With Airbus’ A380 superjumbo, the aircraft manufacturing industry has shifted into overdrive. In recent years, the European aircraft giant has been trouncing its primary competitor, Boeing, at international aerospace trade fairs. Boeing, the former leader in the industry, has seen its lead evaporate in the past few years.
The new A380 demolished all the hype around Boeing’s latest craft, the 787 Dreamliner (formerly the 7E7 Dreamliner). European leaders scoffed, and some snubbed their noses, at the American aerospace market. German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, said, “Good ole Europe has made this possible”. “Old Europe” being a disparaging remark made towards European nations who opposed the war in Iraq.
British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and French President, Jacques Chirac, commended the end result of years of European cooperation. France, the UK, Germany, and Spain are the key government proponents of Airbus.
Airbus has already seen 149 orders (firm orders and commitments) from 14 carriers for a plane with a height of seven-stories. Airlines paid around $280 million for the plane and Airbus CEO, Noel Forgeard, says of the demand volume, “For a plane of this size that has not yet flown is an extraordinary commercial performance”.
The first carrier to fly the plane will be Singapore Airlines, when it debuts A380 service to London and Sydney in mid-2006.
The plane itself has a wingspan of 262 feet and is a complete double-decker plane. It is said to hold 555 total passengers (33% more than the Boeing 747). With the additional space, passengers will also have more legroom.
Some airlines are planning different creature comforts with the extra space. Investors say, if budget carriers, such as Southwest, pick up the new aircraft, a completely coach class plane has a potential for an 800 seating capacity. Some airlines plan to include casinos, showers, gyms, beauty parlors, beds, or lounges on the planes.
Virgin CEO, Richard Branson, would like to see beds and casinos on his A380s, “So alongside our casinos, you’ll have at least two ways to get lucky on our flights”.
Many see the A380 as a huge stump to Boeing. The A380 is an unprecedented accomplishment by Airbus. Plus, Yeald.com reports that the A380 is also 5% more fuel-efficient and is comparatively cheaper.
Boeing says the A380 is far too impractical for regular use by airlines. “The Northwest Herald” reports Randy Baseler, Boeing’s Vice President of Airline Marketing, says,
“It’s just a big airplane for a small market”, he continued, “We really believe in our forecast that there’s a good market for about 400 of these”. Others agree and say the plane is not versatile enough for many airports.
The A380 will primarily be used for transport between larger hubs, and for passengers to transfer flights in order reach their final destination.
Some are already seeing the huge problem with the A380 – space. Since the plane is of such unparalleled magnitude, some airports do not have terminal space that will fit a plane that is 262 feet wide and the length of an American football field. At this point, the only airport in the United States equipped to handle such a plane is San Francisco International Airport.
Whether other airports will begin to adjust their terminals for the plane is yet to be seen. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is putting its foot down and says it will not overhaul and accommodate for the plane. Clayton County’s News-Daily.com reports, Aviation General Manager of the airport, Ben DeCosta says, “It would cost millions”, while the airport is already undergoing a $6 billion expansion.
The real test seems to be the Chinese market. During the week of January 23rd, China purchased $11 billion worth of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. China already inked a deal for 20 Airbus A330-200 planes, and has agreed on deals for A380s and 787s.
On an up note for Boeing, the AFP reports China Southern Airlines cut a deal for an A380, while Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines have invested in Boeing’s 787. Reports also say that Boeing struck a deal with China for 60 airplanes, a deal worth $7.2 billion. While the growth in China may be a huge godsend to Boeing, and financial analysts are touting China as the next huge market, Airbus still holds a 57% market share in the world aircraft industry.
