FEX EX Cancels A-380

[Juan Tugo]

High Five!

Probably a couple high fives being thrown around the AOC today...:beer:

 

[Cardinal]

I can hear the "Doh!" all the way from Toulouse.

 

[vetteracer]

This is great news, I think the A380 has been pushed on a market not ready for it, and the constant "six sigma" problems its having prove that.

Glad to see an American product getting used. I think that Airbus may have sparked a flame under Boeing some years ago to step up and compete.

As for the A380, I am sure this does not sit well. Cancellations like this make others take a second look as well.

I'm excited for FedEx, they are looking for the angle to stay competitive and I doubt they got their "down Payment" back from Airbus, but still, a willingness to admit defeat in the face of potential failure is a mark of good business.

I am sure this decision came from the Mechanical Engineers that were working on the A380 project as liaisons to FedEx. They probably handed Fred the the last of many bad news reports and Fred said, ENOUGH F*&K UM!

Mark

 

[PurpleTail]

I bet that we still get the A380 years down the road after it has flown more and airbus has worked out the problems, making it more of a know, instead of an unknown.
.

I'm betting that the freighter version will NEVER be built. Airbus has a serious cash flow problem now and if they are not careful this A380 project could kill the company.

 

[donger]

... this A380 project could kill the company.

It's a big horse that IS dying. Fred was one of the first to shoot in an attempt to put this beast out of its misery. More will follow and that will be that!

:beer:

I'll drink to that

Donger

 

[lowtimedriver]

Just goes to show you that bigger is not better.

 

[AAflyer]

Just goes to show you that bigger is not better.

Sometimes........cough.....cough...imp:

AA

 

[Fearless Tower]

It's a big horse that IS dying. Fred was one of the first to shoot in an attempt to put this beast out of its misery. More will follow and that will be that!

:beer:

I'll drink to that

Donger

Exactly. Many A380 buyers such as Virgin and Emirates have been sweatin' this thing for a while. Now that FedEx has pulled out, I wouldn't be suprised to see others bailing soon too.

Airbus is going to have to start making some pretty sweet deals to pacify their customers on this whale. I see something like the Frank Borman A300 deal in the works.

 

[Falconjet]

I'm betting that the freighter version will NEVER be built. Airbus has a serious cash flow problem now and if they are not careful this A380 project could kill the company.

Which company?

Some governments might have to lob some more money their direction, but I don't think the companies will go away.

Great news for Boeing and FedEx, and dare I say, AMERICA.

FJ

 

[vetteracer]

Exactly. Many A380 buyers such as Virgin and Emirates have been sweatin' this thing for a while. Now that FedEx has pulled out, I wouldn't be suprised to see others bailing soon too.

Airbus is going to have to start making some pretty sweet deals to pacify their customers on this whale. I see something like the Frank Borman A300 deal in the works.

Good show on knowing your history. I had not thought of that, but I would speculate that if things get tough for Airbus, they will have a blowout sale on 20-30 to raise some capitol to get the A380 to produce fruit.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Just goes to show you that bigger is not better.

That's not what your little sister said.....

 

[SNIZ]

Awesome

Two great airplanes (757 and 777) added to the Fedex stable in just over a month. Great news. Can't wait.

 

[Fox-Tree]

The initial article states a 171,000 lb. revenue payload. Is that a max or just a general ballpark? My only other reference is the MD-11 which will take 180,000 10 hours from TPE to ANC no problem. I would have thought (given the higher Max GW of the 777 over the MD-11), the payload of the 777 would have been higher.
Thanks.

 

[HoursHore]

The 171K number sounded low to me as well. I guess they just like the 2000 more mile range for longhaul. The reasoning I've heard is the 777 is stop gap only. We needed the lift and couldn't wait, 11's are in short supply, so something had to be done. Something else will come about that fills the jumbo freighter gap that the 380 represented, could be the 380 or 747.

 

[Marko Ramius]

If they want/need to go bigger in the end it will likely be the 380, imo. The Boeing website says the the 747-8 freighter can carry 154 tons of freight over 4,475 nautical miles. That's less in both range and weight than the above quoted numbers on the MD-11 and 777, I would assume the advantage of the 747 vs. those two is volume for bulky or odd cargo pieces. That pretty much leaves the 380 as the only option if they want to go bigger than the 777. The 380F won't be in service for a while and by then, they'll likely be an advanced version to improve on the intital one and possibly add some of whatever they come up for on the 350. FedEx could end up getting two planes that are better than what they originally planned. If we work hard enough together, I'm confident we can come up with the answer(s) here on FI.

 

[Fox-Tree]

If they want/need to go bigger in the end it will likely be the 380, imo. The Boeing website says the the 747-8 freighter can carry 154 tons of freight over 4,475 nautical miles. That's less in both range and weight than the above quoted numbers on the MD-11 and 777, I would assume the advantage of the 747 vs. those two is volume for bulky or odd cargo pieces. That pretty much leaves the 380 as the only option if they want to go bigger than the 777. The 380F won't be in service for a while and by then, they'll likely be an advanced version to improve on the intital one and possibly add some of whatever they come up for on the 350. FedEx could end up getting two planes that are better than what they originally planned. If we work hard enough together, I'm confident we can come up with the answer(s) here on FI.

I got out my calculator and did some quick cypherin'. Doesn't 154 tons of freight weigh 308,000 lbs.? (154 x 2000 lbs./ton) That seems like quite a bit more than either the MD-11 or 777.

I don't know about range but it would seem the 747-8 has those two aircraft beat in the payload department. Now I know why the "whale" drivers at UAL called the 777 the "light twin".

 

[JAM-BRO]

The initial article states a 171,000 lb. revenue payload. Is that a max or just a general ballpark? My only other reference is the MD-11 which will take 180,000 10 hours from TPE to ANC no problem. I would have thought (given the higher Max GW of the 777 over the MD-11), the payload of the 777 would have been higher.
Thanks.

From Boeing's website...

With a maximum takeoff weight of 766,000 pounds (347,450 kilograms), the 777 Freighter will have a revenue payload capability of 229,000 pounds ( 103.9 metric tons).
The 777 Freighter will be capable of flying 4,885 nautical miles (9,047 km) with a full payload and general cargo market densities, making it the world's longest-range freighter.

 

[Marko Ramius]

I got out my calculator and did some quick cypherin'. Doesn't 154 tons of freight weigh 308,000 lbs.? (154 x 2000 lbs./ton) That seems like quite a bit more than either the MD-11 or 777.

Some times it pays to pay attention to units huh? My bad, I wasn't paying attention to the tons vs. pounds so obviously the 747 can carry alot more. Sounds like the range would be an issue, since most airlines' operational figures tend to be lower than what the manufacturer claims. I also suppose there could be a bulk out issue for containers since the 747-8 is only about 8 feet longer than the 777F. How much that is usable deck space I don't know. Reading between the lines on the Boeing commentary on the 747-8, it seems like it is more efficient than the A380 given equal payloads. If however, you believe you have enough freight for an A380 it's no contest(other than getting one in service!)

 

[lowtimedriver]

That's not what your little sister said.....

My little sister told me about you. She said she couldn't find it.

 

[fbandit327]

New airframe for FedEx

Heard a good one today on the line. Was launching my trust ole 727 to Guadalajara this afternoon and the maintainer that was launching us said he was going to B747-400 training tomorrow. Hmmm, I wonder if something else is in the works? Also heard from another pilot that he heard CP say something about 747-400's may be in the future. Anyone else hear anything on this?