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Without getting into specifics Airbus made a big bet on the future of the industry based on historical trends. Things they assumed would be true when deliveries began for the plane were not. New unforeseen developments allowed a different strategy to succeed. To get more specific for a moment, unlike the 747 the A380 didn’t really have potential as basis for cargo variants. It was designed ground up for massive passenger transport. This limited customer base and value proposition, even a combi couldn’t work. We know Airbus has recognized it’s failure here and the point to point model being validated. Their own A350 is a huge success, curious to see if the 777X can give it a run for it’s money. Those engines are something else, but I guess it remains to be seen if it’s too big itself. The 777 family has always been great and successful, but I wouldn’t call it a best seller. It largely appears to be operated by the same carriers who fly larger types, while in rarer circumstances airlines replaced their larger types with it over time.
