[Blueflag]

AND the '47 can go into existing, unmodified airports/ gates. The '47 also meets noise requirements which the Airbus is rumoured to fail badly.

[RayChuang88]

The best thing about the 747-8 is the fact that you don't need the enormous expense of building 80 x 80 meter gates with dual-level jet bridges like you need with the A380-800. Also, the range the 747-8 (8,000 nautical miles still-air) is enough to fly most of the world's long-range city pairs, too.

I think it's likely that both British Airways and Japan Airlines--already large 747-400 operators--will end up buying the 747-8 instead of the A380-800 because both airlines have far less landing slot restrictions at their home airports (London Heathrow for British Airways and Tokyo Narita for Japan Airlines).