ConcordeBoy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3220 times:
No doubt they're discussing it/planning it... but the real question is what (aside from here-and-there tweaks on the A332) can they actually do about it, as most of their finances/development is and will be focused on the A388 for the near future.
Irishpower From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 377 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3217 times:
I doubt that Airbus has the time or money to study a new plane. All of their time and money is tied up in the A380.
My guess is that they will tinker with the A330--put new engines on it etc...
Down the road (say in 2010-2012) I see them developing a new class of mid size aircraft.
Aloha717200 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4397 posts, RR: 17 Reply 3, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3157 times:
They're also entering the game late. And of course they have the financing of the A380 project on their shoulders as well.
This makes it significantly harder for them to put a ton of development into a brand new airplane. I'd predict that Boeing will remain ahead of airbus with it's 7e7 for a long time to come.
I suspect Airbus may need financial help from france and germany as well to fund the new project, if it happens.
Ammunition From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 1064 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 3126 times:
would say airbus have played it very smart- the 7e7 has no firm orders, it only has interest and if airbus can get in on the game now, they will be level pegging, if not ahead of boeing as airlines will wait to see whats on offer from both manufacturers.
Saint Augustine- 'The world is a book and those who do not travel, read only 1 page'
OD720 From Lebanon, joined Feb 2003, 1919 posts, RR: 36 Reply 6, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3041 times:
They had the A318, A340-500 and A340-600 going alongside the A380. Now they have the A380 only. Does this mean they can venture in a new project? Maybe they can.
Boeing should know by now not to underestimate Airbus.
Wingman From Trinidad and Tobago, joined May 1999, 1838 posts, RR: 5 Reply 8, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2855 times:
I heard a rumor that Airbus has a counterfeit printing operation hidden underneath its plant in Toulouse. This gives them the ability to launch three new airframes simultaneously which has never before been possible in commercial aviation.
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2838 times:
If Airbus can count on government "Loans" to fund full-scale development of a new airliner, Boeing might have a problem. There is no way that Boeing can compete with the EU governments, in terms of R&D funding.
One other possibility - this might be an example of "vaporware". The idea is to tell everyone that you will build something as good or better than the 7E7, and potential clients for the 7E7 might hold off on their orders in anticipation of that product even if it doesn't exist yet.
TransSwede From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 993 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2766 times:
Cfalk, re: "vaporware" - just like Boeing and the A380, yes?
Tekelberry From United States of America, joined May 2003, 1459 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2721 times:
would say airbus have played it very smart- the 7e7 has no firm orders
Well that makes sense considering Boeing can't take any orders until the board of directors approves it.
Areopagus From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 1357 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2639 times:
Cfalk:If Airbus can count on government "Loans" to fund full-scale development of a new airliner, Boeing might have a problem. There is no way that Boeing can compete with the EU governments, in terms of R&D funding.
The Japanese Aircraft Development Corp. has formally asked the government for financial help to support the 7E7 program. Most of the 7E7 work is going to Japan's big three heavy machinery makers -- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Fuji Heavy industries.
Note that most of the 7E7 fuselage and wings will be produced in Japan, and a substantial part of the rear fuselage produced in Italy. Boeing divisions will produce the nose, vertical tail, some wing parts, and the wing-body fairing.
My attempt at Airbus spin: Those hypocrites are milking governments for subsidies wherever they can get them, so what are they complaining about?
My attempt at Boeing spin: Big bad Airbus has captured more than half the market using government subsidies, so we'll be crushed like a bug unless we do whatever it takes to compete.
My attempt at American worker spin: Government subsidies in Japan and Europe are destroying American jobs.
My attempt at American taxpayer spin: Since so much value in a Boeing jetliner is imported, and so much value in an Airbus jetliner is American, there is no real reason to favor Boeing over Airbus in the next round of tankers
FlyLAX From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 154 posts, RR: 1 Reply 14, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2558 times:
Im not the smartest man in the world, but it seems to me that Airbus is just out to get Boeing for whatever reason.
Manni From South Korea, joined Nov 2001, 4221 posts, RR: 23 Reply 16, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2415 times:
If this is true and Airbus goes ahead with their 3E3 the A380 looks al of a sudden even more attractive to potential customers. Provided that the new aircraft will be a family member of Airbus' existing products.
did someone mention vaporware? I'd say the 7E7, 747-500 and 747-600 are pretty good examples of that.
FlyLAX,
How about competition, remaining the worlds biggest civil airliner manufacturer in the 100+ seats category, and pleasing their shareholders as a reason to get Boeing?
Birdwatching From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3573 posts, RR: 52 Reply 17, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2311 times:
Manni: and the Sonic Cruiser!
All the things you probably hate about travelling are warm reminders that I'm home
Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 18, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2314 times:
Airbus has lost about a year or so maybe two on the 7E7. That's a while.
It is certainly not too early to get started on this, and Airbus has sufficient resources to do it. The A380 is being built now - the early concept engineers are free to work on other projects.
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15990 posts, RR: 59 Reply 19, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2294 times:
I'm not sure Airbus needs to respond just yet to the 7E7. The 332 is selling very well and the detailed performance stats of the 7E7 suggest that 7E7 & 332 might be competitive with the 7E7 having a slight edge. Airbus might do well to milk 332 sales in the meantime.
Neil.
Panam, TWA, Ansett, Eastern.......AC next? Might be good for Canada.
Lehpron From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 7028 posts, RR: 22 Reply 20, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2243 times:
Greedy fools cannot have their cake and eat it @ the same time, of course who says they are goning to do it now?
Boeing is making the 7E7 and Airbus is making the A380, by the times these planes are either well-deveolped or nearing "replacement time", bothe companies will have planes ready for it.
by about 2020, expect an A380 replacement/competitor by Boeing and a 7E7 competitor/replacement by Airbus.
Besides a plane is not completely replace until either an airline or the company drops it off.
The meaning of life is curiosity; we were put on this planet to explore opportunities.
Airways6max From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 494 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 2160 times:
Airbus is already outselling Boeing and they having a very comprehensive lineup, so why would they need to design a rival for the 7E7? The 7E7 is about as big as their A330.
Futureualpilot From United States of America, joined exactly 13 years ago today! , 2561 posts, RR: 8 Reply 23, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1995 times:
Can Airbus afford to work on the A380 and design a 7e7 rival?
L1011Fan From United States of America, joined May 2003, 271 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (9 years 6 months 1 week 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 1963 times:
Looks like Airbus finally realized that the 7E7 is for real and, more importantly, it's a very big threat to them. I believe the 7E7 will be a huge success!
25 Gigneil: The best time to improve on a product line is when its at its peak. That way you have the development cycle finishing up right around when the downtur
26 AvObserver: "If Airbus can count on government "Loans" to fund full-scale development of a new airliner, Boeing might have a problem. There is no way that Boeing
27 Qb001: If this is true, it goes against what this Airbus salesman - what's his name again - said in a recent interview that putting new engine technology wil
28 Lehpron: "Can Airbus afford to work on the A380 and design a 7e7 rival?" They are not going to go against it now; if they do it will be after both companies ha
29 AvObserver: "If this is true, it goes against what this Airbus salesman - what's his name again - said in a recent interview that putting new engine technology wi
30 Planemaker: AvObserver: "otherwise the law of diminishing returns (sales) will eventually overtake the A332, even if it gets 'tweaked'. It will be very interestin
31 N79969: Airbus has to respond, at least in word, to the 7E7. This is not surprising Sure Boeing did not build the 747-500/747-600/Sonic Cruiser etc; But BCAG
32 Gigneil: Ugh. Could we possibly discuss the nifty products for once, and what ideas Airbus might have, as opposed to the politics of the products? Nobody here
33 Shenzhen: I'm sure Airbus will try and offer something to offset early sales of the shorter 7E7 version. Expect them to offer lots of pictures and concepts, but
34 RayChuang: Let's face it folks. I think Airbus has discovered a major problem where they don't have a true replacement for the A300B4 and A310 airliners. The A33
35 Joni: Airbus has looked a new 7e7 size product for a while now, and even offered one version ("335") to Lufthansa and SIA. It's not as if they're just now
36 MD-11 forever: @AvObserver: When you say that: " The 7E7 will be 50% composites, an unprecented total. It should be and must be a lot lighter than other aircraft its
37 Leskova: Looking at history, will the fact that the 7e7 will be available first really be that much of an advantage? If Airbus doesn't waste time, they could h
38 Moolies: Althou Airus did manage to role out the A345 and A346 at the same time as developing the A380 they already did have the basic structure of the A340 wh
39 KEESJE: A short / medium range A330 version can be ready before the 7E7 if Airbus wants so, I think. A lighter, shorter wing / landing gears & new engines wil
Sponsor Message: 
From Germany, joined Oct 2006, 0 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 1064 posts, 
From Lebanon, joined Feb 2003, 1919 posts, 
From Tuvalu, joined Aug 2003, 5488 posts, 
From Trinidad and Tobago, joined May 1999, 1838 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From South Korea, joined Nov 2001, 4221 posts, 
the A380 looks al of a sudden even more attractive to potential customers. Provided that the new aircraft will be a family member of Airbus' existing products.
From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15990 posts, 
, 2561 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
