Well, since Boeing is probably going to lose a huge number of 777 and 787 orders thanks to some idiots in Congress, Airbus might just manage to stay ahead.
But how is this possibale. Did not old Chiraci go out last year and gush endlessly how Airbus's new cattle car was going to be the death of Boeing?
But isn't Dubai going to cancel its Boeing orders?
Must be those Renault engines Airbus is trying to use up.
They found out how to sell a lot of planes: make good ones.
I wish the Lazy "B" good luck on it, but what with the outsourcing of the engineering design of subsystems to Russian design bureaus, I can't get real enthusiastic over it.
In spite of all the sonorous claims made for it, the airplane only exists on CAD files and simulations, so far. In the computer business we would call it "vaporware."
I'm willing to be proven wrong about it.
Proposals they made often had little to no relationship to what we had asked for. Many salesmen had basically no authority to do more than hand out plastic models. Airbus and McDonnell Douglas salesmen could make deals on the spot. Boeing also had a general attitude of entitlement, as though we would not even consider going anywhere else.
Alot of US airlines made some political orders in the late 80's and early 90's just to remind Boeing they were perfectly happy to shop elsewhere.
McDonnell Douglas on the other hand was extremely easy to do business with, they wanted your business, they were hungry.
Early Airbus was a little difficult to deal with, not that they were unreasonable, there was just a real culture clash. They were however, like McDonnell Douglas, very hungry and wanted your business. They also had very strong products, the first time I saw the A300 I was just blown away. The first time I saw the A320 my heart stopped.
It looks like bringing Stonehenge out of retirement put the fear of the lord in Boeing Commercial, but when Boeing gets arrogant, they begin doing stupid, self-destructive things.
But in this type of industry it is natural that the balance of power will switch back and forth. No one has the resources to maintain extreme periods of dominance anymore.
Boeing is banking on passengers' preference to fly directly to their destinations, while Airbus has bet on large aircraft to take passengers cheaply to and from major hubs and then to smaller connecting flights...and that kinda means, every Airbus sale triggers more than one sale of a few smaller Boeings. :')
I don't know of ANY airline passenger who would prefer a GIANT ZOO CATTLECAR and extra connection, compared to a direct flight.
Sell BA!
If Barons is writing it, the recommendation is wrong.