Why the A380 didn’t sell

Subscription Required By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction November 25, 2021, © Leeham News: The last A380 will be delivered to Emirates in the coming week, after a production run of only 251 units. Why didn’t Airbus sell more? What… Read More

The conundrum of a new airplane design vs a derivative

Subscription Required By Scott Hamilton Introduction April 19, 2020, © Leeham News: When it comes to a decision by an aircraft manufacturer whether to develop an entirely new airplane or a derivative, these multi-billion dollar decisions involve hundreds… Read More

Sunset of the Quads, Part 9, Wrap-up

Subscription Required By Vincent Valery and Bjorn Fehrm Introduction   Oct. 1st, 2020, © Leeham News: Last week, we compared the economics of the A380 against the 747-8 and 777-9 on the Frankfurt to New York route. We now… Read More

Sunset of the Quads, Part 8. The A380, 747-8i and 777-9 compared.

Subscription Required By Bjorn Fehrm Introduction   September 24, 2020, © Leeham News: Airbus was disturbed for decades by Boeing’s rein of the Very Large Aircraft (VLA) airliner segment with the 747. It was determined Boeing used this dominance… Read More

2019 Outlook: Boeing’s decision on NMA is the headline to watch

Subscription Required Introduction Dec. 21, 2018, © Leeham News: It is a stretch to say 2019 is a pivotal year for Boeing. There would have to be events of tsunami proportions to be pivotal for a company with… Read More

Key lessors see strong wide-body market despite worries

Subscription Required Introduction Aug. 7, 2017, © Leeham Co.: Amid talk that Middle Eastern airlines, which are the largest group of users for wide-body aircraft, may defer Airbus and Boeing airplanes, there are conflicting signs that the bleak… Read More

A380 order welcome, but may not add to Airbus backlog

Subscription Required Introduction The news of orders by Iran Air and ANA for 12 and three A380s respectively is good news for Airbus, but these probably don’t do much to boost the backlog in practical terms. These orders… Read More

Boeing cuts 747-8 production rate, takes charge

Jan. 21, 2016, (c) Leeham Co. Boeing today announced it will cut the production rate of the 747-8 from the current 1.3/mo and the previously announced 1/mo to 0.5/mo, effective in September. The previously announced rate reduction is… Read More

Assessing the China market

Subscription required. Introduction Sept. 30, 2015, (c) Leeham Co.: The Boeing deals announced last week with China put the country into the spotlight about its commercial aviation ambitions. For many, the various deals announced by Boeing raise alarm… Read More

World air cargo market struggles continue; ominous sign for new-build main-deck freighters

Aug. 26, 2015: World air cargo markets continue to struggle, according to reports yesterday from Cargo Facts newsletter and The Wall Street Journal. Neither report bodes well for new-build, main deck freights, although Cargo Facts concludes a demand… Read More