The future of the A380

[EestiTiger]

I know there has been a bit of commentary on this in recent years but thought this article was interesting enough to post in here.

The future of the A380 | The Economist

 

[docjames]

Nice summary of relative positions of A380 v Airbus

 

[codash1099]

Also an interesting reflection on the state of ME airlines.

 

[jb747]

A rumour I heard yesterday was that EK have more than a dozen 380s effectively parked against the fence. Their order always sounded crazy, but perhaps it worked if you could con the EU into subsidising (or outright paying for) the aircraft.

Airbus will get far more milage out of the A350. I'm not as convinced about the 787, though it's in a different niche.

 

[moa999]

I doubt it -- they've taken delivery of almost that many aircraft in the last 12 months alone.

Would be easy to confirm/deny using one of the fight trackers, though with 86 a380s...

 

[kamchatsky]

A rumour I heard yesterday was that EK have more than a dozen 380s effectively parked against the fence. Their order always sounded crazy, but perhaps it worked if you could con the EU into subsidising (or outright paying for) the aircraft.

Airbus will get far more milage out of the A350. I'm not as convinced about the 787, though it's in a different niche.

jb747, what is the biggest difference between A350 and B787? I thought they are quite similar to each other?

 

[juddles]

jb747, what is the biggest difference between A350 and B787? I thought they are quite similar to each other?

The A350 is a tad bigger and has a range a tad longer (ingeneral). I disagree with JB - I think the 787 will be to long haul what both the 737 and A320 family are to short haul. Will dominate. And the A350 will have a smaller share, gaining the upper hand on only the longest routes.

 

[PaulST]

The A350 is a tad bigger and has a range a tad longer (ingeneral). I disagree with JB - I think the 787 will be to long haul what both the 737 and A320 family are to short haul. Will dominate. And the A350 will have a smaller share, gaining the upper hand on only the longest routes.

Until the 777X arrives?

Apparently, one issue with the A380 that the article doesn't mention is that, in comparison to the 747, they'll be difficult to sell off to the developing countries because they are too big and heavy. I understand that the 747 can be converted to a freighter and can land in a lot of places that the A380 can't therefore it has maintained some value in the second and third-hand market.

 

[codash1099]

This article is older, but a bit more optimistic.

Big is beautiful: why the A380 could still have a bright future

 

[dajop]

Most recent positive discussion (on a very minor scale) on A380's was from a Willie Walsh, head of IAG, who indicated IB could do with 2 and perhaps EI could do with one.

 

[CaptJCool]

No future in Adelaide..... they just keep on flying right onto Melb! LOL



PS love the Jet-stream !

 

[imipenam]

No future in Adelaide..... they just keep on flying right onto Melb! LOL

View attachment 84881

PS love the Jet-stream !

Apparently, one landed in Adelaide once when there was an issue with the plane. But they didn't allow the locals to disembark lol ... still had to wait to be flown to Mel, then flown back again on a domestic flight.

 

[jukebox333]

No future in Adelaide..... they just keep on flying right onto Melb! LOL

View attachment 84881

PS love the Jet-stream !

*cough* Chemtrails *cough*

 

[Melburnian1]

A rumour I heard yesterday was that EK have more than a dozen 380s effectively parked against the fence. Their order always sounded crazy, but perhaps it worked if you could con the EU into subsidising (or outright paying for) the aircraft.

Perhaps you could check this by observation next time you are there (assuming they are relatively easy to spot and not blocked by hangars or other buildings.)

With a quick look at a few pages of Internet search results, I could not see anything - although back in December 2014 there was discussion about how Airbus may have to mothball the production line, a different story from mothballed aircraft.

 

[samh004]

Most recent positive discussion (on a very minor scale) on A380's was from a Willie Walsh, head of IAG, who indicated IB could do with 2 and perhaps EI could do with one.

Depending on the route I could see 2 working, but with just 1, if there's an issue you have no backup and a LOT of passengers that need to be accommodated on smaller aircraft.

 

[Altair]

Until the 777X arrives?

Apparently, one issue with the A380 that the article doesn't mention is that, in comparison to the 747, they'll be difficult to sell off to the developing countries because they are too big and heavy. I understand that the 747 can be converted to a freighter and can land in a lot of places that the A380 can't therefore it has maintained some value in the second and third-hand market.

Well this article, Emirates Ponders A380 Retirement (ainonline.com) is 3 years old but it is an interview with Sir Tim and clear that the 14 Doric financed A380, the first ones for EK will be returned after the 12 year lease expires, from July 2020.
Article also talks about the non-existent second hand market for them and the impact on their value. Boeing faces the same issue with the 747-8 to a large extent, very small fleet, little secondary market. Also look at the value of the 777-200 that have plummeted, DL picked some up just to cannibalise for parts.
Personally I love the A380 from a passenger pov, my favourite aircraft as a pax, followed by the nostalgia of a 747. I have yet to fly a 787 or A350 but of the widebodies that I have the 777 is my least favourite.

 

[Willard]

No future in Adelaide..... they just keep on flying right onto Melb! LOL

View attachment 84881

PS love the Jet-stream !

Yeah that's pretty cool.

 

[dajop]

if there's an issue you have no backup and a LOT of passengers that need to be accommodated on smaller aircraft.

Presumably for EI it would be for a DUB-NYC daily service. If there was an issue, there lot of TATL services run by IAG and other partner airlines that could potentially reaccomodate pax via LHR or other cities.

 

[drron]

Having just flown the QF A380 in J for the first time I prefer the hard product on AAs 772 or 3s.Those seats just suit me much better than QFs.The best QF J seat for me is the refurbed 333s.

 

[dajop]

Having just flown the QF A380 in J for the first time I prefer the hard product on AAs 772 or 3s.Those seats just suit me much better than QFs.

Hardly a function of the aircraft type though. The AA or CX seats in the A380 would be quite good I imagine - perhaps closest is what QR offers on their A380?