If they do this right, they are golden for a long time. |
It has a big feel in a regional jet. |
It helps box the A380 into an even smaller niche, |
It makes politicians look like they're doing something good for their troubled constituency. |
It really depends on the situation — Delta, happy to defer. Some of the Europeans, happy to defer. But many carriers are going to want planes now. And they'll threaten to switch [to Airbus] or threaten penalty payments. |
It's a relatively inconsequential cost increase from the corporate perspective. From the union side, they got better than Boeing's best offer. |
It's a very good idea, |
It's more about service, information and customer relations than metal- bending. It's also a fragmented market, ripe for consolidation. |
It's time for Airbus to get something. |
It's very tough to pass on higher costs to the nation's airlines. |
Keeping costs down and getting close to the customer makes an awful lot of sense when the revenue environment is flattening. |
Nevertheless, ... it was financially clearly in Boeing's best interest to settle. |
No one was told that there was a choice between Iraq and recapitalizing the nation's military. |
Not to say, 'Hurray, we all win!' but both sides can claim victory. |
Reinforcing their traditional businesses -- regional jets and corporate jets -- makes a lot of sense. It's familiar turf, they know the customers, and there's much less risk than trying to attack a market that's got two entrenched competitors. |