IAGblog Podcasts

The original team of four analysts (Aaron Gellman, Richard Aboulafia, George Hamlin and Hans Weber) who wrote this report in 2002 were lambasted by Airbus boosters because of their negative views of the A380 program. In 2004 the analysts revisited the project with the same view when they updated their report. Today we had three (Gellman, Aboulafia & Hamlin) of the original four analysts to provide a verbal update on the 2004 update.

Their views have hardened. They see the A380 as an even bigger mistake today; they don't pull any punches. Not only do they see the plane as mostly an emotional, industrial policy decision, but they also point to the risk Airbus has with so many of this plane being bought by one customer.

Boeing does not get by unblemished. Its 747-8 is struggling for sales because the analysts view the VLA market as simply unattractive given the way the airline market has evolved. This is a sobering view of the A380's prospects.

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