Via airlineroute.net, Thai Airways has loaded a second daily A380 into the schedule for their route between Bangkok and Tokyo Narita. Presently the following frequency is operated by an A380: TG676 Bangkok to Tokyo Narita departing 8:00AM arriving 3:50PM TG677 Tokyo Narita to Bangkok departing 5:30PM arriving 10:30PM The second daily A380 will begin operating…
Continue reading: Thai Airways announces second daily A380 service to Tokyo Narita
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Funny. If I was just travelling BKK to TYO, I would take TH660 to Haneda instead. 2pm departure, arrive at 10pm. Still early enough to get public transport into Tokyo, and not the a bit too short red-eye. A 747, sure, but at the moment the flight I am on (for example) is showing the new F (though today is flying the old-old F)
If Thai believes they the pax to fill a second daily A380 on this route, they will do it (and keep it.) The ground turns for that monster are reasonable. That said, let's remember that Mr. A380 is still in diapers. If (no, When) they encounter a mechanical that cannot be cleared during the turn times, they will PO just that many more customers. I don't know of any current A380 operator that stages 'spare' A380s for short notice replacements; they are just too expensive.
It makes perfect sense for TG to put a second daily A380 on the NRT route. They can charge nearly the same on the premium Japanese market for a NRT-BKK return as they can do on BKK-LHR. To run a daily BKK-LHR route the would need to have 2 A380 planes scheduled, whereas on the NRT route they can fly one bird. If they have a LHR route with A380 it means they would have to schedule a short intra Asia trip as else the ground time would be too long to have the A380 sit idle in BKK.