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Post by rugbyref on Jul 3, 2023 7:20:13 GMT
I see that Qatar is planning to re-retire its A380s as A350-1000 deliveries resume, as the CEO regards the A380 as a mistake. As I have just completed 2 A380 flights with them, and both appeared to be full, that seems a short sighted decision. But are the operating costs of the A350 so much lower that it makes sense to sell about 100 fewer economy tickets per flight?
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Post by Jeff on Jul 3, 2023 9:38:04 GMT
From a cargo perspective, the A380 has very limited hold space for baggage and cargo, the A350 on the other hand can carry 13 aircraft pallets. I'd assume this would be the main reason to opt for the 350 even though the pax all rave about the 380
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Post by lordevanelpuss on Jul 3, 2023 14:23:42 GMT
I wonder if the reason for the A380's more limited success is due to it's late introduction into service. To me it seems that the world is falling out of love with the 'Jumbo Jets'. The Boeing 747 was also on the wane as a passenger carrier by the time the 2000s came along. How many airlines are flying pax 747s into LHR these days? I know you can see 747Fs there (Cathay, Singapore, to name two) if you pick the right day to go. Maybe if Airbus had started producing the A380 in the 1970s, then it may have been more successful. It seems that, that was the time when big was beautiful.
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Post by graham on Jul 4, 2023 8:10:02 GMT
Another aspect Phil is the limited number of airports that could handle the A380.
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Post by keefyboy on Jul 4, 2023 9:32:51 GMT
I suspect the main issue is economics with twinjets being a lot cheaper to operate than 4 engined jets like the 146, 747 and 380. The 340's days must be numbered too.
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Post by lordevanelpuss on Jul 4, 2023 10:22:59 GMT
My last visit to LHR was on Sunday 5th March and the only A340 I saw in my time there was Air Mauritious' 3B-NBU. The only other 4 engined aircraft seen were A380s of Emirates, Qatar, Singapore and, of course. British Airways. Not identified, but there was probably a Qantas example present too. Two subsequent visits to The Green Man pub at Bedfont yealded no A340s, and only the previous mentioned A380s (except Qantas). I wonder if Air Mauritious is now the only airline to operate the A340 into Heathrow.
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Post by Jeff on Jul 4, 2023 15:29:08 GMT
Air Mauritius have been operating 350s for a while now
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