Remember Airbus?
By Robert Mark on November 15th, 2006Those are the folks I used as an example of how the tides of an aviation business, especially a manufacturing one, can slide down the hill faster than you can say “Here’s your Type Certificate.” Airbus had seen the first order cancellations of its mega A380 because customer confidence had dwindled in light of persistent delays.
Today comes word that cancellations are not simply the realm of Airbus, Actually, cancellations occur all the time in aircraft manufacturing. This time though, El Al Israel Airlines, pulled the plug on an option to purchase 10 Boeing 787 airliners because, according to the New York Times, the timing issue went sideways. There’s obviously more to this to come.
My guess is that the loss of those few airplanes will make little difference in the manufacturing line at Boeing and were quickly snapped up by some other airline.
But as other aircraft manufacturers have seen – Bombardier, Eclipse and Sino Swearingen just for starters – bringing an airplane to market today is not small task. It is likely not going to get any easier nor cheaper.
It was pleasant for once that Airbus took the news like a man – or would that be a woman? The European giant could have thrown a few stick at Seattle at the 787 cancellation news, but Toulouse has remained silent … at least for now. They’re probably a bit too busy over there right now.
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