Hello, thy name is Titanic

[RedFury]

http://www.usatoday.com/money/biztra...380-usat_x.htm

Look at the photos in the link on that page. This new Airbus is HUGE! It is so big, it could fly a small town in Vermonts population to Europe, and do it in style!

[vass0922]

all that and its only 30 more passengers...

ya I saw a special on discovery about the PITA it is to transport just the parts of it to teh assembly hangar.

[M_Six]

Think how long it'll take to get off that plane at the end of your trip.

[Theophylact]

Think how long it'll take to get off that plane at the end of your trip.

Think how long it'll take to get your baggage.

[M_Six]

Think how long it'll take to get your baggage.

Or get through security screening or customs.

[gambler2611]

What a fantastic terrorist target. Take down one of them and bag yourself international infamy.

Is this seriously saving any airliner money? Surely planes this big take a long time to pay off?

[mr.jiggyfly]

Think of the economies of scale! Who cares if you can be a terrorist target and get blown up by a russian surface to air missle? I don't! As long as the price is right.

[sharder8]

Is this seriously saving any airliner money? Surely planes this big take a long time to pay off?

Info gleened from my days working in M.E. at Boeing.

For every day that a 747 is grounded, it costs the airlines aprox. $125M. That's from lost revenue.

The Boeing 747 has the lowest cost per seat mile of any of the commercial carriers. That is due to the costs of fuel, maint., staffing, and airport fees, when divided by the number of seats, it is potentially the lowest. That's also the reason that the airlines overbook . . . it costs them more and they lose money when there are empty seats.

Harder

[RedFury]

I assume this will be for international flights primarily, and since the Concord is gone, you might as well enjoy the length of the flight in comfort, eh?

As luxurious as this thing is, I'll be a first class ticket costs a pretty penny.

I wonder if the cheap seats have to sit in the belly of the beast, with the animals?

And what happens while you are wandering about? Don't think about mingling with the folks that bought better tickets! Class warefare on a plane!

[Toadman]

Maximum take-off weight is almost 1/3 more than the 747? It's gonna put some where and tear on taxiways, aprons and runways. With the limited number of US runways long enough and having to re-configure jet bridges for a double-entry, I can't blame the US airlines for balking at such a monstrosity. Like the article says, travelers want flexibility and numerous convenient flights available, not one hour boarding to push-back waits on a few select flights at only the largest airports.

[M_Six]

all that and its only 30 more passengers...

Actually that article is wrong. Max capacity is 840 passengers.

Like the article says, travelers want flexibility and numerous convenient flights available, not one hour boarding to push-back waits on a few select flights at only the largest airports.

That's right. You'll have to show up at the gate at least an hour before filght time to board and you can add at least an hour after you arrive to get off the plane and grab your luggage. If it doesn't get you there any quicker, what's the point?