Today marks the 10th Anniversary of the Airbus A380 – the double-decker superjumbo plane taking to the air for the first time, and the 8th year the A380 has been in commercial service.
British Airways A380 at Heathrow, Image Economy Class and Beyond
Emirates A380 taxing at Heathrow – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
British Airways Airbus A380 at Heathrow – Image, Economy Class and Beyond
Malaysia Airlines Airbus A380 – Image, Economy Class and Beyond 
Qantas Airbus A380s – Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
The Airbus A380 has become loved by some passengers due to the space aboard the plane (both in the upper and lower decks), its quietness and the fact they’re on a double decker plane (a straw poll in my office where some of us talk about travel gives more popularity to the A380 than the 787…).
Certainly, its a great passenger experience (except when Airbus decide that an 11 across configuration is peachy).
At ten however, the Airbus A380 faces challenges:
- The sales numbers – for Airbus, the numbers aren’t that hot. The A380 has had 156 deliveries, with orders for 317 of the type. To break even, Airbus estimated anything from 240 deliveries to 420 orders. This still remains a challenge.
- Airbus are working out how to cram more people in – especially with tighter seating formations in economy class. Could this worsen the passenger experience?
- People are turning away from the big quad engine jet planes – it’s a sad fact that has been minimal interest in the two giants of the sky (the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8i), with airlines looking to the efficiency of the big twins (The Boeing 777-300ER, The Boeing 787, the Airbus A330 and Airbus A350XWB
- As used A380s enter the resale market, eyes will be on it regarding the cost of them – or if the aircraft are parted out.
The Airbus A380 succeeds where it flies – look at Emirates and its continuously growing fleet of Airbus A380s, British Airways reporting good loads when they operate it and so forth.
But an A380 only becomes a real money spinner when all the seats are filled.
In its role to a hub-to-hub transporter in restricted slot airports, the A380 does a fine job – however, the point to point traffic is slowly being eaten away by the big twins which at non slot-constrained airport can scoop up the passengers.
Although if traffic grows, A380s have been known to take routes over.
It’s an interesting time for the Airbus A380. With questions over the production rate, the engine type or to re-engineer coming – Airbus will have to get some answers soon.
Hopefully enough positive answers to keep the Whale of the Sky flying.
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