'You Don't Need No Stinkin' Boeing...'

Even if the just-announced Boeing 747-8 is designed to be an Airbus killer, the makers of the A380 superjumbo say they're not dead yet. In fact, the European consortium believes they're just now starting to talk with the companies that might be their biggest customers for the giant airliner -- low cost carriers overseas, specifically in Japan.

Airbus Vice President Christopher Stonehouse told a news conference in Malaysia Tuesday that his company is negotiating with several Japanese airlines to come up with an 800-passenger version of the A380 for short-haul domestic flights.

"We believe there is a market there (in budget aviation)," Stonehouse said at the conference, ahead of the A380's arrival in Malaysia as part of Airbus's three-nation Asia-Pacific promotional tour for the collosal airliner.

Stonehouse wouldn't name any specific airlines, but he did talk a little about the specific problems Airbus might encounter trying to fulfill a short-haul, mass-passenger need. For instance, the stresses put on the airframe from so many TLOs (take-off and landing operations) brings into question issues such as life-cycles and maintenance, that wouldn't otherwise be seen on transoceanic aircraft.

"We are working with [carriers] on this in terms of design constraints... because you end up with greater fatigue on short-cycle," he told conference attendees.

Stonehouse declined to name any possible carriers, and no Japanese airlines -- traditionally seen as Boeing-friendly -- have as yet placed an order for the A380.

FMI: www.airbus.com