Originally Posted by
BahrainLad
You've said this a couple of times now and I really don't know why. There's no airside access from T7 to any other terminals so BA woud have to set up checkin, lounge, staff, arrivals services, baggage etc in another terminal solely for one A380 frequency per day. You can't just send a couple of staff over there and "log in" to some empty desks - look at the months of work IB had to do just to be able to operate from T5 at LHR.
In addition, I'm sure F and J passengers would be delighted with a lack of CCR, lack of preflight dining etc. on what is referred to by BA as "the money run."
You are far more likely to see an A380 in LAX, CPT, JNB, HKG and SIN before you are JFK. At least until the second tranche (remember BA only originally ordered 10 744s but ended up operating 57) arrive.
We will see. JFK has a lot of upgrades being done to international terminals across the board.
T4 is being expanded. T5 will have a new international terminal built out next to it. British Airways will build a new terminal next to American Airline's Terminal in all likelyhood.
Remember the A380 has special conditions imposed upon it and as of today only 2 terminals allow the A380, T1 and T4. It is unclear if other terminals will allow for the A380 but it seems likely that at least some will in the future.
Also the future of terminal T2 is unknown. Some pics showed a huge builtout of T4 replacing T2 and that would mean T2 + T7 could be allocated to new carriers in the future.
JFK Airport is like a snapshot in time, showing lots of old terminals way past their usage while airplanes are getting even bigger then they were years ago.
Do I think BA will have an A380 to JFK? Absolutely. Air France has it, Lufthansa has it, Korean Air has it, Emirates has it, Singapore Airlines has it.
British Airways ordered their A380 late in the game, but JFK to UK has always been one of the most frequently travelled international route even moreso than USA to France.
The route will definitely be in the 10 initial A380 orders. If other airlines are the guide, I would say it would probably be anywhere from the 1st A380 route issued to like the 5th if I had to guess. JFK will just be one route the A380 is on. It will also be on other large routes too.
"LAX, CPT, JNB, HKG and SIN" I would say Australia has a good chance of getting an A380 as well. All the other routes you mentioned are all good routes and also likely to see A380.
There are A380's to go around. It isn't just JFK getting them. Just means that JFK is likely to see one of them in the initial order.
I like to see the modernization of jets throughout the airlines and more cost efficiency with the larger planes to popular routes to bring costs down. An A380 can spread the cost throughout multiple passengers and also attract more premium seat sales than the 747-400 could do.