I read some interesting issues about the A380 presentation and consquences:
Neither Dixon* nor any of the other airline chiefs at the ceremony mentioned anything about the likely effect of the new fuel-efficient aircraft on prices. This is despite the A380 reputedly being at least 20% cheaper to operate per passenger than the Boeing 747. One factor behind the A380's increased fuel efficiency and longer range is that about 25% of the aircraft is made of composite material (mainly carbon-fibre), making it considerably lighter.
In flying the A380 to Los Angeles, Qantas hopes it will overcome the handicap of not being able to fly full loads (people and freight) over the Pacific with its 747. The A380 can fly 10% further than a 747.
And we know Sir Richard Branson**, attempted to steal the show at the A380 unveiling by talking up the prospect of onboard luxuries ranging from casinos, massage rooms and double beds.
Mr Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum*** said:
"There are continued constraints on traffic rights and the availability of landing slots, and therefore large capacity aircraft will be vital to Emirates' need to meet increasing passenger demand."
* Mr Geoff Dixon is the chief executive of Qantas.
** Sir Richard Branson does the same job at Virgin Atlantic.
*** Mr Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum is the sheik, chairman of the A380's largest customer - Emirates, who with the other emerates' Ethihad, tries to aggressively (Emirates' need to meet increasing passenger demand ???) brake in foreign traffic rights++ with no respect for the sovereignity of others, nor their culture, liberties or democratic regimes and with bigger capacity aircraft, with no or very little home market.
++ In my opinion, such traffic rights should be made conditional upon the airline's country cultural and democratic regimes, and not depending on its money and petrol. May I remind there are no political parties in th UAE, and particularly that all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts, which is not acceptable in
civil aviation.
The CIA states (updated DEC16. 2004):
the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving
Emirates' need to meet increasing passenger demand
Are the UAE's airlines really creating demand or just undercutting other airlines' rates with their heavily subsidised vehicles? On the other hand, these subsidised purchases of european aircraft, allow Airbus to build more aircraft than Boeing. Wonder how long the USA will take that!
). 
Andries 
) Damn school 
