Airbus A380

[sonnie]

Just commenting on the new Airbus plane....
It would make a very enjoyable flight to the D.R.!!! Imagine 840 people getting off of the plane in POP/STI/SDQ?!?!? It would be an awesome party on that plane with a casino, jacuzzi and bar!! The landing strips would need to be made a little bigger though.
Here is an article that was posted on msn's website today if anybody is interested. It has some links to some pictures and a video. There are also some pics and videos on Airbus' website.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7643311/

sonnie

 

[ricktoronto]

Unless they refit the airports, which they won't, don't hold out for the A380 in the DR.

 

[Lurch]

Just commenting on the new Airbus plane....
It would make a very enjoyable flight to the D.R.!!! Imagine 840 people getting off of the plane in POP/STI/SDQ?!?!? It would be an awesome party on that plane with a casino, jacuzzi and bar!! The landing strips would need to be made a little bigger though.
Here is an article that was posted on msn's website today if anybody is interested. It has some links to some pictures and a video. There are also some pics and videos on Airbus' website.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7643311/

sonnie

The 840 person is the sardine configuration which unfortunately I suspect most of the buyers of this aircraft intend to order. I would not look for the jacuzzi on those airlines, however the queue for the toliet should be easy to find....

 

[Escott]

My guess is that you will see the new 787 here before you see the 380.

 

[Conchman]

How much you wanna bet?

 

[rellosk]

My guess is that you will see the new 787 here before you see the 380.

I agree, the runways need to be refitted to accommodate the 380. It can't even land in EWR. However, you may not see either plane land in the DR. I don't know if there is a demand for these types of aircraft. How many 747's currently fly into SDQ?

 

[Conchman]

My guess is you will only see them on major long haul destinations like New York, Sydney, Singapore, London, etc.

But the Airbus will be ready for regular use much faster than the Boeing plane.

 

[Lurch]

I agree, the runways need to be refitted to accommodate the 380. It can't even land in EWR. However, you may not see either plane land in the DR. I don't know if there is a demand for these types of aircraft. How many 747's currently fly into SDQ?

Boeing's public projections stated that the A380 shall only be a niche market of less than 300 aircraft over the lifetime of the project. If this is true it will be a major money pit for Airbus and the EU governments that paid the development costs (currently 11 billion USD), breakeven projections were at 285 aircraft sold before the Euros appreciation so I suspect it is somewhere around 350 aircraft today. Its seems that Airbus may be concerned about this as they are now talking about a new A-350 to compete with the 787 Dreamliner.

I would be hard pressed to see an A380 ever landing in the RD as not only are the runways a problem but the aircraft requires a very unique airport terminal due to size and double decker design.

The 787 will land in the RD long before an A380, but the 787 doesn't even enter service until I believe 2007 or 2008.

 

[TEHAMA]

Can you imagine what the gate/waiting area would look like?
TEHAMA

 

[El Tigre]

How many 747's currently fly into SDQ?

I think the only one is the Air France one from SXM (st. marteen princess juliana)

 

[Escott]

How much you wanna bet?

Well I would consider this bet. Name your price and I will let you know.

Escott

 

[NALs]

Can you imagine what the gate/waiting area would look like?
TEHAMA

Not just that, but the wing span of this behemoth is large enough to take up to three parking or gate spaces in any of the DR airports!

Scenerio 1:
Imagine that giant ship coming down from the sky, flying extremely low on final right over the Playa Dorada beach resorts! That would be like a mini eclipse!

Scenerio 2:
Imagine driving along Autopista Las Americas directly north of the Las America's airport past the overpasses and suddenly that giant ship comes down from the sky. In a country where people already drive a high speeds, scaring them from above may not be the best thing, I would think!

Scenerio 3:
Imagine the giant on final ready to land going east. Santiago will go into a standstill to wait and see if that behemoth actually makes it!

No no no, this is no good.

And as if that was not enough, where is the plane going to land? The thing will run off the runways at landing and departing!

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE:

Might cut down the number of daily flights into SDQ, STG, or POP from whatever number to 4 or 5, heck maybe even 3 if this thing does carry 800 plus passengers.

AND THIS LEAVES ME WONDERING...
Will they be stright with the luggage amounts?

 

[Lurch]

I just would like to know how long it would take to do the following.

1. Exit the airplane (the joy of the overhead luggage rush, pity those in economy).

2. Clear immigration (nothing quite like arriving at SDQ now when a Euro charter plane arrives ahead of your flight, can you imagine the experience 800 people in line). Time to pay for that VIP service :bandit:

3. Collecting your luggage (takes an hour + with a tiny 727 or an A300, now multiply that by a factor of 3 to 5).

4. Clearing customs (now that Fernandez is looking in just about every persons luggage for anything at all to tax, could take a day or two at least...hehe).

 

[Hillbilly]

Don't even think about it.

It will never happen.
The Dreamliner, twin engine, much lighter, much more economical to operate will be here a lot quicker ...

The A-380 will be used by airlines that fly far and with lots of passengers. London Delhi. London Sidney. Frankfurt Tokio....and maybe some of the Arab nation airlines that take people to the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina on the Hadj....

Or maybe Santo Domingo to Los Angeles for the world series??? But just a charter....like Brazilians to Germany for the World Cup...

Come on Dreamliner...

HB

 

[Eddy]

My guess is you will only see them on major long haul destinations like New York, Sydney, Singapore, London, etc.

But the Airbus will be ready for regular use much faster than the Boeing plane.

Yea, the're made out of plastic and fall apart. 2 close calls just with AT in the past year or so. Give me the good old USA products anytime. Too bad the 747's and L1011's are gas guzlers because they were the very BEST and could land easy in the DR.

 

[AZB]

Hillbilly is right, we won't see the 380 come to this island anytime soon. It may never come at all. This double decker makes more sense for long haul routes ex: NYC- Delhi, bombay (india), NYC to karachi (pakistan), london to sydney, los angeles to tokyo. It may even be used as cargo or shipping troops to foreign country in case of war preparation etc.

I am with eddy, I love american aircrafts. I wiould fly in a boeing (777, 767ER, 747) or a MD11 anytime over an airbus. I flew into 777 from NYC to london. Wow, what a plane, state of the art in aviation aircraft designing.
AZB

 

[Porfio_Rubirosa]

Well I would consider this bet. Name your price and I will let you know.

Yea, Conchman, can I get in on that action too?

Too bad Escott and I will have to wait until 2007/08 to get paid.

The Airbus/Boeing debate is an interesting one. There are good reasons why Airbus has outsold Boeing since 2001. There are also good reasons why Boeing is outselling Airbus this year. One thing is for sure: Pilots prefer the Boeings' tougher design.

 

[TEHAMA]

Triple 7 is nice!

I went out of my way once through Denver just to hop on the Triple 7 when United first got theirs. The inside cabins squeaked a bit much at the time but the flight was smoooth as silk. I've heard others in the industry refer to those French-made planes as SCAREBUS. But that could all just be national rivalry. They said similar things about Hondas and Toyota when they first arrived.
TEHAMA

 

[Escott]

Yea, Conchman, can I get in on that action too?

Too bad Escott and I will have to wait until 2007/08 to get paid.

Step aside son, this turkey is all mine! Still waiting for the $$$ amount to make my bet. Maybe I cut you in but I take a cut of your winnings? Maybe I will own a brand new marina...

Escott

 

[Lurch]

I went out of my way once through Denver just to hop on the Triple 7 when United first got theirs. The inside cabins squeaked a bit much at the time but the flight was smoooth as silk. I've heard others in the industry refer to those French-made planes as SCAREBUS. But that could all just be national rivalry. They said similar things about Hondas and Toyota when they first arrived.
TEHAMA

I refer to the Airbus A300 as "Elvis" (shake rattle and roll), I swear that center overhead luggage support is going to fail on every landing.

Now the Boeing 777 is a slice a heaven, I really do not believe there is a bad seat on that aircraft (well center economy is not desired on any flight) :tired:.