Could United be First A380 US Operator?

[Ansett]

Could be good for Airbus if correct and successful.

United may take two A380s - Airline Hub Buzz | Airline news and Information

 

[TomVexille]

I'm still struggling to work out what route they would be used on

 

[Ansett]

I'm still struggling to work out what route they would be used on

Perhaps to increase capacity at airports where slots are precious such as LHR?

 

[TomVexille]

Perhaps to increase capacity at airports where slots are precious such as LHR?

Can really be about the only market that works. At the moment UA and AA have pretty decent frequency into LHR from major hubs though.

 

[RooFlyer]

You can imagine the competitors' new marketing:

"Fly the airline that supports American jobs ..."

 

[smit0847]

SFO-PVG is the rumoured route

 

[TomVexille]

You can imagine the competitors' new marketing:

"Fly the airline that supports American jobs ..."

Airbus are building a plant in Alabama

 

[RooFlyer]

Airbus are building a plant in Alabama

Goodness. So they are. Shipping the bits by sea from Hamburg.

The major component assemblies (MCAs) consist of the wings produced in the UK, the rear fuselage section produced in Germany including the tail cone (produced in Spain), and the forward fuselage section, including the coughpit produced in France, all of which contain parts from all over the world. The horizontal (from Spain) and vertical (from Germany) stabilisers are also on board. The first aircraft is an A321ceo destined for delivery to JetBlue in 2016.

So its actually a camel assembly plant in Alabama.

 

[TomVexille]

Goodness. So they are. Shipping the bits by sea from Hamburg.



So its actually a camel assembly plant in Alabama.

Very smart move IMO

 

[NM]

You can imagine the competitors' new marketing:

"Fly the airline that supports American jobs ..."

There are plenty of Airbus aircraft already in USA airline's fleets - just not A380.

 

[Ansett]

How much of the current 787 series and the new 777x is actually built in full in US vs parts being manufactured overseas and assembled in US.

Not sure there would be as large a gap between Airbus and Boeing US assembled aircraft as one may think.

 

[docjames]

Fleet of two doesn't sound particularly economic unless they got a killer deal including maintenance etc.

If true it's the Skymark frames which have already had partial payments, Airbus could probably give them a killer deal.

They'll have fun though when one goes u/s and needs to be subbed by a 777 or 350......

 

[TomVexille]

Fleet of two doesn't sound particularly economic unless they got a killer deal including maintenance etc.

If true it's the Skymark frames which have already had partial payments, Airbus could probably give them a killer deal.

They'll have fun though when one goes u/s and needs to be subbed by a 777 or 350......

I'd be willing to bet that Airbus would be offering a unbelievable deal to try and break into the US market. Something needs to be done to stimulate a380 sales

 

[UP4014]

It would be because of the price, follow the money.

 

[Himeno]

What routes do UA still use a 747 on, that can't be 1:1 capacity replaced by a 777?
The only way I see a US carrier getting a A380 would be if they plan to replace 2 JFK-LHR 777 flights with 1 A380.