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Dear Editor

“READING your comments about the A380 I could not help seeing the reverse of your statement. When Boeing built the 747 the object was to get not only more passengers in the sky but to get one over on the Concord which they thought was a waste of time, how wrong they were.

You are now advocating the same argument , where as they are building a small fast aircraft and Airbus are building the mighty A380 in order to get more people in th air.

However the situation now is different, the number of people wanting to fly is increasing at rate nobody had envisaged a few years ago.
The problem with this increase is that where are all these fast small aircraft going to land, whilst they require a one to one landing place the A380 is at the least only going to need a one in three spot. If you have ever been in an aeroplane circling waiting for a spot to land for say 20 minutes you must know how frustrating this can be, so you can I hope see the point I am making.

Ray Biddle
Son Caliu

Dear Sir,

“THE Viewpoint article The Flying Bus questioning the need for, and potential financial success of, the new Airbus A380, having followed its launch, the interview with its CEO, I really must beg to differ.

Firstly, they already have 150 firm orders and options on 100 more, and their break-even point is 250 planes! This is before any go into service with a planned 40-year production span. Air travellers are increasing globally each year. We have seen at Palma airport an average of 10% more each year, hence the discussion, etc., of making the airport that much bigger, at the double?

With a single plane carrying double, up to four times as many passengers as regular planes, the A380 will answer the problem of more passengers at existing airports, even is some runways are extended. Another advantage of the A380 is its flexibility. It can be made for 500 or so passengers with first, business and tourist class, and lots of on-board relax/entertainment features for long-haul, or over 800 passengers for the “package” short-haul, all with more leg room than at present.

It has a fuel saving of between 15% and 20% and this can be passed on in reduced fares.
I too feel sad at the passing of Concorde. For those like me, who really suffer from jet lag, it was a godsend. However, like the much-loved and so revolutionary E-type Jaguar, their running costs outstripped the beauty/style of their design. We unfortunately live in a time where taste and design has been overtaken by economy and a “sameness” that takes a lot of fun out of life, from cars made today that will never be a collectors item in 40 years, to junk food, bad architecture and poor dress code. A bit boring and sad really, but that is “progress” for you!”

Yours sincerely, Graham Phillips
Palma