[Gay State Conservative]

..is far more attractive to the airlines than the Airbus A380 cattlewagon that requires runway extensions to accomodate it.

From what I've read,runway extensions are only the start for this monstrosity.

[snowman1]

Your right there the airports that will try to take these monstrosities will have to put $15mil in upgrades just to accommodate them

[leakinInTheBlueSea]

the infrastructure changes required for the A380 do not approach those required for the 747 when it entered service... the differences are the magnitude of the infrastructure already in place, the resistance to airport expansion in general (and large aircraft specifically, even if they are quieter), the burden of post 9/11 security for huge aircraft, and the competition... the 747 was the only option then... it introduced the jumbo jet. the A380 will be bigger for sure, but it will NOT introduce a new era of per-seat-mile efficiency that pushes the entire aviation industry to meet its standard. the A380 may well break even for airbus, but it certainly will not be the cash cow that the '74'has been for boeing over the years.

[HamiltonJay]

Runway Extensions, new termals to unload the double decker beast... etc etc etc.. this thing is going to be lucky to break even.

Airbus bet the farm on this whale, and thus far its pushed back delivery dates, and not performed.

Alas, EU will bail it out when they go belly up due to this beast. Its a very very limited niche airplane, I just don't see how they are going to sell enough make money on it.