Airbus to end production of costly A380 superjumbo

[Nereus]

Airbus to end production of costly A380 superjumbo

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/ ... recent_box

PARIS: European aerospace giant Airbus said on Thursday it would end production of the A380 superjumbo, the double-decker jet which earned plaudits from passengers but failed to win over enough airlines to justify its massive costs.

The firm said it would stop deliveries of the A380 in 2021 after Dubai-based airline Emirates reduced its order of the model by 39 planes.

It was an ignominious end to a bold bet on how millions of people would travel in the future, as airlines struggled to fill a plane capable of carrying anywhere from 500 to 850 people.

"Following a review of its operations, and in light of developments in aircraft and engine technologies, Emirates is reducing its A380 orderbook from 162 to 123 aircraft," Airbus said in a statement.

"As a consequence and given the lack of order backlog with other airlines, Airbus will cease deliveries of the A380 in 2021."

Airbus had been forced to slow production in recent years, before warning in January 2018 that the programme could be scrapped if no new orders came in.
The company appeared to get a lifeline with the latest Emirates order, but last month Airbus admitted the airline might now be reconsidering.

In its statement Airbus said it would deliver the last 14 A380s to Emirates over the next two years, adding that the airline had ordered 70 smaller planes from the manufacturer.

Emirates' decision to reduce its A380 orders means Airbus has "no substantial A380 backlog and hence no basis to sustain production, despite all our sales efforts with other airlines in recent years," Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders was quoted in the statement as saying.

[REEM]

That's a shame, it's a fabulous plane for travellers, even in the economy section.

as airlines struggled to fill a plane capable of carrying anywhere from 500 to 850 people.

Every one I have travelled on has been full full full.

[Nereus]

They will be around for many years yet to come. It is just new production that is going to end.

[brianks]

They may be nice to some but I don't like them and apparently most airlines that purchased them don't like them either. Thai tried to unload them but couldn't find any takers. Loading them is quite a long and time consuming process. When they arrive and you disembark they flood immigration causing much longer ques.
Apparently other airlines (other than Emirates) don't like them either with most attempting to unload them only a year or two after taking delivery. There only efficient if they run full and there can be quite a few seats to sell and fill for each flight.
Boeing was right on this size plane as they have sold tons of 777's which are just a bit smaller but with two engines, much lest costly to fly.

[Dannie Boy]

I’ve been fortunate to fly on Etihad’s A380 in Business Class a number of times and it is certainly a better experience than flying on their B777 equivalent. I have yet to experience anybody’s A350 or B787 so don’t know how they compare, but would imagine they will be on a par comfort wise. Economics make the A380 dependent on flying full, which on many routes is not going to happen on a consistent basis, so it’s understandable that many airlines have stayed clear or limited their investment.

[Nereus]

It really has nothing to do with the aircraft itself. There are several factors that have both changed the market and the efficiency of wide bodied aircraft. Airbus may have got their market predictions wrong, but it is still a winner in the long haul market that it was designed for.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47231504

Airbus scraps A380 superjumbo jet as sales slump

[STEVE G]

Boeing was right on this size plane as they have sold tons of 777's which are just a bit smaller but with two engines, much lest costly to fly.

Boeing tried to sell the 747-8i and had way less success than Airbus did with the A380, they only sold a handful of them.

[Homer]

I’ve been fortunate to fly on Etihad’s A380 in Business Class a number of times and it is certainly a better experience than flying on their B777 equivalent.

Totally agree. Yesterday I checked flights and prices for a flight to Portugal on Emirates. They now have only 2 A380 flights leaving Bangkok, one at with a Lisbon arrival time far later than I prefer, the other with a 6 1/2 hour layover in Dubai. In both cases, the Dubai - Portugal leg is in a B777. I've flown Emirates biz class six times. Without the A380, might as well splurge my miles on an upgrade, then switch airlines.

[Henry 14th]

After the A389 Business class experience, you wonder how good First Class is. Nothing wrong with a 777 but the A380 really is a great flight on the top deck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Homer]

Boeing tried to sell the 747-8i and had way less success than Airbus did with the A380, they only sold a handful of them.

Boeing didn't commit to the 747-8 to build passenger planes. They based their financial decisions on building freighters and passenger planes from the same core components. Having both allowed them to respond to the market, shifting production to meet demand for one or the other.

Delivered through 2018
A380: 234
B747-8 All versions: 130 = a handful?

[Homer]

After the A389 Business class experience, you wonder how good First Class is. Nothing wrong with a 777 but the A380 really is a great flight on the top deck.

I've yet to see a B777 seat map that had 1 - 2 - 1 configuration in biz class like the Emirates A380. On Emirates a window seat means there is no one between you and the aisle.

There are youtubers who post vlogs of their experiences in first class. The Emirates A380 has a shower. Between your seat and the aisle are sliding doors. I'll never know first-hand what those are like...

[Henry 14th]

After the A389 Business class experience, you wonder how good First Class is. Nothing wrong with a 777 but the A380 really is a great flight on the top deck.

I've yet to see a B777 seat map that had 1 - 2 - 1 configuration in biz class like the Emirates A380. On Emirates a window seat means there is no one between you and the aisle.

There are youtubers who post vlogs of their experiences in first class. The Emirates A380 has a shower. Between your seat and the aisle are sliding doors. I'll never know first-hand what those are like...

Recently flew ANA 777 and had my own ‘cubical’ next to the window in the same way the 380 does.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MDMK]

The Emirates A380 has a shower. Between your seat and the aisle are sliding doors. I'll never know first-hand what those are like...

the year before last we both turned 50 and splurged and used all our miles to upgrade from biz to first (on Emirates A380s ams to bkk with stopovers in dxb), it was great! Definitely a one-off, but a lovely experience. The sliding doors are great as you feel like you have your own mini-room. The mattress on the bed was so thick I could have wept. A proper feather filled duvet. Beautiful high thread-count cotton sheets and pillow cases and a proper thick duvet. A pillow menu. The food service is just brilliant. There is no set meal time. You just order what you want when you want and as much of it as you want. My husband had 3 main meals between bkk and dxb. You get pj's and slippers to keep (as well as the standard amenity kits). The shower is so much fun. The 1st class lounge in dxb in the new (A) terminal is also top, with the big difference from the biz lounge being all meals are a la carte instead of buffet. We spent 7 hours in it on the return flight as I felt cheated with only 3hrs in it on the way out and I didn't have enough time for my free massage. If I ever win the lottery I will travel exclusively Emirates A380 first class. I can't praise it highly enough.

[Khundon1975]

Flown on them several times to BKK, great planes and great service from the crew. The wife flew out on one with Thai Airways just over a week ago and got the same good service we’ve always had.
Pity, as I like being on the top deck, made the experience just that bit different. Been on the B777 as well but prefer the A 380.

[Homer]

The shower is so much fun.

Because there was room for 2?

If I ever win the lottery I will travel exclusively Emirates A380 first class. I can't praise it highly enough.

With tongue mostly in cheek, but the quotes are real:

The dangers of trying something luxurious is expressed in a quote seen in several forms: 'A luxury once sampled becomes a necessity'. Thankfully, it doesn't if you can't afford it, unless it's cocaine.

For anyone who wants to try biz or first class once, and has means to do so often, and believes he has the willpower to resist it becoming a necessity, there is another relevant quote. It's from the era when the New York City subway system would hook private cars to their trains. A reporter asked a wealthy owner if a private car was an acquired taste. She said ‘No. One takes to it immediately.’