What should Airbus’s next move be?
Posted by furryfelinefan_@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 26 comments
Aside from dealing with supplier issues and ramping up production to clear their massive backlog, what might be the most prudent next move for Airbus?
• stretching and/or re-engining the A350 to make it even more competitive against 777X • doing a clean sheet A330 replacement to better compete with the 787 • launch a replacement for the A32Xneo series around late 2020s/early 2030s with newer generation powerplants, design concepts and airframe technologies • stretching the A220
dontsteponthecrack@reddit
Honestly they need to work with engine suppliers and create step change technologies
Boeing is fucked and China is 20+ years behind
The need is to fly more people with less fuel
The other thing the industry actually needs is to develop ways to recycle composite structures
SherryJug@reddit
The A350-800 does exist and afaik it's already the least popular variant.
A clean sheet A330-size aircraft would make no sense, the A330neo is almost as fuel efficient as the 787 and actually competitive with it when it comes to operational cost, so a bunch of airlines are ordering it, especially since the acquisition price is much lower than that of the 787. And then there's the A350 too.
The only part of the market that Airbus isn't competitive in is around the size of the 777-9X
CaptAPJT@reddit
The A350-800 only exists in theory, it’s development was cancelled in 2014 and essentially replaced with the 330NEO.
SherryJug@reddit
Oh, you're right! Pretty much speaks for how much it's needed though
Overload4554@reddit
They should start planning for eventual replacement of 32x series. It’s already over 40 years old. Ask Boeing how well a 57+ year old design is going.
A 32x that is heavy into composites
Maybe also stretch the A220 (it’s only been shortened so far as the base design was the 300 series) and drop the smaller 319 altogether
Majakowski@reddit
Boeing should rather ask Airbus how to make an old design fit for current circumstances.
Every-Progress-1117@reddit
There is a huge difference between the A320 and 737 series in terms of longevity.
Modern A320s (and 737s) are very different in terms of avionics, wing performance, materials etc than their predecessors. One of the reason for the A320's success in this area is that a lot of thought was given to its futureproofness. The fact that we have gone from the 320-100 to the 321XLR with all the changes this has required is remarkable. If you compare a modern 737-MAX with a 737-100 and the recently history (engine sizes & placement, MCAS) you start to see the differences.
I can see the next generation of A320/321 being much more composite based with improvements to the wing design - that'll give a decade or so, maybe more. This coupled with engine design and new fuels, adds to this.
The 737, going further is a struggle - I think, IMHO, we're deep into sunken costs here. Boeing's reaction to the Neos was to effectively reenigne the 737, unfortunately this was done (in aircraft engineering timescales) too quickly (and by MBAs).
In terms of clean-sheet design, Airbus are in the better position; but also take into consideration that airlines and aviation in general is very conservative when it comes to change. Any clean-sheet aircraft in this series is not going to be on the market until 2040.
Gastroid@reddit
Airbus' next move is to crank out planes and clear their backlog. They're effectively at full capacity.
Majakowski@reddit
"Aside from dealing with supplier issues and ramping up production to clear their massive backlog"
fightingforair@reddit
They can shut the f up about single pilot planes and just focus on clearing the backlog.
Express_Union7995@reddit
Getting the Bleed Air Cabin pressurisation systems out of aircraft. I prefer my flying without the toxins.
SherryJug@reddit
Aside from whatever is ingested during startup, bleed air is just taken from the compressor, so the only toxins are whatever was already in the air, maybe now slightly burnt from getting heated up during compression
248-083A@reddit
I’m hoping the next big revolution in aviation will be in engine design.
the1stAviator@reddit
Next on the list is space for single pilot and his dog. Pilot monitors and if he touches anything, the dog bites him.
Papewaio7B8@reddit
Airbus is in the position to not need to do anything. At the moment it has no reap competition. It can focus on production while planning its next airplane or variant without pressure (some of the possibilities are close to what you list, like a bigger 220; they have already done some of the things that you mention, although in safe, non-existing ways). It is not in a real hurry to do so, it has no need to take risks.
There are a few things they can improve on even with current production, such as working with suppliers. It sometimes looks like Boeing is selling airplanes only because of the backlog Airbus has; buyers prefer to go with the alternative while they wait for the airplane they really want (it is an exaggeration, but quite close to reality with a few models).
So... Things will be relatively stable and boring for the next few years on the commercial aviation side, until real competition appears.
On the military side, things could be better for Airbus, and it could do something unexpected due to higher competition. So far it looks the best military projects Airbus are legacy projects. They might want to try something innovative in that area (so far the attempts have not been great; for example I like the A400 a lot, but the development was a nightmare).
disfannj@reddit
they should fix their damn engines so my airline can grow and i can upgrade.
Every-Progress-1117@reddit
Airbus don't make engines and I'm not sure what this has to do with your airline (maybe you should ask the engineers in your company, the board of directors etc...which airline do you own?).
Shot-Ad-9088@reddit
Open a bottle of champagne and chill out.
Big-Professional-187@reddit
They can stay where they are and those planes move themselves. The pilots move the sticks and levers. The wheels move when the plane has landed or taxing. It's not chess.
Hwidditor@reddit
Buy Boeing.
Wirax-402@reddit
Their next move is probably going to be a stretched version of the 220. After that they’ll look at the 200-250 seat segment with a larger narrow body or a smaller wide body.
adjust_your_set@reddit
As soon as Boeing moves forward with their new narrow body, Airbus will need to respond in kind.
The A321 is better now, but would likely fall behind a clean sheet narrow body.
Other than that, they’re pretty much set on the commercial side with the A350/330 combo.
notathr0waway1@reddit
They don't have to do anything. They just have to keep existing, and Boeing will step on their own dick over and over.
Sneaky__Fox85@reddit
A new wing design for the next iteration of their 321/320 line or clean-sheet replacement for those two. Currently they're kinda dogs performance-wise.
discombobulated38x@reddit
They say their next aircraft is mid 2030s, off the top of my head I don't know what it will be.
They're going hard for step change technologies, hydrogen, new engine architectures, that kind of thing.
They've got 5 years to print money, deliver the orders they've accepted and pour a bunch of money into R&T/capability acquisition in a way that Boeing absolutely cannot afford to right now.
You can bet they've done design studies for all of the options you suggest though, and more.
Not only that, I'd bet their engine manufacturers have contacted them too saying "hey have you thought about re-engining X with Y in 2032 or so??"
n00chness@reddit
Airb&bus