A380 - Production to Halt in 2021

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networkn

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#245655 14-Feb-2019 21:20

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/110610300/embarrassing-blow-for-airbus-as-it-says-it-will-stop-making-the-a380-superjumbo

I am a little disappointed to see this didn't do better. Considering the R&D and time cost, and what it promised.

I liked the big lady, she was pretty smooth to fly on, unfortunately, my only experiences were with airlines who put the old old old IFE into them, with tiny non-touchscreens.

My preference is to fly the 787 though their technical issues give me the heebie jeebies as an anxious flyer.

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#2178581 14-Feb-2019 21:20

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#2178589 14-Feb-2019 21:58

It's not surprising but unfortunate. It was a great solution for a problem which didn't exist anymore.

It's still my favourite plane while in the air - it's so much quieter than anything else.

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#2178590 14-Feb-2019 22:00

Handle9:

It's not surprising but unfortunate. It was a great solution for a problem which didn't exist anymore.

It's still my favourite plane while in the air - it's so much quieter than anything else.

I didn't find it quieter than the 787, however I do like how big it is so turbulence seems less sharp.

I would very much like to take an A350 at some stage, I hear they are amazing. I am not sure any route I am flying any time soon has them.

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#2178594 14-Feb-2019 22:14

Really disappointed as well. Both at Airbus and Emirates.

My favourite way to get to Norway is through Dubai with the A380 on the longest leg between NZ or AUS and Dubai.

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#2178596 14-Feb-2019 22:19

I don't think that the Auckland route will change from the A380, most of the time the loadings are pretty good.

The last few times I've flown from Europe to Dubai the loadings have been horrible (great for passengers). I've had a whole row to myself more often than not. They don't have this problem on 777 routes.

Emirates are expecting moderate growth in their Emirates products. They are expecting significant growth for FlyDubai which fly 737-800 and codeshare a bit with Emirates. In that context (point to point LCC) the A380 doesn't make sense.

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#2178598 14-Feb-2019 22:23

My favourite route and plane to date is the 777-300 via SIA to Singapore originating in Auckland. It's a wonderful craft. Quiet, comfortable, excellent IFE. I have flown in business and economy, and it's one of the only craft where if I fly Economy, I don't spend the entire time wishing I was in business.

The 777-200 is noticeably different.

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#2178606 14-Feb-2019 23:26

Remember 20 years ago - when Airbus and Boeing gambled on two different futures ?

Airbus's crystal ball showed continued hub-to-hub growth - which would need lots of mega-craft to carry herds of cattle between the few big 'hub' airports. EG: feeder-flight from Auckland to Sydney, then a hub-to-hub flight Sydney to Dubai - then on to the final destination.

Collect people into a hub - then route traffic between hubs - then distribute out to the end-points.

Boeing's vision was for nimbler planes to go directly between the smaller cities - as we see in Auckland-Houston.

Two different ways to reduce the cost-per-mile - huge planes run with the same staff & fees, or lighter (but more technically difficult) aircraft with better range & fuel economy.

As a mechanical engineer with one brief (summer) job in the aircraft business, I was always rooting for Boeing - it was the 'harder' and more elegant solution, that needed geeky quantum leaps (eg: carbon-fibre) instead of the 'safer' route of 'just-make-it-bigger'.

Yes, Boeing's had more teething trouble (than they would have hoped) with the 787 - but it hasn't been as bad as the Comet was (a similar engineering leap).

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#2178637 15-Feb-2019 07:33

When I first heard of the A380, I thought to myself - that seriously requires A LOT of bums to keep the flights going. I guess not enough bums to fill the seats huh. I really thought the 747 capacity was the maximum you'd want on a route. Sometimes bigger isn't always better.

Now what does that mean for the 747-8 ... anyone flown that before?

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#2178638 15-Feb-2019 07:36

I look at the billions of dollars spent around the world's airports on infrastructure particularly for the A380. From double stacked airbridges to strengthened runways and widened taxiways. Every passenger passing through those airports pays for those 'improvements' whether they travel on an A380 or not. Auckland Airport had 5 A380s a day, now I think it has 2 (1EQ 1SQ).
The economics of large four engined aeroplanes are not stacking up for a lot of operators and there is a distinct possibility that soon Emirates will be the only operator of the A380.

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#2178639 15-Feb-2019 07:39

The airport investment isn't particularly excessive. 777 actually require stronger runways than an A380 as they have a higher point load. Similarly the dual bridges can generally be used in a left and right configuration as well as up and down.

They aren't stopping flying A380s, they just aren't making any more.

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#2178653 15-Feb-2019 08:26

Handle9: The airport investment isn't particularly excessive. 777 actually require stronger runways than an A380 as they have a higher point load. Similarly the dual bridges can generally be used in a left and right configuration as well as up and down.

They aren't stopping flying A380s, they just aren't making any more.

I didn't say they weren't going to continue flying them. Boeing has finished production of the 747 passenger version (the last ones all Fs I think), delivering the last one to Korean in 2017. Now seeing the "Queen of the Skies" is becoming more and more rare.
The next big change for airliners will either be speed, or constraints forced by environmental concerns.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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#2178654 15-Feb-2019 08:30

Flew first class on a 380 and loved it, so roomy and was super super quiet on the top deck near the cockpit. Business was also really good and being that extra level higher than the engines and wing surfaces really makes for a noise reduction.
I went for a wander around the plane and loved the bar and had a few drinks, checked out a few things and talked a bit of crap with some flight staff.
Really is a good plane to fly on but I must admit it was overdue a refit as the times have changed drastically since their release.

I think AKL int make good money from the A380, I understand Emirates park their 3 380's on the tarmac every night or second night, fuel up to the brim and then fly to BNE, MEL, SYD. This must have some form of benefit for us. They did spend money extending for them but then again it is expansion that caters to all.

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#2178655 15-Feb-2019 08:36

It brings back memories of the L-1011 Tristar - brilliant technologically but a total commercial failure.

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#2178658 15-Feb-2019 08:49

I don't like flying it the A380. Sure its comfortable, but it's just so big it scares me - the wing span is enormous. I feel happier in smaller single level planes. My dislike is irrational, I know, but it is what it is.

And, yes, the interiors feel very dated relative to the new twin engine wide bodied jets.

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#2178664 15-Feb-2019 08:59

Coil:

I understand Emirates park their 3 380's on the tarmac every night or second night, fuel up to the brim and then fly to BNE, MEL, SYD. This must have some form of benefit for us.

Emirates have't flown the A380 TT for several years now. There is a single A380 flight to DXB every day.

I'd also be highly surprised if they ever flew TT with anything but minimum fuel requirements. Filling them with fuel would be totally pointless.

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