While I love the A380 from a passenger comfort standpoint, the plane hasn't been performing well for Airbus, and is at risk of being a huge money loser for them. Airbus has been pondering discontinuing A380 production, given the lack of new orders for the plane. A380 works great for Emirates, but other than that…
Continue reading: ANA Places Order For 3 Airbus A380s!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Given some of the other crazy high density configs the Japanese airlines have (even for infra-Japan routes) this is not too crazy.
As you said, as air travel continues to grow perhaps these might become more popular. A long and lean strategy works as long as the airport is not capacity controlled.
This is the kind of news that I come to this site for compared to other sites where it's just the author complaining about the TSA or something of that nature, thanks for the reporting! Was very curious on the status of the A380 and if anyone was going to order any.
Was kinda hoping they'd put it on their LA route since when I flew them last year, it was on an ancient 777-200 with semi-flat in business class.
We fly this route a lot so hoping they don't skimp on a decent number of lie flats
The deal was a way for Airbus to settle the thorny Skymark investment and unload three A380s. In order for production to continue 2016 will be the deciding year. The ANA order may have some other airlines think again about ordering some A380s. Hope so. Airbus has made inroads in traditionally Boeing-dominated Japan with a 2013 JAL order for 31 firm plus 25 option A350s, something which shocked Boeing.
As ANA have made clear recently, they are ramping up new (renewed) routes to several Australian ports this year. There is word around that F is back on the agenda on those routes, defying the other airlines operating in this region who agreed to drop First Class from their services. Good!!
This is probably for high density routes like HND-KIX and NRT-HNL, where load is expected in the summer. Really good news, Tokyo is hosting the Olympics in 2020 and everyone can get on the A380s.
Somewhat related to the density comparison: The Air France 777 that was flying from Mauritus to France, and which was diverted due to a bomb scare, had 459 passengers and 14 crew.
605 seats ! How long to get off that plane sitting in the way back coach seat ??
Very curious what the future holds for the A380 in Japan. Right now, only SQ operates it in the country. The plane is not allowed at HND in the daytime, but hopefully that changes in a few years.
I can definitely see this going super high density (750+ Y seats). Basically double the capacity of each existing flight, and they'll probably still fill em up with tourists...
As a lawyer who works with one of the best bankruptcy groups and by far the best airplane financing group in the US (I didn't work on this deal and I don't think my law firm did either), I can tell you that 100% ANA had to take some of Skymark's orders in order to make a successful restructuring.
Japanese people are mostly slim, perhaps their average weight is 130 lbs. So it may be possible to squeeze more people on the ANA A380.
Right. There are rumors that it will be a all-economy A380, with lower deck 4-4-4, upped deck 3-4-3 configuration comprising approx 750-800 seats.
Airbus has all but confirmed there will be a re-engined A380, it's just how they bridge the production to when that can happen.
I'd bet ANA replaces some of its 777s to the US (LAX/SFO) with A380s. Also, they fill them with many of their popular staggered business class seats that often sell out. ANA will order more A380s and will likely compete in First with a design beyond its First Square.
This order will come as extremely good news for Airbus. Whether ANA takes the two examples already built for Skymark, plus another (presumably from the defunct order from Tranasero), we can only speculate.
I can't see three examples being the only order, as I suspect others will follow. I suspect that they may Aldo be used on domestic routes to replace their now retired older cousins, the Boeing 747s, which really packed them in.
Air Austral had ordered two all-economy Airbus A380s, rumoured to seat 800 passengers each, for routes to Paris, but this didn't materielise.
Maybe once the aircraft are successfully integrated into the ANA fleet, it may get JAL to take a look as well. They too, operated high density B747s.
Well done on an excellent blog. It makes a huge change from reading constant gripes and moans from others out there.
Happy New Year to you all, from me, here n the UK.
The logic behind your comments are totally sound, given that ANA's counterparts in Korea, Korean Airlines and Asiana, both operate from Seoul to Los Angeles with ther A380s.
Having worked in the travel industry for thirty years plus, as a travel professional, I realise that loadings from/to Asia/USA are pretty high, and to utilise an aircraft with more seats, would benefit a carrier enormously.
I would also be unsurprised to see JAL look at the aircraft too, and after seeing if ANA can succeed with the type, order some of their own.
ANA officially confirmed on January 29 following their board meeting that officially approved to place an order for A380(!) that they would introduce F class to their A380. So you may need to try them!