The Australian
AS Airbus Industrie adds the finishing touches and electronics to its massive A380 super jumbo, the European manufacturer is set to land even more orders for the giant jet – this time from China.
Over the weekend, French President Jacques Chirac, who is visiting China, will formally receive the orders from Premier Wen Jiabao.
Sources have told The Australian that China Southern will buy four A380s, while Air China will commit to six.
The orders will take A380 firm sales to 149 from 15 airlines, including 12 from Qantas.
Four A380s are now structurally complete. One will never fly and is being used for fatigue testing, while the other three will take part in a 15-month 2000-hour flight test program. Rollout of the first A380 is scheduled for mid-January, with the first flight in late February.
Qantas is coy on what seating configuration it will have on its A380, but Singapore Airlines, which will be the first to operate the super jumbo, will have fewer than 500 seats.
Emirates, which will operate the A380 on both the Sydney-London and Melbourne-London routes via Dubai, will have a 535-seat configuration for the longer sectors from Australia and 655 for its Dubai-London route.
Qantas takes delivery of its first A380 in November 2006.
By: tenthije - 13th October 2004 at 18:02
I don’t think the launch orders should be counted in the 250 planes to break even tally. The launch orders are given at large discounts. Most of the manufacturers sell their new models at cost price or even below! Once the A380 has been flying commercial flights I think normal prices will have to be paid, and the counting down to 250 starts.
By: tenthije - 13th October 2004 at 18:02
I don’t think the launch orders should be counted in the 250 planes to break even tally. The launch orders are given at large discounts. Most of the manufacturers sell their new models at cost price or even below! Once the A380 has been flying commercial flights I think normal prices will have to be paid, and the counting down to 250 starts.
By: beistrich - 13th October 2004 at 17:30
I’d be surprised if they didn’t operate those routes. It makes perfect sense.
Besides… they’re just about the only places it can fly to right now :rolleyes:
The A380 can operate everywhere where a 747 can operate. Tor pefect Operating ready for the 80m wingspan and 555 people. Until now there are Munich and Frankfurt “A380-ready”. But they will be more when the A380 go in service.
Good to see orders for the A380 at 180, but it still needs to sell 250 of the beast’s to break even on the project..
Every year more and more orders. Maybe 250 orders next year?
By: beistrich - 13th October 2004 at 17:30
I’d be surprised if they didn’t operate those routes. It makes perfect sense.
Besides… they’re just about the only places it can fly to right now :rolleyes:
The A380 can operate everywhere where a 747 can operate. Tor pefect Operating ready for the 80m wingspan and 555 people. Until now there are Munich and Frankfurt “A380-ready”. But they will be more when the A380 go in service.
Good to see orders for the A380 at 180, but it still needs to sell 250 of the beast’s to break even on the project..
Every year more and more orders. Maybe 250 orders next year?
By: tenthije - 13th October 2004 at 16:56
I don’t think China Southern operate to LHR. As far as I know there is a treaty limiting the amount of airlines flying to/from China (exception for Hong Kong for obvious reasons). Something similar to the US/UK Bermuda treaty.
By: tenthije - 13th October 2004 at 16:56
I don’t think China Southern operate to LHR. As far as I know there is a treaty limiting the amount of airlines flying to/from China (exception for Hong Kong for obvious reasons). Something similar to the US/UK Bermuda treaty.
By: Dantheman77 - 13th October 2004 at 11:17
Good to see orders for the A380 at 180, but it still needs to sell 250 of the beast’s to break even on the project..
By: Dantheman77 - 13th October 2004 at 11:17
Good to see orders for the A380 at 180, but it still needs to sell 250 of the beast’s to break even on the project..
By: KabirT - 13th October 2004 at 10:06
an order was expected from China after this years Paris Air Show. 🙂
By: KabirT - 13th October 2004 at 10:06
an order was expected from China after this years Paris Air Show. 🙂
By: Bmused55 - 13th October 2004 at 07:48
What routes will the A380 be operating on, mostly likely LHR and LAX services i would think ?
I’d be surprised if they didn’t operate those routes. It makes perfect sense.
Besides… they’re just about the only places it can fly to right now :rolleyes:
By: Bmused55 - 13th October 2004 at 07:48
What routes will the A380 be operating on, mostly likely LHR and LAX services i would think ?
I’d be surprised if they didn’t operate those routes. It makes perfect sense.
Besides… they’re just about the only places it can fly to right now :rolleyes:
By: dartie - 13th October 2004 at 02:14
What routes will the A380 be operating on, mostly likely LHR and LAX services i would think ?
By: dartie - 13th October 2004 at 02:14
What routes will the A380 be operating on, mostly likely LHR and LAX services i would think ?
By: MSR777 - 11th October 2004 at 18:55
Great news……I still think the A380 will do well.
By: MSR777 - 11th October 2004 at 18:55
Great news……I still think the A380 will do well.
By: Airline owner - 11th October 2004 at 17:39
Good news for the A380 programme and Airbus.
By: Airline owner - 11th October 2004 at 17:39
Good news for the A380 programme and Airbus.
By: tenthije - 11th October 2004 at 17:33
Good to hear the A380 is going forward. Even better to hear it is China Southern! AMS is one of their biggest European destinations. They fly here every other day with 777s (code share with KLM on the other days) and they also use the 747F to AMS. So chances are I get to see it here!
By: tenthije - 11th October 2004 at 17:33
Good to hear the A380 is going forward. Even better to hear it is China Southern! AMS is one of their biggest European destinations. They fly here every other day with 777s (code share with KLM on the other days) and they also use the 747F to AMS. So chances are I get to see it here!
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October 11, 2004 at 10:28 am