NEWS: Airbus A380 First Flight Planned This Week

The massive Airbus A380 is slated for its first test flight on Wednesday. Airbus claims this behemoth sporting two full decks for seating up to a mind numbing 840 passengers will be the next big thing (my pun...intended of course)to hit the airline industry. If all goes well it will be the first commercial passenger aircraft larger than the Boeing 747 to hit the friendly skies. Airbus expects to spend the next year testing the aircraft...and there are many questions to be answered. Only some of them relate directly to the aircraft.

Is this a viable aircraft?

Will the cost model prove sustainable for this aircraft?

Will enough airports modify their runways and facilities to take the aircraft?


I've come right out and said that I do not believe the A380 can be a cost effective aircraft and will be relegated to a niche markets much like the Concorde...only slower. Wonder if I'm right? We should start getting a better idea in a year.