

 

The EADS board has lined up a meeting on Wednesday with the company's works council and managers.

 

EADS acknowledged last month that fresh delays in the world's biggest airliner were likely but has not yet spelled out how big a delay or the likely costs.

 

Airbus faces rising compensation claims from airlines which will have to lease other planes until Airbus sorts out the wiring troubles holding back the A380.

 

Australian airline Qantas in August recognized AUD$104 million (USD$80 million) in damages to be paid by Airbus.

 

In Toulouse, industry reports said EADS might look to trim production costs by consolidating A380 work in the southwest French city where Airbus is headquartered.

 

It would concentrate work on the smaller A320 series at its factory in Hamburg, Germany.

 

Goldman Sachs analyst Sash Tusa in a report last week said Airbus should also look to sell plants to help reverse some of the vertical integration which the A380 has only increased -- a step which rival Boeing has already taken.

 

Formed through a merger of major aerospace players in Germany, France and Spain in 2000, EADS faces a delicate balancing act in how it divides its managerial power, jobs and technology -- something that could mean EADS finds it harder to reform than its US rival did.

 

Its bid to cut jobs at loss-making maintenance unit Sogerma earlier this year saw French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin wade in to save jobs.

 

The A380 was designed as a flagship product for Airbus, a symbol of its supremacy over Boeing and its ageing 747 jumbo.

 

Analysts now say the project poses an increasing risk to Airbus as it ties up money and engineering resources which the planemaker needs to use to build its next plane, the A350.

 

(Reuters)

 

[Pieter C. 5]

This is the chance for MH to cancel the A380 order and save face

[Azuddin 1]

This is the chance for MH to cancel the A380 order and save face

 

Agree, Should go for the beauty 773ER instead. Or get the A346. Should think about range rather than size.

[Tamizi Hj Tamby 1]

Oh my god....Delayed again? What actually went wrong with Airbus here?

[Tony 1]

Oh my god....Delayed again? What actually went wrong with Airbus here?

They still couldn't fix the wiring harness problem - need more time.

[Naim 6]

They still couldn't fix the wiring harness problem - need more time.

 

I heard over BBC, the Germans are doing the harness via the old way, i.e. by using boards, whereas the French are using computers. This is aggravated by the fact that different customers want different designs.

 

I've visited a local factory doing the harness for Proton cars and I thot that was complicated! They use the board method - a piece of large wood with the sketch of the wires' layout on it. The workers just find the right cables and lay/fix them according to the drawing. And the Germans are using this method for the huge plane?

 

[Sandeep G 1]

Better amend SQs order to 19. They recently signed on for 9 more along with the order for 20 A350XWB after the Farnborough Airshow.

[Pieter C. 5]

First A380 delivery not until October 2007; troubled Airbus plans major restructuring

 

Wednesday October 4, 2006

Airbus President and CEO Christian Streiff revealed yesterday in Paris that A380 launch customer Singapore Airlines will not receive its first by year end 2006, as had been stated last June (ATWOnline, June 14).

 

First delivery now will occur in October 2007, more than 18 months behind the original delivery schedule and 10 months behind the schedule unveiled in June. Under the latest revision, just the one aircraft for SIA will be delivered next year. A further 13 will be delivered in 2008 (to SIA, Emirates and Qantas), 25 in 2009 and 45 in 2010.

 

Tuesday's announcement represented the third and most substantial delay to the program. In a statement, Airbus admitted it had "underestimated" the production problems and Streiff said the company is undertaking a major restructuring program dubbed Power8 that aims to cut costs by €2 billion ($2.54 billion) annually from 2010 and produce €5 billion in cumulative cash savings between now and 2010, of which €2 billion will be "reached rather quickly" (see next item for the text of his speech).

 

Streiff, who took over the Airbus helm in July, emphasized that while "strong measures" have been taken with the A380 program, overall restructuring plans have not been finalized.

 

He told reporters and analysts in a conference call yesterday that no customers have cancelled A380 orders. "All of our customers are onboard and eager to take the aircraft, " he claimed.

 

Largest customer Emirates, with 45 firm orders, said it takes the latest delay "extremely seriously" and is exploring "all options." Air France, which has 10 firm orders, said in a statement that the further delay--which will prevent it from taking an A380 until spring 2009--is "highly regrettable," adding, "Negotiations with the manufacturer will be continued in order to define the terms of our financial compensation resulting from this postponement."

 

Wiring remains the issue. "In June, the amount of work to be done to finalize the installation of the electrical harnesses into the forward and rear section of the fuselage had been underestimated," Airbus said. "Beyond the complexity of the cable installation, the root cause of the problem is the fact that the 3D Digital Mockup, which facilitates the design of the electrical harnesses installation, was implemented late and that the people working on it were in their learning curve." It added that the issue "is now addressed at its root, although it will take time until these measures bear fruit."

 

Airbus parent EADS said that compared to the original A380 program timetable, it will incur a shortfall of €4.8 billion by 2010 as a result of the production delays. The EADS board will finalize an Airbus restructuring program by early next year. The plan under consideration is believed to be the most radical restructure of the company in its history. It is understood that Streiff's plans call for all A380 production performed at Hamburg to be transferred to Toulouse while all A320 production will shift to Hamburg. In addition, some of EADS' 16 production facilities will be sold and more work will be outsourced. He wants overhead costs reduced by 30%.

 

EADS co-CEO Louis Gallois told reporters and analysts that it is too early to confirm any restructuring plans. "All these projects are in preparation now," he said. "The first ones will be ready [to be announced] in early 2007. So I cannot give you a concrete, precise answer" on facility closings, job cuts or production transfers. He added that the balance of work between France and Germany "must not be a rigid balance that makes us uncompetitive," and that "domestic, parochial discussions" should not be allowed to prevent Airbus from competing globally.

 

by Geoffrey Thomas and Aaron Karp

 

and......here's the text of CEO Christian Streiff:

 

Text of Speech by Airbus President and CEO Christian Streiff

 

Wednesday October 4, 2006

Yes, indeed, Airbus and EADS have jointly completed the full review of the A380 programme. And, of course, we studied the Airbus' overall situation in depth. We have come to joint conclusions and we fully share the situation analysis as well as the challenge for the way forward.

 

I will update you today on three topics:

 

1) The status of the A380 schedule and our path forward for that great airplane programme

 

2) An overview of a comprehensive business improvement programme for Airbus, which will make our company more nimble and profitable -- and will position us better to meet our commitments to customers and shareholders more consistently

 

3) Finally, I will share with you my assessment of the state of Airbus after my intensive, 100-day review

 

A380

 

First things first: An A380 production and delivery schedule our customers can count on. I will cut straight to the chase. As we have informed our A380 customers over the past few days:

 

* The first A380 will be delivered to Singapore in October 2007.

 

* In 2008 we will deliver 13 A380s (to Singapore, Qantas and Emirates)

 

* In 2009, 25 A380s will leave the Final Assembly Line

 

* The industrial ramp-up will really be achieved 2010, when we shall deliver 45 A380s, including the first freighters.

 

This means another delay of over one year on average. It is very disappointing that we find ourselves in this situation, but we need to be realistic with ourselves and our customers. It is the most reliable schedule we can deliver today following our in-depth review of the A380 programme.

 

Let me summarize the key findings:

 

Great plane

 

First, the A380 is a truly great airplane. We have completed over 2,100 hours of test flights with four aircraft. It will fulfil customers' expectations and beyond. It is meeting the guaranteed performance. Airline pilots who've flown it, love it. The flight test programme is going very well, in fact exceeding expectations in many key areas, and certification is on target for the end of the year. This is a great achievement and Airbus teams have worked extremely hard to bring to the world this magnificent machine. I want to pay tribute here to all those who have achieved this "tour de force".

 

Complexity

 

However, this is a very long and complex value chain. While everyone on board was on top of their job, the production process...not the airplane...but the production process has one, big flaw -- one weak link in the chain: that of the design of the electrical harnesses installation in the forward and aft fuselage.

 

To be clear: This is the weak link in the manufacturing chain, this is the reason why ramping up the production is hampered.

 

But the electrical harnesses are not the root causes why we at Airbus are in a crisis -- Tom has already mentioned the fundamental reasons. And I will come back to that.

 

Let me return to the issue why we are not yet able to ramp-up the production.

 

The issue of the electrical harnesses is extremely complex, with 530km of cables, 100,000 wires, and 40,300 connectors. It is twice as complex as for our next largest aircraft, the A340-600! And the depth of the problem was not fully understood in June. The full analysis over these past weeks has revealed it is much worse than expected.

 

Root causes

 

The root cause of the issue is that there were incompatibilities in the development of the concurrent engineering tools to be used for the design of the electrical harnesses installation. Quite simply, while the A380 is the most-advanced and modern plane ever made, the wiring harness installation design package in the forward and rear fuselage could not keep pace with the rest of the aircraft programme. Also, the learning curve for wiring harness changes was too steep during the complex development phase. We have to update and harmonize the 3D- design tools and data base -- and it will take time to do this.

 

The problem became first apparent when the electrical harnesses were installed into the fuselage: there were mismatches between the designed routing of the electrical harnesses and the real aircraft.

 

What I can firmly say is that it is not the electrical design team of "Hamburg" who failed. Airbus is one company. It is Airbus as a whole which failed, the management on several levels with several passports who failed, and certainly not the teams on the shop-floors.

 

I want to be very clear: the problem we are tackling does in no way put into question the integrity, quality or safety of the A380 that have been produced to date, which are flying today and which are part of the first production wave.

 

 

Measures

 

 

What we are doing to resolve the problem? We now are putting in place the right people, the right tools, the right training and the right oversight to ensure it gets resolved.

 

1) Right People: A number of changes have been implemented in the A380 programme management. In Hamburg, everything to do with the A380 is now consolidated under the full responsibility of one manager: Rudiger Fuchs. A reinforced management team, all co-located, with the right expertise from across Airbus supports him and reviews progress twice a day. Rudiger, who has valuable experience in the field of cabin customisation for long-range aircraft, reports directly to Mario Heinen, who is now in charge of the A380 Programme overall.

 

In addition, specific teams of experts from across Airbus are being formed to finalise the electrical installation in the forward and aft fuselage sections for the aircraft currently in production. For example, specialists from Broughton or St Nazaire will be called upon to help their colleagues in Hamburg and Toulouse.

 

2) Right Tools: Since the concurrent engineering tools are at the heart of the problem, I took the decision in July to launch the immediate implementation of the best and most uniform tools and practices on all sites. Tools such as CatiaV4, CIRCE and GILDA, which have already demonstrated their robustness on other sites, are being put in place throughout the A380 centres of excellence -- and the Airbus professionals in those sites will be trained to use them effectively. So, we are going to do two things in parallel:

 

* Finish the production of the first wave of A380 aircraft with the present tools, but with a better organisation (as I already mentioned), and...

 

* In the meantime install new tools, redo the installation design, and complete the Digital Mock-Up. To achieve this, we are also creating an integrated multi-national Airbus team to make best use of the available resources and best competences. That will allow for the full ramp-up beginning 2010.

 

3) Right Training: Thorough training of people has been launched to overcome the learning curve effect.

 

4) Right Oversight and Management: The overall programme management has been changed:

 

* A fully transversal, cross-functional and cross-sites project management has been established -- with daily reporting and tracking of all issues and tracking of progress. Nothing is hidden and all issues are addressed. After all, it is only by facing the reality in all honesty that we can overcome the problem.

 

* Furthermore, I personally will be overseeing this, with a weekly meeting to review the status and evolution of the situation.

 

* I have committed to keep our customers closely in the loop and regularly informed of all issues in a very open and transparent fashion on a monthly basis. We are of course also trying to find ways and means to help them out of the problem the delay in deliveries represents for them. They are our prime concern. I must say here that I have been humbled by the first-class dialogue we have with our customers and by their constructive reaction to this news.

 

* We will also need to address the challenges our suppliers are facing. For them this is as painful as for us. We are aware of the fact that after the customers, our suppliers are our most important partners. We will, therefore, do what we can to find a way forward for all of us. We will start with a supplier conference call in the coming days.

 

* Last but not least, we shall also use the time of delay to ensure full maturity of the A380 at entry into service.

 

There are no miracle solutions, and our production problem is not going to be solved overnight. But these measures will ensure a sound recovery, which will allow the A380's global success for the years to come.

 

Our A380 programme recovery alone, of course, will not guarantee a bright future for Airbus. We must also speed up our development process for new products, generate sufficient cash to finance their development, and drastically cut costs to remain competitive in the face of a persistently weak dollar.

 

That brings me to my second topic: our 4-5 year improvement programme, Power8.

 

Power8

 

Why do we need an overall business-improvement programme?

 

The A380 delay means delayed revenue streams and a high working capital requirement. This drain on our cash is compounded by the threat from the persistently weak dollar that penalises the competitiveness of our Euro-zone manufacturing. We also have to face the difficult pricing and we must generate cash to afford the A350XWB and continue investing in our future.

 

We also want to build the basis for the launch of the A350 quickly to satisfy the strong demand in this segment and compete effectively against Boeing.

 

This means: We need a much faster and extremely robust development process. We need to maximise cash. And we need to reduce costs. This is what Power8 will do.

 

Our change programme is called Power 8 because Power is what Airbus will generate through the 8 modules of this programme.

 

The programme is designed to speed up the development processes, deliver €2.1 billion in cost reductions, and drive €5 billion in cumulative cash savings by 2010.

 

We have already been working for two months to set-up this programme. We are currently further detailing Power8 at this point. We will need another two months at least before we can have the full programme up and running.

 

Let me summarize:

 

Power 8 is about

 

1) First getting back to basics -- in other words making great single aisle and long-range aircraft.

 

2) It's about doing things the RIGHT way, FASTER, with as little capital as possible and the lowest possible costs.

 

3) It's about real change. It will be difficult; there will be no room for complacency. But it will also be worthwhile and rewarding. We will make Airbus a true architect and integrator. We will move away from the heavy 1:1 sales-to-capital ratio that limits our potential and achieve a much less capital intensive structure. We will free ourselves from the legacy will become truly one integrated Airbus.

 

To conclude

 

To conclude, after my first 3 months with Airbus, and looking at it still with a fresh pair of eyes, I can tell you: Airbus is a great company made up of many talented, very skilled, and highly motivated and dedicated people. They encompass the best know-how in the industry and a unique innovative spirit. They are what makes Airbus a very strong and sound company which has all the ingredients to regain its leading position.

 

But Airbus is not yet an integrated company. Airbus doesn't yet have a simple and clear organisation. There are shadow hierarchies -- leftovers from the never finished integration. And the change we bring about must also include the management culture. Until recently, it has been more a "green culture" where truth was not brought to light.

 

The Airbus management has the full backing of EADS. Thus, we will be able to create an open spirit, a simpler organisation. We are establishing as a guiding principle for everybody "tell the truth, ask for the truth, the right to error".

 

The measures to get the A380 back on track, the Power8 programme and changes in the organisation and in our behaviour will deliver a sound basis for Airbus to regain its competitive edge.

 

And let us not forget:

 

We are producing record number of aircraft each and every month. By the end of the year we will have delivered around 430 Airbus aircraft. This was never achieved in Europe. And next year we will deliver even more. This should not be forgotten. Nor should it be forgotten that we have a backlog of around 2,100 aircraft on order. They will fill our production lines for the next 4.5 years. Coming from another industry, I know what it means to have such a backlog.

 

So, we DO have a sound, even enviable, basis to address and master our challenges and ensure a bright future for Airbus.

 

I have come to Airbus to shape, together with all our teams our future.

 

Such a future requires no huge leap of imagination. It is simply the realisation of Airbus' incredible potential. I am convinced that the Airbus employees and management teams are ready to face the challenge -- we will meet the targets -- together.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

[Min Chun 0]

Airbus might lose some of its A3UGLY orders..I guess

Delay and delay..

Edited October 4, 2006 by Min Chun

[Teoh Z Yao 0]

Poor Airbus. 787 Dreamliner could be delivered first if Airbus is not careful!

[S V Choong 4]

We are producing record number of aircraft each and every month. By the end of the year we will have delivered around 430 Airbus aircraft. This was never achieved in Europe. And next year we will deliver even more. This should not be forgotten. Nor should it be forgotten that we have a backlog of around 2,100 aircraft on order. They will fill our production lines for the next 4.5 years. Coming from another industry, I know what it means to have such a backlog.

 

Still that doesn't mean they can keep delaying. Customer just does not like to hear such a statement, no matter how true it is.

[Seth K 3]

Malaysia Airlines Eye A380 Alternatives

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia Airlines said Wednesday it was disappointed with further delays in the delivery of Airbus A380 superjumbos and would assess all available alternatives.

 

The airline has ordered six the jets. Airbus said Tuesday it would push back the delivery date for the first A380 jet for the third time until the second half of 2007 due to wiring complications. The plane is now two years behind its original schedule.

 

"We are very disappointed with this further delay and are currently awaiting a clear delivery plan from Airbus," the state-controlled carrier said in a statement.

 

"Malaysia Airlines and its holding company, Penerbangan Malaysia Berhad, will continue discussions with Airbus on this matter. We will also consider and assess all available alternatives and options," it said.

 

It didn't say whether these options may include scrapping its order for six A380 planes.

 

Tengku Azmil Zahruddin, its chief financial officer, said the delays will not affect the money-losing carrier's turnaround plan to return to profitability by 2007.

 

"We will be able to adapt to the changes required," he added.

 

Malaysia Airlines had ordered six A380s several years ago when the company was doing well. But it has run into deep financial troubles, forcing the management to slash jobs and close down unprofitable routes under its restructuring plan.

 

Earlier Wednesday, the 8,000-strong Malaysian Airline System Employees Union reiterated its call for the carrier to scrap the planned purchase.

 

Union secretary Mustafa Maarof said the airline does not need new planes and warned such huge double-decker aircraft will strain its finances and also manpower following recent layoffs.

 

The list price of the A380 is around US$300 million (euro81.7 million).

 

"It defeats the purpose because the cost (of buying and maintaining) A380 is too high. The company is just beginning to recover and we don't have enough cash-flow," he told The Associated Press.

 

"We should be a lean organization, and not take on new debts."

 

Chris Eng, an analyst at OSK Research, said the carrier is likely to receive its first A380 plane in July 2008, instead of January 2007, but this could be a blessing in disguise.

 

"As part of its turnaround plan, this delay may allow Malaysia Airlines more breathing room to sign code shares and consolidate its routes," he said in a research note.

 

Virgin Atlantic and Emirates -- the A380s biggest customer -- have hinted that the delivery delays could lead to order cancelations.

 

 

 

[Seth K 3]

In few weeks

 

A380 ORDERS SO FAR

Emirates: 0 aircraft

Lufthansa: 0

Qantas: 0

Air France: 1

Singapore Airlines: 0

Fedex: 0

International Lease Finance: 0

UPS: 0

Thai Airways: 0

Virgin Atlantic: 0

Korean Air Lines: 0

Etihad Airways: 0

Qatar Airways: 0

China Southern Airlines: 0

Kingfisher Airlines: 0

Malaysia Airlines: 0

Edited October 4, 2006 by Seth K

[Brennan Raj 0]

Maybe this A3UGLY was just too much to handle for AIRBUS and they just rushed in completing the first one..

[Shu Sheng 0]

wat a disappointed one...

i tot i can fly it to sydney next year...

 

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin.../233911/1/.html

[Min Chun 0]

Malaysia Airlines Eye A380 Alternatives

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia Airlines said Wednesday it was disappointed with further delays in the delivery of Airbus A380 superjumbos and would assess all available alternatives.

 

[/b]

 

What about B747-800 /B787 or 777-300ER ?

 

Union secretary Mustafa Maarof said the airline does not need new planes

 

"It defeats the purpose because the cost (of buying and maintaining) A380 is too high. The company is just beginning to recover and we don't have enough cash-flow," he told The Associated Press.planes

Doesnt need new planes or because the cost (of buying and maintaining) A380 is too high?

Edited October 4, 2006 by Min Chun

[BC Tam 2]

One cannot help but feel there could be more to the story than what Airbus/EADS has decided to reveal to the world.

 

So, you have wiring problems - is it an 18 months worth of delay ? Or could that actually be a screen, behind which they could be frantically trying to find remedies to other problems. Performance not up to guaranteed parameters perhaps ? Weight issues ? Washroom plumbing not flushing properly ?!

 

Mind you, all this is just mere speculation on my part, so just laugh it off if it doesn't make sense !

[Azuddin 1]

Malaysia Airlines Eye A380 Alternatives

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Malaysia Airlines said Wednesday it was disappointed with further delays in the delivery of Airbus A380 superjumbos and would assess all available alternatives.

 

 

like i said, just drop the order and go for 773ER. Better range and easy to get parts since MH already have the 772.

 

If still want Airbus, go for A345 or A346.

[Seth K 3]

like i said, just drop the order and go for 773ER. Better range and easy to get parts since MH already have the 772.

 

If still want Airbus, go for A345 or A346.

MH has to go with Boeing anyway, 2 engines for 2(too) long haulflights

Edited October 4, 2006 by Seth K

[Azuddin 1]

MH has to go with Boeing anyway, 2 engines for 2(too) long haulflights

 

nice one.

 

CO strategy, "get rid of the 3 and 4 engine and let the 2 engine stay".

 

773 or 773ER is the way. It can fit passenger nearly as many as on 747. It's not big but it's longer.

Edited October 4, 2006 by Azuddin