A350

[BuffaloJoe]

With all the problems with the A350, will US dump it and go for the 787? Or change it back to A330's?

Also, is there any chance on moving up their orders for the 330, or are they content?

Is it also possible for US to pick up some old 767's? Are the 300's compatable with the 200's?

Thank You and sorry for all the questions!

 

[Dog Wonder]

With all the problems with the A350, will US dump it and go for the 787? Or change it back to A330's?

Also, is there any chance on moving up their orders for the 330, or are they content?

Is it also possible for US to pick up some old 767's? Are the 300's compatable with the 200's?

Thank You and sorry for all the questions!

I think part of the 350 deal was funding to get out of bankruptcy.

 

[700UW]

US has paid back its obligation to Airbus for the loan to emerge from chapter 11.

This has all ready been discussed on the numerous A350 threads.

 

[Flying Titan]

This has been discussed in a couple of other threads on this forum (at least). The A350 order was clearly part of the deal for a loan from Airbus. That loan has been repaid...though it appears part of the loan was forgiven, also presumably part of the A350 order.

Despite this, it's also been pointed out here and by US execs that Airbus has to meet certain (undefined publicly) competitive/performance benchmarks with the A350 or US will be able to cancel the order.

Several of us have speculated that US is now in (or close to) a position to walk away or squeeze a better deal out of Airbus (i.e. - lower price, a low-cost gap deal for A330-200s, additional narrowbodies, etc.)

 

[BuffaloJoe]

This has been discussed in a couple of other threads on this forum (at least). The A350 order was clearly part of the deal for a loan from Airbus. That loan has been repaid...though it appears part of the loan was forgiven, also presumably part of the A350 order.

Despite this, it's also been pointed out here and by US execs that Airbus has to meet certain (undefined publicly) competitive/performance benchmarks with the A350 or US will be able to cancel the order.

Several of us have speculated that US is now in (or close to) a position to walk away or squeeze a better deal out of Airbus (i.e. - lower price, a low-cost gap deal for A330-200s, additional narrowbodies, etc.)

I knew about the loan that Airbus gave US. With the problems and delays, I was just thinking that US would try to move the order to A330's till something can be more solid. I understand Airbus needs customer base for the A350, but by its delays, how can one sit and wait.

Let's say US wants the A350, why not lease US some A330's in the interim, like a gap plan. If US wants the A330's longer, get a decent offer to buy. Airbus wants to sell the A350, but US can't afford to wait, so why not get some A330's in the meanwhile. There is alot of money to be made internationally now, so lets do something. If US doesn't want to order any more A330's, why not pick some 767's up. DL is parking their 200's.

 

[Travelpro72]

Well the headlines seem to be getting darker and darker in regards to Airbus. I sure hope that US is looking into other options rather than waiting for Airbus to set their gears in motion. Even if US were to switch to the 787, wouldn't they be put behind all the other carriers that have orders in already? We need bigger aircraft to expand or replace like yesterday. US has always had the mindset of taking the dash-8 to Europe if they could.

 

[Flying Titan]

I doubt it's as dire as you make it out to be. US didn't have much trouble picking three relatively new ETOPS 757s when there was a good deal to be had. I would imagine the sandcastle is keeping watch for more of the same or perhaps some 767s, if a good deal is out there. I believe the market is too tight on used A330s to be worthwhile, but you never know.

It's also possible that US could simply take some new A330s in a gap lease arrangement with Airbus when the time is right. Once the new A350/A370 is defined, that may be the time for US to make a move with Airbus or use that for some leverage with Boeing on the 787. In any case, US is in a pretty good position right now with lots of options. This is no time for panic.

 

[Flying Titan]

Airbus is out with its announcement on the latest, greatest, we-really-mean-it-this-time, A350.

Airbus A350XWB

It actually looks like a very nice aircraft. Lots of promises on the website. If they hold true, US will have a great new addition to the fleet. Of course, 2012 is still a long way off. US needs some kind of stop-gap plan if it's going to stick with this order.

 

[JayBrian]

Airbus is out with its announcement on the latest, greatest, we-really-mean-it-this-time, A350.

Airbus A350XWB

It actually looks like a very nice aircraft. Lots of promises on the website. If they hold true, US will have a great new addition to the fleet. Of course, 2012 is still a long way off. US needs some kind of stop-gap plan if it's going to stick with this order.

I'm thinking that Airbus will offer USAirways some kind of sweetheart lease for some A330s as a stopgap to keep them as an A350 customer. The new A350 looks as if it will be a more expensive aircraft.

 

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

I'm thinking that Airbus will offer USAirways some kind of sweetheart lease for some A330s as a stopgap to keep them as an A350 customer. The new A350 looks as if it will be a more expensive aircraft.

Uhh...it looks a lot like the 787!

 

[flyingcat]

Uhh...it looks a lot like the 787!

According to Airbus it will have better range, lower fuel burn, and lower CASM than the 787.

They are spending an estimated $10 billiion on the latest version of the 350. :blink:

Man are we getting a sweetheart deal, first the loans are forgiven and now we are getting the hottest aircraft on the block.

Sure we have to wait but good things are worth waiting for.

 

[fr8tmastr]

Thats assuming that the Airbus range and fuel burn numbers pan out. that would be a neat trick considering they have only been working on this latest version of the 350 for a couple of months. I have a feeling the European government offices will be getting some phone calls really soon for more cash.

 

[PoorPropDriver]

Thats assuming that the Airbus range and fuel burn numbers pan out. that would be a neat trick considering they have only been working on this latest version of the 350 for a couple of months. I have a feeling the European government offices will be getting some phone calls really soon for more cash.

This from Airbus CEO on the A350 prior to being fired and the company announcing a new $10 Billion initiative to redesign the superior airplane:


Humbert: No, we are completely on schedule with this model. But we do have a tense time behind us. At first, we thought a longer version of the A 330 would be sufficient. Now 90 percent of its parts are new, and it consists of completely new materials and new engines. Just as Boeing offers two versions of the 787, we also plan to sell two models, one with about 40 more seats than the other. Ours are bigger, faster and less expensive than the ones being marketed by our competitor in Seattle...

SPIEGEL: ... which also happens to be two years ahead of you in development. Major customers, like Lufthansa, have accused you of neglecting further development of a number of current models in favor of the more prestigious project, the A380, because you simply lack enough engineers.

Humbert: It'll all work out in the end. But I also take this criticism seriously, although it's far more applicable to Boeing than to us, especially when it comes to an aging product line. We have already hired many new people. In fact, we plan to recruit another 1,200 experienced developers in the next 18 months alone. But it's not always easy to find new talent, especially in Germany. This is why we have set up engineering centers in the USA, Russia and now in China, and why we also plan to go to India.

for the complete text from Der Spiegel
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/internatio...77753-2,00.html

 

[oldcrow]

AB350 is still on schedule !

 

[BuffaloJoe]

AB350 is still on schedule !

Finally a replacement for those Dash-8's. No wonder they aren't repainting them.