A350 vs. 787

[VWE]

Originally posted by Louis XVII
159 orders yesterday? It's jumped to 189 today. I copied THIS from a press release on the Airbus website:  So, another 30 orders since when you posted yesterday. At that rate, they'll reach the break even point in less than a month!

We are at the 7 year mark since the 380's inception with 1 aircraft delivered, at the same point in time Boeing had delivered 213 747's... an aircraft that was designed with slide rulers not computers. Without U.S. carriers buying, it'll never make a profit because it won't sell enough. The only U.S. customers are UPS and FedEx.

[Holden McGroin]

Originally posted by VWE
The only U.S. customers are UPS and FedEx.

Not anymore

Fedex cancelled its 10 orders and bought 777's.

UPS cancelled their 10 as well.

[Louis XVII]

Originally posted by VWE
Without U.S. carriers buying, it'll never make a profit because it won't sell enough.  

BS.

The A380 was never destined for the US market, and was certainly never destined for large airlines like American Airlines - largest airline in the world.  There will however be some routes which have US destinations, which is why various US airports have been made "A380 ready".

You may not know, but the most important aircraft to AA, the world's largest airline, is the MD80, ie not the B747. As far as I know, AA never even had any 747 so they sure as hell were never expected to buy any 380. That would have been a given from the outset.

[expat]

seems all is not well in the 787 world , Boeing have announced a six month  delay .Building a new airliner with cutting edge technology isnt as easy as it seems

[Nashwan]

Without U.S. carriers buying, it'll never make a profit because it won't sell enough.

US airlines have few 747s in operation. British airways has more 747s than all the major US airlines combined.

Whilst this is from wikipedia, it does give some idea of the major markets for the 747:

In August 2006, a total of 627 Boeing 747-400 aircraft (all versions) were in airline service, with 46 further firm orders. Major operators include: Air China (12), Air India (12), Air New Zealand (8), All Nippon Airways (23), Asiana Airlines (14), Cathay Pacific (30, plus 6 on order), China Airlines (34, plus 2 on order), EVA Air (18), Japan Airlines (44), Korean Air (43), Malaysia Airlines (19), Qantas (30), Singapore Airlines (23), Singapore Airlines Cargo (15), Thai Airways International (18), Air France (21), British Airways (57), Cargolux (14, plus 2 on order), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (25, plus 1 on order), Lufthansa (30), Virgin Atlantic Airways (13), Atlas Air (11), Northwest Airlines (16) and United Airlines (31). Some 24 airlines also operate the type, but in smaller numbers.

[Holden McGroin]

Originally posted by expat
seems all is not well in the 787 world , Boeing have announced a six month  delay .Building a new airliner with cutting edge technology isnt as easy as it seems

Launch to delivery:

A380 just shy of 7 years

A340 about 6 years

B777 4 1/2 years

B787 (presently scheduled) 4 1/2 yrs

ther 4 year timeline the attempted was hugely ambitious