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United Airlines was an early target for the MD-12.
Airlines (10) Delta Air Lines (10), The three-engine model had children’s play area, showers
Federal Express (12), China reached its limit as it was and even a light exercise area
Airlines (four), Swissair (eight), already 11ft (3.35m) longer with shower”—claims repeated
Japan Airlines (20), Korean Air than a 747-400, a length that eight years later for the Airbus
(10), and EVA Air (20). required structural strengthen- A380.
By March 1992 the fabric of ing. Another issue, as explained
the deal was showing signs by Douglas in a presentation to When shown the
of strain as it became torn by Air France in June 1992, was onboard gym the then
political interference. At the time, that the weight of the engines in
the tail position was becoming a Chairman of Korean
Chang candidly disclosed that
the Taiwan deal was “the most serious problem, and there were Airlines Cho said “no
complicated set of negotiations significant bending relief advan- way we will have a
I, or my colleagues, have ever tages for a four-engine aircraft Mahjong parlor!
been involved in.” By refusing with the MD-12’s massive wing.
to confront senatorial questions Then George Field, vice pres-
over loss of US jobs, senior ident-general manager of the As Douglas unveiled the new
executives at Douglas impeded MD-12 program, told media that project, the Taiwan government
progress. another issue was that “the tri-jet gave its approval for the joint
was 7% better than the 747-400
The same executives could not in direct operating costs [DOC] venture after Vincent Siew, the
avoid airline inquiries about the per trip but 5% worse in DOC country’s economic minister,
growth potential of the MD-12, per seat mile—because of the presented a favourable report.
and were forced into a com- 747’s higher seat capacity.” John Wolf, Douglas executive
plete redesign of the aircraft. In vice president, said that MDC
April 1992, Douglas unveiled In the Air France presentation, was “very encouraged,” and that
a four-engine, double-decker Douglas touted the spacious- “negotiations with other partners
MD-12 that would carry 511 ness of the double-deck MD-12 were going very well.” While
passengers in a three-class with suggestions of game rooms, Douglas management revelled in
configuration. a duty-free shopping area, a the news beneath the Californian
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