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Opinion: Boeing 777X delay could offer an active retirement opportunity to Airbus A380

Submitted about a year ago

PARIS, FRANCE — The Airbus A380, once thought to be a failed venture, may have a new lease on life. In 2019, Airbus announced the discontinuation of production for its double-decked iconic aircraft, as it failed to meet sales expectations in the face of competition from Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and Airbus' own A350 - the new generation twin-engine jets known for their fuel efficiency. (www.airlinerwatch.com) More...

Tom Novak

15 member comments

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Geoff Rowe about a year ago 14

Well darn, I’ve been saying for a very long time that short sighted airlines will regret cancelling to big “4’s” and I think that time is almost here. Too bad that Airbus and Boeing won’t be able to restart the 747-8 and A380 production lines.

Or can they?

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Andrew Bain about a year ago 10

a380 are great aircraft to fly in have flown both business and economy emirates do not think there dinosaurs changing 55% of there 380s to 4 seating grades now with premium seats.

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KitBagJack about a year ago 4

Andrew: I think you meant, “ride in”.

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Ian Campbell about a year ago 3

not to mention 'they're' vs. 'there' smh

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ray netherwood about a year ago 4

I’ve flown Lufthansa 380’s in both First and Business. It’s an amazing plane. It’s amazing (sad) that when engineered, the design failed to plan for an afterlife as a cargo carrier.

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Ian Campbell about a year ago 0

Deck strength/weight penalties aside, I believe that it was designed >too< big ... looks good to the (untrained) eye but offers little more than cush for the tush ...

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HP Baumeister about a year ago 1

Explain

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Ian Campbell about a year ago 1

Route analysis and economics determine business decisions. As much as I loathe a gas-guzzler (wheeled or winged), a paid-off premium-price vehicle is a waste to shelve if it can be used effectively. So yes, bring the fat broad out of retirement until fuel/CO2 merits an upgrade

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Ian Campbell about a year ago 1

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Ken McIntyre about a year ago -9

Dream on. The A380 is now a dinosaur. Wide body twins are the future.

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Torsten Hoff about a year ago 22

There are still plenty of A380s airborne at this very moment. It's not the right aircraft for every route, but for high-volume intercontinental ones, they can make sense.

https://flightaware.com/live/aircrafttype/A388

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Greer Kemp about a year ago 11

I wouldn't call it a dinosaur at all - most of the people I know living as expats in Asia have flown in them and love the experience. The fact is that for anyone coming to Asia from western countries, it's a flight of at least 8 hours or more, and the large aircraft somehow feels more appropriate.

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