Airbus sank themselves, the market for planes of that superjumbo size
was small to begin with (they were saying something like 800 aircraft
over a 20 year period). Used 743s and 744s out there are capable of
filling most of the market for large aircraft (they will "trickle down"
to "smaller airlines", like Kalitta Air or regional operaters, notably
throughout SE Asia that will have a need for aircraft of that size in
teh future), the A380 was targeted exclusivley at large airlines that
could afford that initial $300M investment, because Boeing came along
with the 772LR, 748, 787 and 777F they are able to offer (albeit
smaller) four aircraft that can be tailored to a particular airlines
desires, all of which fly on equal or superior technology to the Airbus
and all of which come from a company that has consistently delivered on
time, one of the major things killing Airbus right now.

Also if you look at the A350, it's essentially a 777 with GEnx engines,
except it's coming in a mere 18 years after the 777 did)

Then if you look at the other reality that Boeing right now (with the
787) is bringing in the next generation of commercial aircraft, while
the A380 is technically a very advanced part of the last generation,
that is Bleed-air systems, the 787 is all electric, that is the "wave
of the future", expect to see Bleed-air on the A350, expect to see all
electric on the Y1 and Y3 projects from Boeing.

Also... the claim is that the A380 can hold 800 passengers in all
economy layout, but all orders so far call for 550 capacities or lower
(I believe), there are several 77x's out there (one for a Japanese
carrier) that fly with 550 passengers as well, but in all economy
layout.

So, I guess the simplest way of saying it (now that I've wasted a whole
page) is that with the A380 Airbus put all their eggs in one basket,
Boeing released 3 reworked/re-engineered designs and one new one, along
with development on 2 more expected within the decade, they diversified
and split Airbus's potential market base. Furthermore the A380 was
supposed to be in service right now with Emirates and Singapore, but
now it looks like the 787 might barely beat the A380 to service (mind
you they haven't even built a single 787 yet).
Morgans wrote:
"Larry Dighera" wrote

In a nod to the globalized economy, Boeing is taking a novel step
for the company and allowing outside contractors -- many of them
overseas -- to design and build 70 percent of the Dreamliner. The
wings will come from Japan. Huge parts of the aircraft's body will
arrive from Italy. Britain will deliver engines, and China will
contribute rudders. France is producing the landing gear...

It is fitting, that France is building the landing gear. Seems like their
latest project can't quite get off the ground....
;-)
--
Jim in NC