The 787-10 is the replacement for the 777-200ER.... Boeing would not replace the 200ER unless it absolutly had to. If there was no competing aircraft(A350) then Boeing would continue to sell the 777-200ER's. The A350-900 was designed to go against the 777-200ER, Boeing then had to develope a plane to compete with the A350 hence the 787-10. Which by the way Boeing has not anounced/launched the 787-10, it is still being looked into. While the A350-900 is the first of the A350 line due to launch in 2013.

The 787-10 was a market response due to the A350!

We already have order slots for the 787. Part of the deadline for the decision is because those options are about to run out. To put it crudely, It's sh!t or get off the pot time. I hope we go Boeing, but most likely the majority will be Airbus.

I think you've got it wrong.

The 787 was Boeing's decision to not compete against the A380, not the A350. The A350 was Airbus's response to the 787.

I think you misunderstood my last post. I was not refering to the A350 in general. I was refering to the A350-900 which was NOT designed to compete with the 787, it was designed to compete with the 777-200ER. As a result Boeing is looking into what WOULD be called the 787-10(though it is not yet official) as a reaction to the A350-900

And the A350 in general is more geared towards competing with the 777, it only competes with the 787-9 market.

Fair enough. You have more knowledge about this issue than I do.

Just curious...wasn't Airbus one of the main players in helping USAir emerge from bankruptcy, merge with America West and as part of the deal they had a letter of intent to be the launch customer for the A350....thanks in advance.

Yes, it was an order for 20 A-350s. Due to the delays in the A-350 program we now have the option to cancel the order.