Anybody here flying in the new A380???

[Mkl22]

True.

 

Transferring is frustrating and a waste of time and money.

Goes the same with public transport. Hub and spoke is nonsense.

Changi is built as a hub. If nonsense then terminal5 will be a big white elephant.

I don’t know enough to comment further.

Edited February 2, 2019 by Mkl22

[Tohto]

Not everyone like non stop flight.

To me fly 12 to 13hrs to Europe is suffering already on economy class.

Can't imagine a non stop of 18hrs to USA in economy.

I no reach to fly Business and company don't buy business flight for me either.

Edited February 2, 2019 by Tohto

[sake]

Well when we started flying Business I was quite happy to have stopovers when flying long haul because we could spend time in a nice lounge with free food and drink.

 

But really Business lounges aren't that good, much better than the general lounge though and fast tracking through check in and Customs is a bonus.

 

First Class lounges are so much better but are they really worth it?  Answer No.

 

But now we aren't bothered by an extra stopover to use a Business lounge and fly direct is the way we'll go in future.

We also prefer to fly direct. 

On the A380 the suites are a temptation but for the other planes ( e g. 777) we will just go for business class.

[Jamesc]

There is no need for the A380 because the 777X can be equally profitable

 

without needing to carry so many passengers.

 

 

Edited February 2, 2019 by Jamesc

[sake]

There is no need for the A380 because the 777 can be equally profitable

 

without needing to carry so many passengers.

 

777 is much more cost effective to Airlines than A380 but the A380 is more comfortable for the passengers.

Edited February 2, 2019 by sake

[Blueray]

Why the Superjumbo A380 Airplane Faces a New Crisis

 

Airbus SE appeared to have secured a long-term future for the world’s biggest passenger plane, the A380 superjumbo, when it agreed last year to sell as many as 36 of them to Dubai-based Emirates in an order worth $16 billion at list prices. Now the model’s very survival is once again in doubt as the airline considers a switch to smaller jets after failing to agree a deal with engine makers to power the plane.

 

 

1. Why does this deal matter so much?

The double-decker A380’s cavernous interior is a hit with customers, and airlines regularly make it a focus of ad campaigns. But even the biggest carriers have stopped short of buying the jet in large numbers. Top European operators such as British Airways have a dozen or so, and Singapore Airlines has ordered twice that number. But only Emirates has truly bought into the A380, ordering 162 aircraft that are the linchpin of a global hub strategy that’s made it the world’s biggest long-haul airline. Lose the latest deal from the Mideast giant, and a plane that’s been in production for little more than a decade could face being wound down.

2. Why aren’t the engine companies clamoring for the business?

While the size of the Emirates contract might sound impressive, 36 planes is small fry by aviation standards -- and not enough to warrant the sort of investment required to deliver significant improvements in fuel burn. Though Emirates had reluctantly accepted that its A380s wouldn’t get a wholly new engine, it was told the planes should benefit from upgrades planned by Airbus to keep the program going for another decade. But an alliance of General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney showed little enthusiasm for the engine enhancements and incumbent supplier Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc has resisted the airline’s price and performance demands.

3. Why hasn’t the A380 caught on?

The four-engine plane has been on shaky ground for years as the aviation industry increasingly turns to leaner twin-turbine planes like the Airbus A350 and Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner for longer routes. Put simply, the A380 is just too thirsty for most airlines, with only a handful able to make the fuel-burn economics feasible. It may also be too big for its own good. Airbus designed the jet to meet a surge in passenger traffic, reasoning that crowded airports would compel carriers to operate bigger aircraft. While that’s been the case in some locations -- London Heathrow, with just two runways, is the second-biggest A380 hub, after Dubai -- the prediction has by and large proved inaccurate. Airports are expanding capacity to keep pace with demand, and cities around the world are increasingly getting direct links, undercutting the need for Persian Gulf-style mega-hubs.

4. Does it matter if the A380 disappears from the skies?

If it’s really the dinosaur that sales figures suggest, no. Yet some in the industry -- and at Airbus -- have a nagging sense that the A380 simply arrived too soon, and that the global economy, held back by the 2008 slump, is still traveling toward a point where a huge aircraft will come into its own. Airbus rival Boeing Co. has already effectively written off the superjumbo sector, choosing to upgrade its venerable 747 rather than create a new model and focusing resources on smaller jets such as the Dreamlinerand a revamped 777. That’s why -- pride and jobs aside -- Airbus has been so eager to secure a lifeline for the A380; if demand does turn, it will have the market to itself. Much will depend on how travel habits, and hence jetliner demand, evolve in the key markets of China and India, but if production lines close now, and tooling and expertise is lost, there can be no going back.

 

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-02/why-the-superjumbo-a380-airplane-faces-a-new-crisis-quicktake

[Old-driver]

I've flown a couple of times on the 388 on all the classes, and even on economy I enjoy it. 

 

Its quiet, stable and take turbulence better than the smaller airframes.

 

Might not be so commercially viable for the airlines with 4 engines but then again, who knows if it will still be around after another 10 years. 

[Blueray]

the A380s have been around for slightly over a decade and by now airlines have enough data on hand to gauge the performance and financial viability of this model.

 

the fact that many existing users (eg, Qantas, Lufthansa, Air France etc) are not ordering anymore new ones is telling.

 

been following some youtube videos (eg DJ's, Navgeek etc) on this and some interesting info regarding the A380 was mentioned :

 

- it can carry a lot of passengers but as such also requires a longer turnaround time at airports

- a lot of passengers and passengers' bags, food, beverage etc means less space and flexibility for cargo (another source of revenue)

- it is very heavy and the cost of carrying just itself and the fuel required is hefty

- advances in technology have made newer planes much more cost efficient to operate

- no secondary market for this aircraft, the 2 which SQ returned last year after end of lease have reportedly been scrapped.

[Jamesc]

777 is much more cost effective to Airlines than A380 but the A380 is more comfortable for the passengers.

 

Yes its very comfortable. 

 

[DACH]

the A380s have been around for slightly over a decade and by now airlines have enough data on hand to gauge the performance and financial viability of this model.

 

the fact that many existing users (eg, Qantas, Lufthansa, Air France etc) are not ordering anymore new ones is telling.

 

been following some youtube videos (eg DJ's, Navgeek etc) on this and some interesting info regarding the A380 was mentioned :

 

- it can carry a lot of passengers but as such also requires a longer turnaround time at airports

- a lot of passengers and passengers' bags, food, beverage etc means less space and flexibility for cargo (another source of revenue)

- it is very heavy and the cost of carrying just itself and the fuel required is hefty

- advances in technology have made newer planes much more cost efficient to operate

- no secondary market for this aircraft, the 2 which SQ returned last year after end of lease have reportedly been scrapped.

 

Seems like Concorde is making a comeback too.

 

Russia will develop ‘ULTRASONIC’ passenger plane to replace Concorde in 2022

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/757150/russia-concorde-supersonic-passenger-plane-2022-speed-moscow-tupolev-tu-144

 

'New Concorde' 1,688mph Boom Supersonic passenger jet will take off THIS YEAR

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/752589/concorde-boom-supersonic-plane-first-flight-xb1-fly-jet-engines-new-york-london

[Mockngbrd]

I like 787

[Karoon]

for me the a380 is my plane love at first sight. Like when i hear of the elderly generation being in awe when they first saw the 747, same here. It would be a terrible shame if they disappear.

 

What about this so called miracle new material, graphene? Hope it can help.

[Soya]

Had an opportunity to fly in the 747-400 not too long ago.

 

Terribly outdated cabin. But still smooth and stable as ever. Kinda glad I got a chance to fly it b4 it becomes a scrapyard piece. The smaller twin engine 777, 787, A350, A330, etc will never beat a 4 engine big bird for steadiness

[Old-driver]

Had an opportunity to fly in the 747-400 not too long ago.

 

Terribly outdated cabin. But still smooth and stable as ever. Kinda glad I got a chance to fly it b4 it becomes a scrapyard piece. The smaller twin engine 777, 787, A350, A330, etc will never beat a 4 engine big bird for steadiness

 

Agree.

 

On BA?

[Blueray]

Nice A380 livery.

Edited February 3, 2019 by Blueray

[Soya]

Agree.

 

On BA?

Thai. Sawadeekrap.

[sake]

Yes its very comfortable. 

 

wife and daughter on the pre-updated A380

[Mockngbrd]

High ses spotted