Airbus plans huge production rate for A350XWB

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 04 Jun 2007, 22:22

Some very mixed messages coming out of this meeting:

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provid ... ID=6783140

Andries · Post by **Andries** » 04 Jun 2007, 22:51

Yet another new version of the A350 : the Airbus A350 XWD ... Xtra Wide Doors or something ?

When reading this, I just can't imagine it being hard to become a journalist ...

Greetz,

Andries

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 05 Jun 2007, 00:15

Indeed, not the best written piece of journalism by far...

Still, good news for Airbus!

Would there be any A330(F?) production left besides the A350 production?

Ruscoe · Post by **Ruscoe** » 05 Jun 2007, 04:03

Airbus might be able to assemble 13 a month but can their suppliers keep up?
Ruscoe

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 05 Jun 2007, 13:11

Just some more info from the meeting in Vancouver, Mr. Hazy is saying the A350 design may be further developed, and the specifications are not yet set in stone.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/ ... source=rss

Another interesting quote from John Leahy!

Remember this one! it may come back and bite him in the ass as many of his others have done!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/ ... source=rss

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 05 Jun 2007, 16:53

If Aibus ramps up production, let's just hope it goes smoothly and not backfire as a similar Boeing ramp-up in the 1990's. Boeing had to shut down production for over 3 months to get things straightened out.

achace · Post by **achace** » 06 Jun 2007, 02:15

Boeing and Airbus for once appear to agree on the overall market for 787 and XWB sized aircraft, so it seems strange that GE are holding back.

For a change Leahy I believe is correct about the existing GEnx, because it has not got sufficient margins to obtain the required thrust for the XWB1000.

For GE to hold off because of the GE90 on the 777 appears to ignore the issue of the XWB eating into the 777 market, and if Boeing are to do anything about that, I would not expect the GE90 to be part of the plan as they would have to use an engine at least as efficient as the GEnx or Trent1000.

Still find it difficult to understand how PW appear to have given up on large commercial engines. Their only involvement these days is the EA on the A380, and how many of those are going to be sold if we are to believe this forum?

Cheers
Achace

bits44 · Post by **bits44** » 06 Jun 2007, 05:12

More Leahy quotes, the man amazes the aviation world once again.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/ ... air06.html

Ruscoe · Post by **Ruscoe** » 06 Jun 2007, 07:08

The critical factor about the size of the windows is not the total window area, but the depth from top to bottom.

The 787 window size was chosen so that everyone in the craft, even in the middle seats can see out of that portion of the window above the seat height.

Ruscoe

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 06 Jun 2007, 14:50

I wonder what announcements at Paris Boeing might have up its' sleeve to counter the A350XWB's threat to the B777. They need a lighter plane with more efficeint engines in this catagory.

Boeing will certainly offer something to compete with the A350 and the sooner they announce it (with a delivery date), the better. They will then be able to blunt possible sales of the A350.

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 06 Jun 2007, 20:37

I can't see Boeing changing the 777 just yet... The 777L & 777W are brand new planes, & the 777F hasn't even flown yet!

Does everybody really believe Boeing will just trow that development money away? They are both great planes!

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 06 Jun 2007, 20:40

I do agree with Leahy on this point:

Leahy did make one other point.

"I've never lost a sale to Boeing because of the size of the windows," he said.

Bigger windows may be good, but it is not going to influence potentional buyers in any way... They just look at purchase & running costs.

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 06 Jun 2007, 21:57

Buzz wrote:I can't see Boeing changing the 777 just yet... The 777L & 777W are brand new planes, & the 777F hasn't even flown yet!

Does everybody really believe Boeing will just trow that development money away? They are both great planes!

The currrent B777's are great planes (now), but they will face heavy competition from the A350XWB in 6 years (2013). Boeing needs to take the initiative and keep ahead of hte competition (or loose an important edge in this market). New engines, aerodynamic refinements, lighter weight, etc. will keep the product competitive over the next decade.

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 06 Jun 2007, 23:37

GE won't put the GE90 on the A350 to protect it's investment on the 777, but at the same time it will have to develop a new engine for the 777?
We'll see how it goes, it will be some interesting years for sure!

achace · Post by **achace** » 08 Jun 2007, 06:30

According to Flight International, GE have conceded the engine contract for the Qatar XWB contract to RR seemingly without a fight despite having been the selected engine for the original 350 contract, and a long time Qatar supplier.

There must be some serious internal issues at GE, political or financial to walk away from such a large market, even if the 787 does appear to be the one with the biggest chunk of that segment in which GEnx has to compete with RR.

Maybe the XWB is going to be like the 777LR, only one engine choice.

Cheers
Achace