Is the A380 Freighter project doomed?

January 4, 2007 by SwizStick  
Filed under Air Cargo, Airlines

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It certainly appears so after reading this tidbit from Air Cargo News:

“I’ve never understood the value of the A380 freighter. It’s driven more by hubris than actual market need,” said Richard Aboulafia, vice president analysis for the Teal Group. “It should be canceled.”

“The amount of freight you would need to carry would limit the efficient use of that aircraft to a very few selected lanes,” said Satish Jindel, president of SJ Consulting.

“The market seems to be walking away from the A380 freighter at current prices,” said David Hoppin of the MergeGlobal Consulting firm. “Moreover, there is a limited global market for very large freighters that offer a lot of cube but can’t lift a full load of regular air freight at today’s typical densities”

That’s a big contrast to the days when the ambitious A380 freighter project was first announced and orders began pouring in from FedEx and others. Now that deliveries have been delayed carrier after carrier is cancelling orders for the freighter and it seems the freighter version of the A380 is on its last legs.

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