airbus 380

[Ankf00]

You can buy all sorts of cool stuff when you don't have to pay your employees' pensions anymore.

socializing private losses is the new hotness :tony:

[nrc]

http://news.yahoo.com/video/business-15749628/17039449

United buys 25 787s and 25 A350s. First new order in over a decade for UAL

I guess that gets them the most planes quickest.

Good idea. Double your parts inventory, training, and maintenance expense.

[stroker]

Good idea. Double your parts inventory, training, and maintenance expense.

Can you say kickback?

[Ankf00]

does UAL have any airbus in their fleet already?

[miatanut]

Yes, but these are two planes that are not currently in their fleet, so anything unique to them is a new supply issue. That's been a significant savings for Southwest. Every plane in their fleet is one generation or another of the same plane.

[nrc]

Yes, but these are two planes that are not currently in their fleet, so anything unique to them is a new supply issue. That's been a significant savings for Southwest. Every plane in their fleet is one generation or another of the same plane.

Right. And while UAL may have routes that wouldn't all work for a single aircraft it seems like a no-brainer to pick one per type of route and keep the types to a minimum.

[Andrew Longman]

Right. And while UAL may have routes that wouldn't all work for a single aircraft it seems like a no-brainer to pick one per type of route and keep the types to a minimum.

Add to that the traiining needed for everything from maintenance to pilots for each plane,

I had British air for a client in the late 80 to improve their maintenance processes. They flew at the time everything from the Concorde to twin engine turbo props and did it on six continents 24/7.

Speaking with their president he was clear that the airline business essentially sell a commodity seat. So long as you meet minimum safety and passenger comfort levels, the issue is to simplify and reduce costs to sell that seat at the lowest price. Period. Amazingly a few companies, notably SW (absolutely) and to a lesser degree Continental get that. UA does not.

[cameraman]

Half of UAL's fleet is A320s and A319s. This new order will replace its 767s and 747s, but that it would eventually phase out its 777s as well, leaving the A350 and 787 as its only wide-body aircraft.

When all is said and done they will only be flying the 757s and the 787s. Since the infrastructure for both already exists it looks like the decision between a 787 and an A350 will be done on a route by route basis based on operating cost. The A350 seats 100 more people an the 787.

[miatanut]

Half of UAL's fleet is A320s and A319s. This new order will replace its 767s and 747s, but that it would eventually phase out its 777s as well, leaving the A350 and 787 as its only wide-body aircraft.

When all is said and done they will only be flying the 757s and the 787s. Since the infrastructure for both already exists it looks like the decision between a 787 and an A350 will be done on a route by route basis based on operating cost. The A350 seats 100 more people an the 787.

They've got a long way to go to get there.