BigDUSA

I'm in town from 11 March to 4 April. If your in Pattaya at that time, I'd be glad to help you see the sights. PM me if I can be of service.

When I first started coming to LOS the exchange rate was around 45 Baht to $1USD. One of my trips to OZ, I received almost $2AUD to $1USD and in NZ I received somewhere around $2.40NZ to $1USD. How the worm has turned.

If the SST market was going to be profitable. Boeing would have funded the project. Since it wasn't. Boeing didn't. Smart move on their part.

They came damn close.

How many thousands of P&W engines are in service? Compared to the very few Rolls Royce engines currently in service with the A380? The passengers and crew on the Qantas A380 were damn lucky the crew was very well trained by Qantas and the plane was able to limp back to S'pore.

Airbus SAS will miss its 2010 target for A380 deliveries and anticipates further disruptions to its schedule next year as it struggles with the aftermath of a Rolls-Royce Group Plc engine failure. The planemaker will hand over 19 of its double-decker passenger jets in 2010, short of the targeted 20, spokesman Stefan Schaffrath said today. Toulouse, France-based Airbus plans to deliver its 18th A380 as early as tomorrow, to Qantas Airways Ltd., and will meet the year-end deadline on only one of two other jets. Airbus is working to resolve “disruptions and complications” to its A380 production line following the explosion of a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine on an A380 operated by Qantas last month, Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders told employees in a memo last month. “With the new challenges caused by the Rolls-Royce engine issue, we’re now comfortable to deliver 19 planes this year,” Schaffrath said by phone. Airbus had sought to double last year’s delivery tally of 10 superjumbos. Parent company European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. said last month that 22 had been built and were largely ready to go to customers this year. However, one for Singapore Airlines Ltd. was held up by problems with seating supplied by Koito Industries, and another to an undisclosed airline was awaiting final clearances for financing, it said. Sitting on Cash “The issue is that Airbus is sitting on a big lump of cash with three A380s sitting there and not getting delivered,” said Nick Cunningham, managing director at London-based Agency Partners, an investment advisory company. “Even without engines attached it could be $600 million, $700 million worth of finished goods sitting there in your back lot over the yearend, which is not what you want.” Airbus’s Enders told employees in a memo sent out today that the A380 superjumbo still faces “significant challenges going forward.” Rolls-Royce spokesman Josh Rosenstock today declined to comment on deliveries delayed by the Trent 900. Deliveries of the A380 model, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, began in 2007 with one handoff to Singapore Airlines that was two years late because of cabin-wiring faults. The company has spent at least 18 billion euros ($24 billion) to develop the plane, 50 percent more than originally projected, and faltered in meeting demands for features such as showers, enclosed suites and custom lighting. The planemaker started 2009 with a target of 18 A380 deliveries, only to later pare that target several times to finish the year with 10 handovers. Boeing Co. has also suffered setbacks to the introduction of new jets, including the 787. Customers Waiting Five airlines that already fly A380s -- comprised of Air France-KLM Group, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Deutsche Lufthansa AG -- are scheduled to get more in 2011. In addition are two new customers, China Southern Airlines Co. and Korean Air Lines Co. Korean Air is expected to take five A380s in 2011. Singapore Airlines’s 12th Airbus SAS A380 was delayed after Koito Industries failed to deliver business-class seats on time. The airline said the delay isn’t affecting current operations and the plane will arrive before the end of March. The A380 can carry 873 passengers, compared with more than 550 on some flights of Chicago-based Boeing Co.’s 747. Like most large planes, the Airbus model is outfitted with fewer seats than the capacity because of space arrangements in premium cabins. The plane has a list price of $346 million, though airlines get discounts for multiple purchases. To contact the reporter on this story: Andrea Rothman in Paris at aerothman@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Benedikt Kammel at bkammel@bloomberg.net QUOTE I like how they use "“With the new challenges caused by the Rolls-Royce engine issue, we’re now comfortable to deliver 19 planes this year,” Schaffrath said by phone". Yeah the mother fuckers are prone to explode.

Boeing had a supersonic plane under development. The business decision was made that this type of aircraft would never turn a profit. BTW the US Marines fly the US version of the Harrier.

Check out www.pattayadailynews.com the 2K offer is still being advertised.

You've been "lost" for a long time.

Are you saying that a stay for 2K per night at the Hilton isn't good value for the Baht? The 2K offer is still being advertised. If your so interested call the manager.

Your damn lucky it's not called the Flying Renault Dauphine.

The reservations clerk is to busy painting her nails and toes to be bothered with your reservation. Try and send a email to the hotel manager. I've had much better response from him. Plus he can offer discounts.

The 2K offer is still being advertised on Pattaya Daily News. 2k for a stay at the Hilton is good value for the Baht.

Hilton has opening special rate from 2K per night. www.pattaya.hilton.com

I enjoy a wide range of musical styles. Clapton, Who, Lady Day, Ella and let's not forget my Pattaya favorite, Hotel California.

Boeing raises aircraft prices more than 5% December 13, 2010|Bloomberg News Boeing Co. is raising aircraft prices by about 5.2%, the first increase in two years, and dropping the short-haul version of the 787 Dreamliner. Higher costs for wages, goods and services are driving the boost, said Jim Proulx, a spokesman at Boeing's commercial headquarters in Seattle. He confirmed the changes made to the price list on Chicago-based Boeing's website Monday as well as the withdrawal of the 787-3 variant "If I were an airline, I'd be reading this as a message that Boeing thinks it can get higher prices because demand is rising and supply is limited, but you'll still have the usual discussion over discounts," said Rob Stallard, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets in New York. "Boeing and Airbus deeply discount to airlines, so theoretically they could raise list prices and boost the discounts, and it would all be the same." Boeing and larger rival Airbus are pushing production rates to records to work through a seven-year backlog of orders from carriers seeking to expand and refresh their fleets with more fuel-efficient jets. Demand is recovering this year after dipping in 2009 amid the recession. The 787-3 was designed to carry as many as 330 passengers as far as 3,500 miles, compared with the 787-8's top capacity of 250 people and 9,400-mile range. Boeing shares fell 37 cents to $63.79. QUOTE

It doesn't grate on me at all that Airbus is a worthy competitor to Boeing. I just enjoy twisting Tommie's nose.

Pete has way to many menu items for the kitchen staff to serve efficiently.

I subscribe to the Airbus Accounting Rules. Beg the EU taxpayer for billions of Euro's more. EU taxpayer Airbus

I agree with Emil. You have to book a FF trip early and be willing to fly on Star Alliance partners for the best availability. Next trip I fly US Air from Philly to Madrid. Pick up Thai to BKK and Lufthansa for the trip back.

Let's assume for the sake of argument that Mr. Aboulafia is correct and Boeing has to sell over 1K 787 then what in God's name is the break even number for the A380? I don't see the 787 or A380 selling those number of planes for more then a few years in the future. Airbus is in deep shit if they have to wait for 1K A380 sold.

Even with the current orders the A380 is nowhere close to break even. Boeing is well over the break even point. Yes the Boeing 787 has been delayed but it will fly. You can kid yourself all you want to but the 787 will turn a profit.

LOL. My next 'big move' is downstairs. I'll see you there. Boeing has sold more then enough of the 787 to insure a profit. Airbus A380 is a big time loser.

I've been a supporter of the FLB for many years on this forum and BKKTONITE. Have I ever asked you for a discount? What about free drinks, reduced barfine. I've known PattayaPete back when he owned the FLB. I never asked him for a discount. Fast forward to today and I'm a big supporter of the Pattaya Beer Garden. Once again I've never asked him for free drinks, meals. Same goes for Ben over at Secrets. I've never asked him for a discount. Once again, I pay the same price other board members pay.

It's the most talked about guest house in Pattaya. Stop by yourself and see if it's good value for the Baht.