Airbus' A350: Flying into a Storm?

Business Week Online ^ | 7 October 2005 | Carol Matlack

[lowbuck]

The race is on. At a Paris briefing on Oct. 7, Airbus laid out its plans to launch the A350, a midsize widebody jet that it plans to get airborne by 2010 to challenge Boeing's fuel-efficient 787. The European planemaker, in hopes of turning down the heat on a simmering trans-Atlantic trade dispute, offered to forego government launch aid at least until the end of 2006, while U.S. and European officials seek a negotiated settlement to the subsidy issue.

[lowbuck]

Yet another view of the launch of the A350 to counter the B787. Some interesting facts and comments.

[DUMBGRUNT]

From article:
Airbus says both planes should experience plenty of demand, with the global market for midsize widebodies expected to total $3.3 billion over the next 18 years.

What about that nasty subsidies issue? Airbus Chief Executive Gustav Humbert says the company has obtained binding promises from European governments to provide loans to Airbus covering up to one-third of the plane's estimated $5.3 billion development cost.


IS THIS A TYPO?
global market for midsize wide bodies expected to total $3.3 billion

the plane's estimated $5.3 billion development cost.

[dagnabbit]

I'm still leaning toward the B787, but if I can get an in-dash CD-changer with the Airbus...

[lowbuck]

Missed that! I think you are right and it is a typo.

Meanwhile, this just confirms Boeing's belief that the future belongs to long range, point-to-point, fuel sippers.

With that said, I wonder where the market for really BIG jumbo jets (ahem, A380 for example) is headed?

[Spook86]

I think this proposal reflects panic on the part of Airbus. Orders for the A380 have been relatively flat in recent months, while Boeing has secured a number of options and purchase orders for the Dreamliner/787.

Here's something else to think about: how will development/production of the A350 affect A380 production? Despite huge government subsidies, Airbus--like any aircraft producer--has limited production capabilities for airframes, subsystems and components. The rush to get the A350 in service may result in decreased ouput for the A380, which may turn out to be something of a flop.

[R.W.Ratikal]

After seeing the recent landing of the Jet Blue French Airbus at LAX that had a locked nose wheel I would want to be on such a plane if I were flying into a storm.

Of course, I would want the same Captain at the controls who landed with such delicate touch that he kept the giant airliner tilted nose-upward so as to keep the twisted nose wheel off the ground as long as possible.

The fact that the nose wheel did not collapse when it touched the ground at 90 knots is a tribute to its builders and to the structural strength of the hull.