Airbus Versus Boeing

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

It’s starting to seem like a general concensious now that Boeing need to really do something radical to stay in the frame – roll on Airbus (sorry Kab!!)

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

I’d have to say that Airbus is the stronger of the two manufacturers as it goes into the future. The current offerings of a/c from Airbus all share one key thing: cockpit commonality. This concept has only become a major consideration in the last 20 years or so and it should be noted that Airbus had the freedom to incorporate this concept because it was building an entire line-up of a/c from the ground up during the same time frame.

Boeing, on the other hand, was a victim of its own success. It had already developed a complete line-up of aircraft when this whole idea of cockpit commonality came to light. A perfect example is the 737. When Boeing had to make the decision (both in the 80s with the -300/-400/-500 and the 90s with the -600/-700/-800/-900) to design an entirely new aircraft or to simply redesign an old one it had to take into account the airlines that already operated the type. If Boeing was to come out with an entirely new a/c there was no guarruntee that existing customers would order the new aircraft in the future. By simply redesigning the a/c there was a much smaller risk customers would jump ship in favour of another manufacturer since their pilots could operate the newer models with minimum training. This was a great short-term strategy but now Boeing has been left with a line-up that has very little commonality in a time when funds to develop an all new line-up are limited thanks to the current economic climate.

Airbus has also been very good at offering airlines amazing deals on a/c purchases to get its foot in the door. Once an airline begins to incorporate Airbus aircraft into its fleet the cockpit commonality is a major draw and the airline tends to lean towards fleet renewal using Airbus aircraft. (A perfect example is Air Canada, which was origionally going to order the 737 until Airbus made an offer it couldn’t refuse. After choosing the A320 over the 737 Air Canada has chosen Airbus to renew its fleet and now proudly claims it operates a fleet that is 90% Airbus products) Boeing has gotten itself into a tight spot and I haven’t seen any indications that it is going to radically change its way of thinking. (Remember, the 777 was origionally just supposed to be a stretched 767 to try and keep as many existing 767 customers as possible. That is until airlines finally beat some sense into the people calling the shots). Unless things change, and soon, I think we’ll be hearing alot more from Airbus and alot less from Boeing in the years to come.

Cheers,

Binx

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

I disagree with you MINIDOH. I think there is an area in the market for an aircraft with a capacity of up to 180 to 250 passengers. The 787 will hopefully phase out the earlier versions of the 757 and 767 due to ailing sales of these aircraft and also for airlines wanting to replace these aircraft. A new design really can give competition to the A330 and for airlines hoping to replace the A300/A310.

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

I think most believe Airbus are the stronger of the two, but no way are Boeing just going to let the A380 dominate the industry. They will have an idea tucked away up their sleeve… somewhere!

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

talking sense – we’ll have to wait and see – i can see logic behind both arguements from either side, but i’m going to have to stick behind airbus – sorry people!!

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

This argument comes up frequently.

With Airbus releasing the A380 (A3XX) and Boeing planning to release the Sonic Cruiser which has now been scrapped, there was never any real competition.

Boeing manufacture the most successful commercial jet of all time, the 737, and after over 30 years of the aircraft, it’s still going strong with orders constantly rolling in. Also the 747, arguably the most popular and successful long haul aircraft of all time. Used by most major airlines on their longest routes. Not forgetting the 767, the aircraft which in recent years has been the most common aircraft to cross the atlantic.

Airbus have just begun production of what they hope to be a successful project – The A380. I’ve never been too keen on the idea of a double decker plane flying above me for a number of reasons, mainly for safety reasons of those on board and those on the ground. Such a large aircraft could cause a huge number of fatalities. If an aircraft of this size crashed in a heavily populated city in the world e.g. London, hundreds more would be killed on the ground.

You could compare the aviation industry and aircraft design to the mobile phone market for example: Nokia have recently released a whole batch of mobile phones with cameras, colour screens and more and those who purchased such phones as the 3330 beforehand are suddenly left with a phone which is no longer the latest model. Surely, designing too many aircraft is going to be the same sort of situation. Whereas Boeing have merely enhanced older aircraft and passed them off as new, they are still the same, leaving airlines happy and feeling as if they have the “in” aircraft.

The Airbus A319 is a nice 125 seater (?) short haul jet which was once the smallest made by the manufacturer. Airlines buy it and next comes the A318 which holds 100 (?). An airline which wanted a 100 seater Airbus aircraft could once only have the A319 which seated 25 more than they needed. Now the A318 comes along and they feel they have a rather old model.

I think Boeing have so far been the stronger of the two, but who knows what the future holds for the battle of the two top manufacturers. Both have aircraft which compete against each other:

737 vs A319/A320
747 vs A340 and soon to be A380
757 vs A321
767/777 vs A330

The Sonice Cruiser idea being scrapped was a good decision. As I said last time this topic cropped up, there isn’t such great demand for hi-speed air travel. Only 2 airlines operate Concorde and the Tu-144 idea never really took off. This decision has probably saved them a great deal of money which can be spent on a design which will be a strong competitor for the A380.

But who’s stronger? Wait til 2006 and we’ll see..! 😉

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

As Saab said the 787 is already being drawn up. I dont think it will sell that well though, a cross between the A330 and 777 isnt needed! I think they should be more innovative and make another smallish aircraft and another aircraft that is very very efficient but in similar size to the 757. I think Airbus have it right at the moment, however, im hoping that the fly-by wire doesnt work with them and they decide to use the pilots again!!

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

I think the 787 is on the cards for 2008 after the scrapping of the Sonic Cruiser.

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

yea i think without new ideas airbus are gonna run wild over boeing – type comminality – a range of a/c from 100 seats thru 500 selling exceptionally well – we’ll have to see!

RE: Airbus Versus Boeing

I do think Boeing’s lost the plot… apart from the 777, they haven’t had a new design in 20 years… just evolutions of mainly 60’s aircraft.

Airbus, on the other hand, are consistently innovating, and with their family concept, they are definately better for airlines.

Basically, Boeing need to pull the finger out, and get some kind of cockpit commonality, as, at the moment, I believe the only models with commonality are the 757/767, which are probably the two worst selling designs anyway (dunno why, though… :S). I’m excluding the 717 from that, but even that’s based on the 60’s DC-9, and, frankly, I can’t abide the MD80 for cabin comfort, so why the 717 should be any better, I dunno…