It's a sad day for the A380, though I guess this isn't too surprising. Singapore Airlines is in the process of retiring the first five Airbus A380s that they ever took delivery of. They were the launch customer for the plane, and took delivery of the first A380 in 2007. The airline had these on…
Continue reading: Two Former Singapore Airlines A380s To Be Sold For Parts
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The A380 is like the family van. The kids have grown up and it's time to depend on smaller sedans to allow flexibility.
I heard that there has been a sudden spike in demand on the PEK - FNJ route. Perhaps Air China or Air Koryo can lease them, or one each maybe?
"A decade ago the A380 seemed like it would change aviation"
It really never seemed that way. It was revolutionary, but not in a way that serious analysts of the industry believed was good. The trend was already away from what A380 could do and were it not for Emirates, the plane would be long dead as a production item.
The A380 was a product of 747 envy, and even the queen is in her twilight years. It wasn't a product of much business logic, was a challenge for too many airports, was uneconomical for most carriers.
Yes, av geeks love A380. Yes, first class flyers too. It's a unique experience and we should enjoy it while it lasts.
A380 would be ideal government planes similar to air force one.
Or for fly cruise packages. Maybe a cruise company should own one.
I definitely agree that the A380 doesn't fit it time. But with passenger markets increasing, I have wondered for some time now if the A380 isn't a bit ahead of it time.
I mean by that that we see some (longhaul) routes edging each day towards saturation. We're still far from that, but I'm just asking if maybe, MAYBE, in the 2030's demand for 300+ passenger planes is going to be interesting.
After discussing it with friend it the airplane manufacturing industry, this seems unlikely given that 4 engines planes are a relic of the past. But one can dream I guess...
Lucky, some more information on Emirates and its plans for premium economy:
Very comfortable onboard but still creates some havoc for luggage , immigration and security at some airports. EG, Melbourne arrivals , now that QF36 SIN-MEL is a 380 and the early morning arrival coincides with an EK380, the luggage handlers appear not to cope: yesterday a ONE HOUR wait for bags at the carousel ( a common occurrence). This just doesn't happen with a 350, 787 or even a 777.
Of course that's not the fault of the plane but rather the moronic bureaucrats whose 'planning' leaves a lot to be desired.
Expect to see a lot of 380s heading for some dodgy carriers over the next few years and/or parked in that elephant's graveyard in the Nevada/California desert.
It's a pity but the 350 and 787 have won this round, by a significant margin.
@Paolo - I'd suggest that's more a problem on the airport side. Australian airport authorities just cannot seem to deliver bags in a timely manner.
I visited the Airbus factory in 2006, when the first Singapore A380 was being assembled, still unpainted from the outside except for the tail. It's sad to see this same aircraft now being sold for parts... I still love flying the A380!!
Paolo, MEL transit screening and lounges could not cope with a fully loaded EK380 when I transited thru on one of the DXB-MEL-AKL c. 2013. The airport did not seem to have been expanded to cope with one of two security lanes down in an already cramped facility, and the gate lounge packed with pax like sardines. Things had improved notably next time I passed thru in 2016 - the entire part of the terminal we were processed thru was new and much larger, and waaay more efficient. Can’t comment on bag claim, of course.
This apparently premature SIA retirement of the two ‘too heavy’ early airframes reminds me of an early 777 scrappage in the early 2000s. Some of the first 777s went new (from about 1996) to mostly US carriers for mostly domestic and short hop use so had very limited fuel capacity/range and were generally unsaleable to second tier operators wanting to do longer haul.
There was one in particular that had been with a South American operator - in poor financial state - from new but had not been well maintained. By the time it was offered for resale it was in such poor condition overall it was deemed good only for parts and scrapped before its 10th birthday. Ironically, its estimated value broken up was about twice resale value intact.
I thaught PIA would buy the a380's, considering their new livery showcase and video 😉