UPS may cancel A380F

Do we assume that the harbingers of doom for the A380F were at the very least premature, given that the original press story on which this discussion was based said that UPS were going to cancel their order this week just gone?

Andy

What’s the alternative??????

There are many alternatives to fleet planners , There are many PAX carriers that shifted from 747’s to smaller 777’s and many will shift from the 744 to the A350/787 . Capacity is only one equation however what is more important is Cost (CASM in PAX terms and Cost per ton mile for Cargo) .

They can continue to add A300’s, MD-11’s, DC-10’s (which NWA just retired their last) or maybe even an old 747 but those supplies will try up while the new 747 freighter comes online. Even if it’s a few years off all companies want is a definitive delivery date for new aircraft. Airbus has proven that they can’t be relied on so waiting a few more years for the new 747F is worth it if it’s delivered on time. How many time lines have UPS or FedEx had to scrap because Airbus keeps pushing the delivery back? After a while it starts to cost the cargo carriers money as they could have been seeking other avenues in the meantime.

With the rapid growth at FedEx and UPS I don’t know if they are willing to wait around for the A380 and why should they.

What’s the alternative??????

With the rapid growth at FedEx and UPS I don’t know if they are willing to wait around for the A380 and why should they.

FedEx and UPS will eventually fly the A380F, just a few years later (next decade) than first planned.

Give them 2 years until the A380 pax versions are delivered and the “teething problems” have been solved. Then the orders for all versions will rise. Of course, not to 500! 😉

Airbus announced this weekend, that they solved the cable problem and tested all systems, so the the first A380 can be delivered to Singapore Airlines in October.

Whiskey Delta, if Airbus actually put the A380F programme on the back burner and continue development at a trickle they could possibly use the delivery slots which would have been allocated to its customers to bring forward deliveries of the passenger version once production increases, not only that all the production advances and lessons learnt can then be passed on to the A380F when the programme resumes, by which time i’m sure Airbus will have ensured that there is still interest in the A380F. Its just possible Airbus actually know what they’re doing you know!;)

-Dazza

I think Airbus is being a bit bullheaded and/or in a state of denial by continuing the development of an aircraft that all customers have turned down or canceled orders for. I would think by closing down this avenue they could renew their efforts to get the first A380 online and try to save what they can from the continuing delays.

Airbus to stick with freighter version of A380

Bloomberg News
Published January 20, 2007
source link

TOULOUSE, France — Airbus SAS said Friday that it won’t drop its superjumbo freighter program even if it loses the last customer for the cargo version of the A380.

United Parcel Service Inc., which signed a contract for 10 A380 freighters in December 2005, is the last customer for the model, which Airbus planned to begin producing in 2010. A French newspaper said Friday that UPS might cancel its order as early as next week,

“We have no information about any cancellations,” said Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon. “Airbus sees that there’s a market for this type of aircraft, and we want to be in that market.”

UPS is “still studying the matter,” said Norman Black, a spokesman for the Atlanta-based company. “There has been no decision.”

The A380 program has been delayed at least two years because of wiring problems. FedEx Corp. canceled an order for 10 A380 freighters Nov. 7, and International Lease Finance Corp. dropped plans Dec. 4 to take five of the planes.

I hope Airbus sticks to its guns and doesnt cancel the programme. I can see the A380F being a success – even if not in this next decade – no other foreseeable aircraft will be able to offer the same capacity, and that is why I beleive that Fedex, having cancelled their A380 order, will, once the A380F is a reality, reorder the aircraft – the 777F being a stop gap short term solution to their needs. Fedex will be too tempted by the enormous capabilities of the aircraft to just ignore it.

Airbus to stick with freighter version of A380

Bloomberg News
Published January 20, 2007
source link

TOULOUSE, France — Airbus SAS said Friday that it won’t drop its superjumbo freighter program even if it loses the last customer for the cargo version of the A380.

United Parcel Service Inc., which signed a contract for 10 A380 freighters in December 2005, is the last customer for the model, which Airbus planned to begin producing in 2010. A French newspaper said Friday that UPS might cancel its order as early as next week,

“We have no information about any cancellations,” said Airbus spokesman Justin Dubon. “Airbus sees that there’s a market for this type of aircraft, and we want to be in that market.”

UPS is “still studying the matter,” said Norman Black, a spokesman for the Atlanta-based company. “There has been no decision.”

The A380 program has been delayed at least two years because of wiring problems. FedEx Corp. canceled an order for 10 A380 freighters Nov. 7, and International Lease Finance Corp. dropped plans Dec. 4 to take five of the planes.