Originally Posted by
Linebacker35
Ya Airbus is in trouble..... they only got 1000+ orders to ship out right now for the 320 family
Airbus has proven they are in control of that sized market, and guess what there are a bunch of US fleet renewals comming up for that size range!
American: 327 MD80s,
United: 94 737-300/500's....... UA will almost surely renew with 320's
NWA: 115 DC9's.... could be 115 A318 to complement their existing 320 fleet
US air: 96 737-300/400.... US air seems to also be favoring airbus
Delta and continental will definetly not go with airbuses, they stick to boeing.
That is a possible another 630 A320 family orders in the next few years!!!!!!
It would be more if the said airlines replace their 757's with A321's... tho i dont see this happening, the 757's are amazing planes still.
Actually they ARE in deep doo-doo, both short-term (operational screw-ups) and long-term (strategic screw-ups)...
They only had money to develop ONE next-gen airplane...and they blew it on that gigantic white elephant wich appears to have niche-market value only. I suspect euro-pride had something to do with that decision, ie desire to have the biggest airplane
Their solution to the upper mid-range was to warm over the 330 and call it the 350...well the industry didn't want old technology and now they have to go back and actually develop a NEW airplane to compete $$$$$$$$$$
Massive design delays on the A400M, the 380 production debacle (with canx orders), and the need to re-design the 350 are the elements of a perfect storm...the EU won't let them go BK of course, but they are in a world of hurt.
The A320 serise is the only thing they have going for them, but it's old technology
Several major airlines (including AA) are already showing signs of bypassing A320/737 technology and waiting for the NEXT gen narrow-body...who's going to have the technology and experience to deliver that? The same folks who are bringing you the 787...
