Airbus 380

Quote: terapined

Just getting an assigned seat is now an issue with my clients
Many airlines are now not allowing a passenger an assigned seat on the cheapest airfares

On one hand I can totally see keeping the better seats for the better customers. OTOH, it amazes me the abuse passengers take from airlines over, over, and over. Four remaining trunk carriers are going to pretty much have free reign. Until someone finds a way to run an airline profitably with good customer service it will keep happening. However, the flying public would ride in their luggage to save $5 so I don't see it happening. I will keep driving <500 miles or so.

Here is the full count for the 367 passenger widebodies delivered in 2015.

Airbus Passenger (141)
30 A330-200
70 A330-300
27 A380s
14 A350 XWBs.

Boeing Passenger(226)
79: 777-300ER
71: 787-8
64: 787-9
12: 747-8I

Freight (40)
3 A330-200F
19: 777-F
6: 747-8F
15: 767-300F

--------------------------
Airbus seems to be way off last year's production target, as of Jan-Mar 2016 they have only delivered 21 widebody passenger planes and one freight plane
2 A330-200
10 A330-300
4 A350-900
5 A380
1 A330-200F

Boeing First Quarter 2016 Deliveries Detail (seems consistent with last year except for 747)
23: 777-300ER
30: 787

1 747 Korean Air
1 767 freight

Quote: Pacomartin

Emirates started Milan-JFK service on Oct. 1, 2013. At the time, the route already had four daily non-stop flights by Alitalia, American, Delta and United (to Newark). On June 1 ,2015, THEY put an Airbus A380, which seats nearly 500 passengers, on the route, replacing a Boeing 777-300ER with 360 seats. It's not just the extra 140 seats, but the 777 had 8 closed suites and 42 flat bed business seats . The A380 14 closed suites and 76 flat bed business seats. So the expensive seats have nearly doubled.

If Emirates tries the same thing in Latin America, I am not sure what the reaction will be. As I said, there is currently no nonstops from Barcelona to Mexico City, so the reaction might even be to welcome Emirates, but it is doubtful that there is enough demand (or Aeromexico would not have dropped the B767 nonstop many years ago).

Emirates is considering multiple offers from Europe to open up new ‘fifth freedom’ flights to service the US and Central America. In particular, it has held talks with Swiss authorities over the possibility of launching services from Zurich to Mexico City.

It looks like I was wrong. While, Zurich (26 MAP) is fairly well connect to a number of airports in USA and Canada, there has never been a nonstop from Zurich to MEX, nor is it likely that any was being considered. Emirates is not going to start with former nonstops like Barcelona to Mexico City.

Air Canada Rouge is starting a seasonal nonstop to Toronto-Pearson (begins 11 June 2016) from Budapest (10 MAP). It looks like Emirates may try 5th freedom flights from Budapest to the USA. Presumably they are going to take it slow since they had so much political backlash with the Milan (18.5 MAP) to JFK route.

It's not just the increased number of seats in the Emirates A380 but also the quality of the product. Their 77W is actually quite a poor product and really is uncompetitive when comparing to other top airlines. While 1st class is basically the same in both aircrafts, there is a big difference in business and economy. Business is particularly poor. Yes they are flat beds but they are ANGLED flat beds which is a critical difference. Very common to find yourself waking up because you're sliding off the seat. Also 2-3-2 in business class is very poor. The horizontal flat beds and 1-2-1 configuration (everyone gets aisle access) in the A380 is a big step up. Economy in their 77W is 3-4-3. 10 abreast in that sized plane - enough said.

Quote: Aussie

Business is particularly poor. Yes they are flat beds but they are ANGLED flat beds which is a critical difference. Very common to find yourself waking up because you're sliding off the seat. Also 2-3-2 in business class is very poor.

Qatar Airways is dispensing with first class in the B777-300ER. In exchange they have a much better Business class. Unlike Emirates they don't praise the A380. They have six so far and are under contract for 4 more. But QA have publicly stated that they have no interest in the neoA380 if it is produced.

Emirates 2-3-2 business class 42 angle-flat seats (6 rows)


Qatar Airways 2-2-2 business class 42 flat bed seats with 180 degree recline (7 rows)

The 2-2-2 in business class is a problem when travelling solo IMO. At least in the absence of the "Apex Suite" (which provides aisle access for everyone in a 2-2-2). Not that the seat itself would be bad (I'm sure it's great) but I've found in the past that being stuck next to the window on a long haul flight is not ideal. When everyone is sleeping and you need to use the bathroom or otherwise want to walk around its hard to climb over the person next to you. Not a critical issue but still something worth mentioning IMO.

Here is a review of Qatar business class 77W:

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2015/03/17/review-qatar-airways-first-class-777-300er-cairo-to-doha/


Note that my comments on his thread relate to the seat itself, not the catering etc which incidentally on EK I find very good.

Quote: Pacomartin

Airframe	Seats max	gallons/seat
A380	853	100
777-200LR	440	109
A340-500	375	156
A340-500	100	586

Big is beautiful: why the A380 could still have a bright future
January 4, 2016 5.43am EST

Fans of the A380 are still holding out for an announcement this year of a new engine option.

Quote: Pacomartin

While 12 of the 24 A380s produced this year went to Emirates, the airline announced that they would be taking delivery of 20 A380s next year. That should bring them to the 90 deliveries with the Engine Alliance jet. While Emirates made a program saving order of 50 additional jets with the Rolls Royce engine, I am not sure what Airbus would do if they cancelled that order for A380s and re-instated their now cancelled order for 70 A350s. Emirates is too valuable a customer to take to court. In that case the A380 program would probably end after next year.

December 12, 2015

This prediction that I made last year may be coming true.Emirates has delayed the delivery of all A380's with the new Rolls Royce engines. All 92 A380s with the Engine Alliance engines have now been delivered. President Tim Clark has referred to technical issues with the new engines.

I think Tim Clark is going to play major hardball with Airbus. If Airbus does not announce a new engine option for the A380, they may very well cancel the whole order and sink the A380 program.

This final order for 50 jets with the Rolls Royce engines was made by Emirates in November - December 2013 and essentially saved the program. But Airbus's refusal to make a final decision on the neo option has angered Emirates.

I don't see an A380 neo unless some other airline commits to a large A380 order. In other words: there won't be an A380 neo.

What will likely happen is that the A380 will enjoy great success in the secondary market. But that won't net Airbus even a rusted penny.

Well that is fine, but I have been stating for two years now that Emirates order for 50 additional planes with the Rolls Royce engine does not make much sense unless there is a follow on neoA380. The first 92 jets (all delivered now) have EA engines. They will retire those between 2020-2028. But another 50 planes means a considerable investment in new infrastructure and terminals to handle them. If there will never be replacements, it is difficult to imagine all that investment. It's more logical they would build out planning on the new generation of B737s.

That statement was equally true in December 2013 when Emirates made the order for 50 planes to save the A380 program. But in Dec 2013 the possibility of a neoA380 was still reasonably high.