AIRBUS | A380 News & Discussion

[future.architect]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

...

Again, you are missing the point. The A380 is specifically aimed at airlines who can not only fill the seats but who might be slot restricted at certain airports, having 4 flights a day instead of 2 might not be possible.

For the last time, the 787 and the A380 are not competitors. They are aimed at two totally different markets. Yes they are both long range, long haul jets, but thats the only similarity.
Not even Boeing claims the A380 competes with the 787.

[sidney_jec]

Originally Posted by fieldsofdreams

San Francisco is also a future A380 destination for EK. It's just that a modified air frame that could fly longer distances that would be needed to make the flight.

am pretty much ignorant about what you wrote. what exactly do you mean by a modified airframe?

[TedToToe]

A higher gross weight version and/or lower seating density? Maybe, additional crew rest areas, for example.

[fieldsofdreams]

Originally Posted by sidney_jec

am pretty much ignorant about what you wrote. what exactly do you mean by a modified airframe?

Well, EK has ordered additional A380 that can fly nearly the same distance as a B77W, in which, in my best guess, can be achieved by either lowering the seating capacity or improving the engine used for the aircraft. It's like making another variant for the same aircraft.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by future.architect

Again, you are missing the point. The A380 is specifically aimed at airlines who can not only fill the seats but who might be slot restricted at certain airports, having 4 flights a day instead of 2 might not be possible.

For the last time, the 787 and the A380 are not competitors. They are aimed at two totally different markets. Yes they are both long range, long haul jets, but thats the only similarity.
Not even Boeing claims the A380 competes with the 787.

Not that I don't agree with your first point, but the A380 and 787 are competitors in a sense of ideology. The A380 was developed based on the theory of passengers being funnelled into an airline hub to get to ones' destination, while the 787 was developed based on the idea of increasing smaller secondary hubs. So while yes the A380 and 787 have different markets in a sense, these ideologies are technically in competition with one another.

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by future.architect

Again, you are missing the point. The A380 is specifically aimed at airlines who can not only fill the seats but who might be slot restricted at certain airports, having 4 flights a day instead of 2 might not be possible.

For the last time, the 787 and the A380 are not competitors. They are aimed at two totally different markets. Yes they are both long range, long haul jets, but thats the only similarity.
Not even Boeing claims the A380 competes with the 787.

The contradiction is at many airports where there are slot restrictions, business passengers prefer high frequency to justify paying extraordinary J and F fares. That's why we see Emirates ramp up both capacity and frequency for London. The contradiction also manifests itself on the popular New York - London route, where we don't see US carriers buy and deploy an A380.

We also see the A380 fly into airports that don't have this slot problem, such as SYD, HKG, ICN, SIN, and the like. It is also very much possible to use a 787, 777, A330, or A340 on these routes. Airlines then decide how many seats they can fill up and whether it's economical to use a big or small jet.

[future.architect]

Originally Posted by deasine

Not that I don't agree with your first point, but the A380 and 787 are competitors in a sense of ideology. The A380 was developed based on the theory of passengers being funnelled into an airline hub to get to ones' destination, while the 787 was developed based on the idea of increasing smaller secondary hubs. So while yes the A380 and 787 have different markets in a sense, these ideologies are technically in competition with one another.

Well in that sense, Airbus is also competing with itself with the A350 and even the A330.

[noir-dresses]

Originally Posted by TedToToe

A higher gross weight version and/or lower seating density? Maybe, additional crew rest areas, for example.

EK have two types of 380s, the LH "Long Haul" version that doesn't have crew rest for shorter flights, and the ULR "Ultra Long Haul" which have a crew rest area. Crew rest areas are only meant to house two sets of crew when the flight surpases the maximum hours allowed for one flight crew to work. Basically one crew takes the aircraft off the ground, the second crew takes over midflight, and the first crew handles the final segment of the flight right down to landing the plane.

The higher gross weight airframes that will come next year, and fly to San Fran, and LAX have nothing to do with the ULR crew rest, it's just higher gross weight because it will obviously have more fuel capacity.

[Theizazo]

BA A380's confirmed seat plan !

http://www.flightglobal.com/Assets/G...x?ItemID=48942

[Space Invader]

http://www.ausbt.com.au/ba-british-a...ws-articleleft

BA reveals Airbus A380, Boeing 787 Dreamliner seatmaps
(...)

The seating chart for British Airways' A380 shows each of the 12 superjumbos will carry 469 passengers across four classes.
As Australian Business Traveller revealed in September, British Airways won't be fitting an all-new Club World business class seat to the A380, opting instead for what a spokesperson described as "an evolution of the current seat".



(...)

[sidney_jec]

Originally Posted by TedToToe

A higher gross weight version and/or lower seating density? Maybe, additional crew rest areas, for example.

Originally Posted by fieldsofdreams

Well, EK has ordered additional A380 that can fly nearly the same distance as a B77W, in which, in my best guess, can be achieved by either lowering the seating capacity or improving the engine used for the aircraft. It's like making another variant for the same aircraft.

oh ok. thanks!! I thought modifying the fuselage or something

[TedToToe]

Originally Posted by noir-dresses

EK have two types of 380s, the LH "Long Haul" version that doesn't have crew rest for shorter flights, and the ULR "Ultra Long Haul" which have a crew rest area.

Looking at www.planespotters.net the two EK types are configured F14C76Y427 and F14C76Y399. Does anybody know if they still plan to put any two class A380's into service?

[fieldsofdreams]

A two-class A380 would be a possibility... however, with a massive aircraft, how would you configure that aircraft? Like 80 C class and around 500 Y seats? Plus, what would you replace the Self-Service Bar with that configuration?

[hkskyline]

Source : http://pic.feeyo.com/posts/576/5762950.html

[Сталин]

Nice.

[Andrex]

Originally Posted by deasine

So while yes the A380 and 787 have different markets in a sense, these ideologies are technically in competition with one another.

No even that from the moment Boeing's board gave away and allowed go on the 747-8 airframe.

Originally Posted by hkskyline

The contradiction also manifests itself on the popular New York - London route, where we don't see US carriers buy and deploy an A380.

No contradiction because not any single US carrier has lately ordered any VLA or plane bigger than 777 ....but you will see BA serving the route with their brand-new A388's

Originally Posted by fieldsofdreams

A two-class A380 would be a possibility... however, with a massive aircraft, how would you configure that aircraft? Like 80 C class and around 500 Y seats? Plus, what would you replace the Self-Service Bar with that configuration?

No way!

A 2-class A380 is a nonsensical and that is nearly a contradiction of what A380 idea is.

[fieldsofdreams]

Originally Posted by Andrex

No way! A 2-class A380 is a nonsensical and that is nearly a contradiction of what A380 idea is.

I understand what you mean. However, the A380 is also designed to be configured with a mono-class layout (all Y), allowing like what, 800+ passengers? Yet I wonder if which airline/s will be able to do that because for 800 passengers per flight, it would mean axing several daily flight rotations and it could become a one or two flights a day.

[TedToToe]

Originally Posted by Andrex

No way!

A 2-class A380 is a nonsensical and that is nearly a contradiction of what A380 idea is.

Air Austral, who have since cancelled their order, had originally planned to use their A380's on high density leisure routes with 800+ seating. Also, if JAL or ANA came knocking on Airbus' door for a domestic version, I'm sure they would not be turned away.
The reason for my question about Emirates and a two class version is because I am sure that some of their routes would support it. India, who are preventing EK from using A380's at present, would be one example. Of course airport infrastructure (as well as political dogma) are the main issues.

[EK413]

According to Aviation Week, Airbus is working on a significant A380 order

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article...._p0-527595.xml

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by fieldsofdreams

I understand what you mean. However, the A380 is also designed to be configured with a mono-class layout (all Y), allowing like what, 800+ passengers? Yet I wonder if which airline/s will be able to do that because for 800 passengers per flight, it would mean axing several daily flight rotations and it could become a one or two flights a day.

Can it even be done? Will it pass the evacuation test? Actually, did they try certifying safe evacuation with an all-Y 800+ passenger list?