Will the Airbus A380 soon be flying for a U.S. carrier?
Ever since it made its first commercial passenger flight in 2007, aviation industry observers have been skeptical that a U.S. airline would decide to add the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft to its fleet.
But Airbus apparently thinks that’s about to change.
Aviation Week reports:
United Continental Holdings is contemplating an Airbus A380 order, and while a final deal will take some time, Airbus expects the U.S. airline to adopt the double-decker for its extensive Asian network.
That came from Airbus COO John Leahy, who told Aviation Week he believes United Continental CEO Jeff Smisek has softened in his thinking that the A380 isn’t a good fit for the route networks of U.S. carriers.
Still, Aviation Week writes that “when pressed on a pending United deal,” Leahy said:
I’m not saying there is an order soon, but United understands that if it wants to have a major presence in Asia it needs the A380.
Leahy, who says Airbus views current Boeing 747 customers as potential A380 buyers, is quoted by Reuters as saying:
There are only two operators of the 747 in the U.S.: United and Northwest-Delta. And yes, those guys are in my sights, particularly United. Everyone in Asia-Pacific has A380s now… If you want to compete in Asia-Pacific, at some point in time United is going to have to get on board with the A380.
Airbus’ A380s have sold well in Middle East and Asia, but have not been purchased by airlines in the Americas.
Nonetheless, Leahy was optimistic, telling Aviation Week he thinks the A380 will find its way to U.S. airlines as air traffic here puts an ever-increasing strain on the handling capacity of the nation’s air traffic control system.
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