[Paleo Conservative]

Obviously, a freighter would have been simpler to build.

There's ususally more mark up on passenger planes, and it would have used different landing gear and wings than the 800 model passenger version. I think what this also means is the A380-900 won't be built for at least a decade if ever, because it would share the heavier wing and landing gear with the A380-800F.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think the 380 will become a curiosity, something like the Concorde. Seven or eight built, limited to certain locations, never profitable.

[Moose4]

If the entire A380 program ever needed a code name, I've got the perfect one:

"Hubris."

}:-)4