Posted 1-29-2005 at 06:51 PM

The future of the airline markets, is hard to think about. What are they exactly looking for, big planes like the A-380 or smaller planes like the 7E7? Often people think bigger is better, not always. The A-380 is a giant, able to fit almost 555 passengers. Still how are they sure that all those seats will be filled? Not only that but it would be better to look at the big picture. For example, after the 9-11 attacks, the airline markets suffered a major blow. People unfortunately became afraid to fly. Now if a airline has a large fleet of A-380?s and a attack unfortunately happens, and people are afraid to fly. I bet most of the seats on those planes will not be filled. Reducing the efficiency of the airline, and making them lose money.

The two giants in the airline manufacturing industry Airbus and Boeing, have different ideas about how the future markets will look. On one hand Airbus is expecting a great increases in air travel and for that they build the A-380. On the other Boeing expects airlines to go for smaller faster aircraft like the 7E7. At the moment I can?t say how the markets will react to the A-380, but if they react to it in anyway like the 747 than there may be some success for this plane after all. When it comes down to it, it really depends on the people. What do passengers want something fast that will get you there quick. Or something large and is kind of like a flying hotel of sorts. If the 747 sales drop Boeing must not worry, because there 737 and 717 model are very good airplanes and have been proven to be successful. Also the 7E7 will be a great aircraft as well because, airlines may like this plane for it?s efficiency and lower maintenance cost.

Image courtesy of: Boeing
Big companies like JAL may find the A-380 to be a good airplane to replace there aging 747 fleet. In my opinion a company that operates a giant fleet of 747?s like JAL may find the A-380 to fit there needs better. While newer airlines and existing airlines that have limited routes that are not very long will find the B-737, B-717 even some of the A-318 all the way through the A-320 models better to fit there needs. If the airline feels like they want to upgrade to something bigger they can always go with A-321 or a bigger 737 in the 800 to 900 series. I believe mostly in the Asian markets the A-380 will prove to be a good aircraft.

Based on a chart in the Boeing website of orders through August 3, 2004, the 737 is their best selling model, while the 7E7 is in second. Boeing may be correct about the future of air travel being smaller and faster planes. Still if you look at the chart most of the airlines that have put in orders for the 747, are mostly based in Asia. Most of these Asian airlines may continue to use the 747, until the A-380 comes out. Possibly it will cause the airlines to replace there 747 fleet or probably convert what is left of the passenger aircraft to cargo.

All in all the future markets really depends on the needs of a airline and what passengers want. In my opinion, I have taken a look at both sides of the argument, and it seems that each company is trying to out do themselves. Really it?s not about which plane is better, every airline has different needs, if you are a company operating a giant 747 fleet the A-380 may be right for you. If you are an airline looking for a fast efficient plane the 7E7 may be right for you. This ongoing competition between these two giant companies may ultimately prove to be the downfall for one of the companies. Yet this healthy competition will help the future of the airline industry, by the manufactories building better aircraft to ensure that the airlines and passengers will be satisfied.



Image courtesy of: Airbus
Artwork created by 13M

Very nice article Cruising! Get's to the point!

I agree, very nicely done.

And by the way, 300 airports worldwide could support the 747, but only 30 could support the A380.
*Based on 747 Brochure*
Boeing.com

lol, that could be true, or maybe just a way for Boeing to spread propaganda, but indeed the A380 is a monster and few airports will be able to support it.

Support, meaning the weight of the craft.
I beleive that boeing is telling the truth.
I personally will like the 747 the best.

Yea but when the 747 first came out, maybe only 30 airports supported it. ;)
But I agree, 747 is already legendary.

Well back to the point, why would 200+ international airports change their runways for the A380 if they still have the 747?

Why did 200 airports change their runway for the 747?
Because it's bigger and better.

They didn't! The 747 was just enough for the runway.

Oh okay. I was just guessing there. ;) I assumed that at the time the 747 would be like the A380 of today. Are you sure they didn't have to increase the Runway strengthen lllboy?

It didn't make then alter the runways, however later on they slowly strenthened the runways.
The A380 however, needs to have strenthened runways.

Oh, yea you were right. :D

What I did to get the image to show is to eliminate the space in the image url - like this:

http://www.electronicaviation.com/images/uploads/Commercial%20Aviation/8.gif

There was a space between "Commercial" and "Aviation" that is the problem. The bbcode doesn't seem to care for the space. ;)

I added the %20 to fill the space... which is what a browser would do naturally.

Check the thread over at XMB - I'll report this to Tularis and see if this can be fixed.

Ah I see! Thanks Daf!