Airliners.net

After reading the thread about SQ returning early A-380's, I got to wondering. When do a.netters think that an A-380 (regardless of airline) will first park in the desert?

I envision 3 possible scenarios: 1) overcapacity (airline or industry downturn); 2) recession (related to 1); and/or 3) unit obsolescence (i.e., needing to be retired.)

Wiki notes that the first was delivered to SQ in 2007. EK has a bunch of them with more on order. Maybe it won't be for another 10 years, but I am curious.

That is when they're no longer cost effective, as with the previous quadjets (747 and A340). We also knew that the vast majority of airlines that have previously flew the 747s have turned to twinjets as a suitable replacement, most notably the 777-300ER. Some A330s, A350s, and 787s have replaced routes that were flown by a 747 as well. The shift towards twinjets, combined with load factor among long haul markets, would eventually lead to the discontinuation of the A380. No further VLJ aircraft would be made in the near future, although few numbers would be built for the freighter market like the 747-8.

Do we really need ANOTHER A380 thread?

I thought quite a few of them are parked in the desert every day for a few hours, at DXB, AUH and DOH....

MalevTU134 wrote:

I thought quite a few of them are parked in the desert every day for a few hours, at DXB, AUH and DOH....

You got a light chuckle out of me!

In the next 2-5 years I can see a frame or two in storage somewhere awaiting a new operator.

RL777 wrote:

In the next 2-5 years I can see a frame or two in storage somewhere awaiting a new operator.

If thats the case Airbus already has some parked )just not in a desert) as they were built and operators are no longer in business.

Sad day when that comes. Live long and prosper A380 (from a Boeing fan) . Its really a comfortable plane to fly in. Has much has I love the 748 looks I love the capacity that the A380 brings to J class and have been enjoying the fares for awhile now.. Long Live the A380

skipness1E wrote:

Do we really need ANOTHER A380 thread?

EXACTLY my thought. Couldn't this be asked in one of the gajillion other A380 threads?

Maybe someone or investors can buy new airline called "380 Airlines" LOL!


Q

Q wrote:

Maybe someone or investors can buy new airline called "380 Airlines" LOL!


Q

That's pretty much EK. They have nearly 100...

What's an A-380?

Q wrote:

Maybe someone or investors can buy new airline called "380 Airlines" LOL!


Q

Sounds like something Branson would do. Dump A380s on former VX routes to piss AS off.

ASQ400 wrote:

Sounds like something Branson would do. Dump A380s on former VX routes to piss AS off.

Like out of DAL?

BN727227Ultra wrote:

ASQ400 wrote:

Sounds like something Branson would do. Dump A380s on former VX routes to piss AS off.

Like out of DAL?

Given how petty Branson is, he damn well would.

Mogrcat wrote:

After reading the thread about SQ returning early A-380's, I got to wondering. When do a.netters think that an A-380 (regardless of airline) will first park in the desert?.

Looking a the widebody market these days I would be more worry about other aircraft types going to the desert.

Among the reasons you mention I don't see what would be so specific to the A380 :

1) overcapacity (airline or industry downturn) : smaller markets would be first impacted, where A380s are not flying.
2) recession (related to 1) : same, the traffic would consolidate on the core routes, demand would become more price sensitive and fly more through mega hubs, so actually it may even help the A380.
3) unit obsolescence (i.e., needing to be retired.) : the A380 still has the lowest cost per seat in the fleet at iso cabin density. The A380 is certainly too big for many routes, but it is not technically obsolete.

skipness1E wrote:

Do we really need ANOTHER A380 thread?

Of course we need another...not!

The first one will be in the desert by years end.

d8s wrote:

skipness1E wrote:

Do we really need ANOTHER A380 thread?

Of course we need another...not!

The first one will be in the desert by years end.

Correct. I doubt the soon to be off lease SQ birds will ever fly again, certainly not in mainline airline configuration.

When SQ ends the lease of the first A380 and then the next four as well.

Apparently the used models might make good private jets.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.busine ... ace-2017-5