Boeing Versus Airbus

• Analyze the key mistakes that Airbus made with its A-350 and A-380 product development programs to determine if the mistakes could have been prevented.

The ideal for creating the A-380 and A-350 was to upgrade its existing model (a-330). The A-350 was designed for the new products (engines). The key issues with these models were that it was not delivering enough comfort as the other models and the other models were faster than the A-350. When airbus introduces another model which was A-380; it was develop to match the projections of large air passenger’s traffic. The A-380 was able to fit 555 passengers and it was a double decker jumbo jet. This would only benefit is that it would be carrying more customers and offering fewer flights.

• Explain the factors contributing to the success of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

There are several factors that contribute to the success of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner. The first one is the advance technology of the 787 Dreamliner. It is a suite of new technologies developed and applied on the airplane. It is simpler than today’s airplanes and offers increased functionality and efficiency. An example is that it has added health-monitoring systems that allow the airplane to self-monitor and report system maintenance requirements to ground based computer systems.

The 2nd factor is that it carries 210-250 passengers on routes of 7,650-8,200 miles. This means that it can bring big-jet ranges to mid-size airplanes. Here is another factor to their success is that the airplane uses 20 percent less fuel than today’s similarly sized airplanes. It will also travel at a similar speed as today’s fastest wide bodies.

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family/background.html

• Assess Boeing's plans to subcontract out significant portions of the Dreamliner's manufacture. What are your conclusions?

Its strategy is to help save cost and to increase the likelihood of booking orders from airlines and governments from other countries. In...