Game: Over
End Of An Era Approaches For Ailing Quad
Will It Be Missed? Not A Chance!
An interesting set of comments appeared from Airbus’ head of leasing at the ISTAT conference held in Arizona last month.
While its right that airframers “talk up” their products to shore up interest, the A340 has had its fair share of critics ever since it emerged onto the world stage - it’s also had its fair share of praise too, from airlines and customers et al.
But then so has the 777.
However, the last 30 years showing the growing use of twin engine airplanes has resigned the A340 to being little more than a patient seeking a grant for euthanasia.
“The A340 has long been yesterday’s news. The market for this four-engined, below-spec compensation queen has gone away and will never return. Irrespective of how many outstanding orders Airbus claims to still have for the type, I’d imagine no more than another four or five will actually be built and sold, and those at knock-down, end-of-the-line or practically give-away prices too, of course,” says Arran Aerospace MD, Doug McVitie.
Indeed, Airbus’ own dilly-dallying on the “four engines versus two” dilemma prior to the A350XWB has meant that while Airbus stuck with the A340, it never really gave it as much attention as it could have done.
(Doesn’t say much for Virgin Atlantic either who boasted the “four engines for long haul” slogan with Airbus only to follow up with a 787 order a few years later…)
And when it did decide to invest in the revamped A340-500 & A340-600, it’s efforts were undone by a combination of stellar economics in the rival 777-200LR and 777-300ER families, the lack of major “oomph” over the older A340-200/-300 and no freighter option resigned the type to being ”the last runner to cross the line in a race” alternative for long haul operations despite its lower sticker price.
Despite that, after its launch alongside the A330 in the late 1980’s, the A340 has had a good innings and will no doubt continue to be the mainstay of stalwart customers like Lufthansa.
Examined another way, Airbus’ decision to push the appeal of the A330 has also undone the A340’s flagging fortunes despite the 2005-7 order boom. The type will fly on for many years with many operators - the reality is that almost a quarter of a century on from its debut, the A340’s commercial sales success is about as successful as Concorde - and that’s what it’ll always be judged on.
A340 who?
22 comments April 8th, 2009
