United CEO Urges a Third Plane Maker as A380 Fades From Fleets

According to View from the Wing, Scott Kirby, who leads United Airlines, claims that Boeing and Airbus have privately reached an understanding to skip spending on fresh aircraft designs. He argues that neither company faces enough competition to justify the cost.

Kirby says he has asked for a replacement for the Boeing 757 for more than 20 years. He says he still does not have the plane he wants, and he calls for a third major aircraft maker.

View from the Wing adds a counterpoint. A third maker would split the market further, which would make it harder to earn back huge development costs. The outlet also notes that makers of newer types of aircraft already exist, including electric short-takeoff planes, supersonic jets and suborbital aircraft.

Separately, Simple Flying reports that airlines are steadily moving away from the Airbus A380. Airlines are picking big twin-engine planes for flights over long distances because these jets use fuel more efficiently and cost less to run.

Few planes in history have matched the A380 for sheer size. Its two decks run the whole length of the plane, and it can take off at weights over 1.2 million pounds, so it could carry a very large number of passengers on long routes.