Boeing had recently withdrawn its proposed 747X derivative from competition with the A380 when not enough airline interest was forthcoming,[5] and instead proposed the Sonic Cruiser as a completely different approach.[5] Instead of the A380's massive capacity, requiring a hub and spoke model of operation, the Sonic Cruiser was designed for rapid point-to-point connections for 200 to 250 passengers.[2][7] Critics stated that Boeing had timed its announcement in an attempt to distract from the launch of the A380.[7]