End of the superjumbo: Airbus is giving up on the A380

cnn ^ | 12:48 AM ET, Thu February 14, 2019 | Jethro Mullen,

[BenLurkin]

The European plane maker said Thursday that it will stop delivering A380s in 2021 after Dubai-based airline Emirates slashed its orders for the huge jetliner.

The A380, the world's largest airliner, first took to the skies 14 years ago. But Airbus' giant bet that airlines would need lots of extra-big planes to fly passengers between major airport hubs didn't pay off as the company had hoped.

The company has delivered 234 of the superjumbos to date, less than a quarter of the 1,200 it predicted it would sell when it first introduced the double-decker aircraft.

[pepsionice]

After having been through four airports with the ‘special’ gates, I would suggest that a fair amount of investment has been made for long-term. Once you talk about putting 800-plus passengers onboard....the one gate method simply doesn’t work. Adding to the strategy...this is a long-haul plane made for 10-plus hours of flight. I rode it from Dubai to Sydney, and have to admit that the 13-plus hours was not a big deal.

[FreedomPoster]

C-5s are like that. I used to see them coming in or out of Dobbins AFB every now and then, my office was near there for several years.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I think he means the last aircraft sale . The 380s That are flying will be in service a long time.

[Sa-teef]

"Emirates isn’t the only carrier operating them -"

============

Of course not, just far & away the leading airline using the A380 cattle hauler.

And they are already heading for the bone yard. Ten years into their use, Sing is already finding more efficient airliners.

"In November 2017 Singapore Airlines ferried their first ever Airbus A380, 9V-SKA, devoid of titles in all-white paint, from Changi to a storage facility in Lourdes, France. Three months later 9V-SKB followed the familiar routing. The ten-year lease of these aircraft had come to an end and these were the first two of an eventual five A380s SIA opted to stop operating and return to their owners.

It’s a sad announcement for these two aircraft, which have a special place in the affections of ardent SIA fans. 9V-SKA made aviation history in October 2007 when it operated the first ever passenger-carrying A380 flight in the world from Singapore to Sydney, to much media attention. Today it sits in a much sorrier state in France, with no engines fitted."

[RayChuang88]

In short, the airlines realized the Boeing 777-9 has a better future. Lower seat costs and no need for very expensive dual-level jet bridges at airport parking gates does help things. Watch Emirates buy an additional 50 777-9 planes in place of the 30 A380’s they were going to order.

[cpdiii]

Fuel burn per seat mile is the name of the game. Boeing won the game with the 787. The A380 was based on long haul high passenger loads. If you can not fill that monster up on the long haul it loses money.

In reality it is a technological wonder. In the future the A380 will fly the sky for many years on long distance heavy loads as a freight carrier which it is most suited for. Boeing will fly the passengers in smaller and more fuel efficient aircraft.

[Moonman62]

Actually it’s quite efficient, like two 777’s strapped together.

[Moonman62]

Boeing made the bet that airlines and passengers would choose to fly point to point. Airbus made their bet on the old hub and spoke model.

[Moonman62]

I’ve read that passengers like the A380, and in some cases the airlines would charge more.

[MountainWalker]

Not surprising since air travel will be banned soon.

[Moonman62]

The 747 turns 50 this year. The development costs back then almost bankrupted Boeing.

https://www.economist.com/gulliver/2019/02/13/the-boeing-747-jetliner-turns-50

[mad_as_he$$]

Yep. Boeing bet the company and almost lost it. Amazing machine for the time. The 380 was all CAD designed. My company used to make 747 parts from the original hand drawn prints.

[Moonman62]

AFAIK no A380’s have been converted to freighters and may not be. Here is one opinion on why not.

https://www.quora.com/Will-A380s-be-converted-into-freighters-when-they-reach-the-end-of-passenger-service

[Moonman62]

Didn’t outlive the 747 by very long.

...

Somewhat correct. There are none carrying passengers for US airlines. Delta was the last in December of 2017.

[Tallguy]

Initial bookings of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner dwarfed that of the A380. What saved the A380 was that it’s Boeing rival had to re-design it’s wing and so there was a lengthy delay in deliveries and significant cancellations. Had that not happened the A380 might have died an early death.

[ThunderSleeps]

No doubt they have some very attractive flight attendants. However, when traveling I’ll take the view over my handlebars any day. Commercial flying is still just a glorified bus ride no matter what aircraft you’re on or who is serving you pop and pretzels.

[Tallguy]

“In the future the A380 will fly the sky for many years on long distance heavy loads as a freight carrier which it is most suited for.”

Was it designed with reinforced decks to carry freight, like the 747 heavy freighter? A lifting nose? If not, that would require new airframes. Now Airbus would have to secure customers for that.

[VTenigma]

Despairbus

[cymbeline]

“some of their flight attendants are like super models.”

America’s men are deprived of seeing women acting beautiful, fetching, sexy (in public, that is).

America’s women are deprived of the pleasure of (publicly) presenting themselves as sexy, creatures that want to draw men to them.