Thai to operate their first A380 regionally

[markis10]

Keeping it close to home!

Thai Airways International (TG) will deploy its first Airbus A380 on regional routes, most likely Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK)-Hong Kong (HKG).
Speaking to ATW during a visit to Toulouse to view the carrier’s first A380 on the final assembly line, TG executives said the carrier will operate between BKK and Frankfurt (FRA) only “after we receive the second aircraft delivery around November 2012. Upon receiving additional aircraft, Thai will operate to London [Heathrow (LHR)] and then Paris [Charles de Gaulle].”

Thai to operate first A380 on regional routes | ATWOnline

 

[docjames]

But it's fairly typical to operate a new long haul a/c type on close to home short haul prior to wider deployment. To increase opportunities for crew trianing, and until there's sufficicent fleet to make the long haul meaningfully consistent.

eg. ANA 787 is doing Japan domestic, AF 380 (CDG-LHR), QF ran some SYD-MEL (but no pax iirc), not sure what EK did for 380, LH again not sure about their 380, i'm sure there's more examples.

BKK-HKG is a good fit for this, wonder if it will keep service once they deploy long haul?

 

[markis10]

But it's fairly typical to operate a new long haul a/c type on close to home short haul prior to wider deployment. To increase opportunities for crew trianing, and until there's sufficicent fleet to make the long haul meaningfully consistent.

eg. ANA 787 is doing Japan domestic, AF 380 (CDG-LHR), QF ran some SYD-MEL (but no pax iirc), not sure what EK did for 380, LH again not sure about their 380, i'm sure there's more examples.

BKK-HKG is a good fit for this, wonder if it will keep service once they deploy long haul?

Not really typical, the 787 makes sense as a launch customer, but SQ/LH and even QF all operated long haul first commercial flights. Air France actually operated their first bird to JFK and when a second one arrived JNB, LHR flights started with the JNB flights to avoid 18 hours of nothing between JNB trips.

 

[docjames]

SQ operated to SYD initially (short haul for them!)

EK started to JFK (not short haul!) but EK has little short haul flying really

QF started to LAX initally

LH Frankfurt-Tokyo (no idea if any short haul "non-pax training" flights)

Pretty sure KE started to Japan

China Southern used it on short haul within china.

I accept not all use new long haul aircraft short haul initially, but it's pretty common. In QF's case, they didnt do commerical flying but did fly it around aus as part of crew trianing etc.


Note that MH's 1st A380 has now been flown on it's test flight (prior to painting etc) so hopefully delivered soon. Wonder if they'll start short or long haul.... (intention longer term to use it presumably KUL-LHR).

 

[markis10]

SQ operated to SYD initially (short haul for them!)


Pretty sure KE started to Japan

No, KE went to FRA as well, China Southern is the only airline to put it on short haul solely at launch (allbeit domestic ops) besides Thai, and that was a wise choice given its grounding two weeks later, two airlines from 8 is hardly common/typical no matter what definition you use!

 

[Coathanger]

Lufthansa also ran some special short-haul flights from FRA to PMI in October 2010.

Discussion on A.net: LH A380 To PMI On 02/03 October — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net

 

[NM]

Not really typical, the 787 makes sense as a launch customer, but SQ/LH and even QF all operated long haul first commercial flights. Air France actually operated their first bird to JFK and when a second one arrived JNB, LHR flights started with the JNB flights to avoid 18 hours of nothing between JNB trips.

SQ operated a few SIN-KUL with A380 early on, specifically for the crew training oppurtunities.

 

[oz_mark]

SQ operated a few SIN-KUL with A380 early on, specifically for the crew training oppurtunities.

The turnaround time would be longer than the flight :shock:

 

[docjames]

No, KE went to FRA as well, China Southern is the only airline to put it on short haul solely at launch (allbeit domestic ops) besides Thai, and that was a wise choice given its grounding two weeks later, two airlines from 8 is hardly common/typical no matter what definition you use!

KE to NRT

Korean Air first-ever A380 commercial flight - YouTube

PlaneTalking Live - PlaneTalking Live


Plus other routes as others have pointed out.

 

[markis10]

KE to NRT

Korean Air first-ever A380 commercial flight - YouTube

PlaneTalking Live - PlaneTalking Live


Plus other routes as others have pointed out.

I stand corrected on KE, the others though were special flights as opposed to a regular running commercial ops, running an A380 short haul is not where its going to make much money, however when you only have 1 it at least means when something breaks you can recover the situation quicker!

 

[docjames]

Agreed when they get the first they often do training flights rather than commercial pax (eg. QF).

Guess it all depends on what suits the different airlines needs at the time. With 1, you'd not want it stuck too far from home initially, but by the same score you cant wait for a fleet of a dozen before flying it anywhere that it makes money.

 

[richie9x]

Also Emirates fly an A380 from BKK to HKG. I think it might also be Thai trying to win back customers on that route who prefer an A380.

 

[markis10]

Also Emirates fly an A380 from BKK to HKG. I think it might also be Thai trying to win back customers on that route who prefer an A380.

Thats a good point, although I dont think the Thai has a shower!