BOH

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...-idUSKCN1PW2GE

Looks like the end of the A380 this week when on Thursday 14th July Airbus announce their annual results. Hit by poor demand due to the Boeing 77W followed by the B787 and A350, Airbus will have sold less than 30% of the forecast number by 2020 when they originally built the business case for go-ahead nearly 20 years ago.

Interestingly only last week Willie Walsh stated again that IAG (BA) would still take some new 380s if Airbus were more realistic on price. With the second-hand value now likely to fall by the expected Airbus announcement, I wonder if BA would take some second-hand examples, something else WW has also stated in the past

Sad day for aviation and Europe really, only flew on one once and that was on LHR-FRA when BA first introduced the 380 and there were only about an A320s worth of pax on board and probably only about 25% of fuel too. I recall it seeming that the engines only seemed to move slightly above idle for the take-off run and we seemed to be airborne and climbing very quickly too.

Globaliser

That timing would lend credence to the suggestion that QF's (formal) cancellation came after Airbus had applied pressure on QF to make up its mind: QF cancels remaining A380 order

1010101

That's Emirates in trouble too then. They're effectively sitting on 100+ worthless aircraft that are killing them yield wise, not that there was much of a second market in the first place.

Kgmm77

lost_in_translation

Yep. Might not be the most beautiful aeroplane in the skies but an absolute joy to fly on. The idea that the 777, which is a dog of an aircraft from a passenger perspective, was decided to be a better choice by so many airlines is sad in the extreme.

skywardhunter

Do you by any chance have sources for that (yield-wise)?

The aircraft are owned by leasing companies, EK can just return them at the end of their leasing period, that is my understanding, unless you have some information to the contrary?

TedToToe

DYKWIA

I reckon EK will still be flying the A380 in 20 years. There are still another 50 or so on order - assuming these haven't been converted to A350s as was rumoured.

BOH

That's the whole point, the discussions around EK not taking any more of them so Airbus will shut the line down.

Paren

Potential deal to be had for BA if EK decide to sell any in the future...

DYKWIA

Really? There's nothing in that report that suggests this. Just that EK want to switch *some* orders to A350s.

Also, it says the production line will be closed down earlier than anticipated, not immediately.

I've no insider knowledge on this, but what you're stating doesn't seem to tally with that report.

skywardhunter

I think EK would be happy to not take any more A380s. The aircraft has worked well for them but times are changing and they're near their limit where they can sustain the number of frames they have. It's still working for them, but another 50 might be too many given their reduced growth rate.

cornishsimon

BOH

Correct - nothing in the report but I have some limited insider knowledge (usually reliable) and the feeling is EK will take very few (if any) more once those currently in build / long-lead items already committed to are delivered. This may be about 8-10 of their outstanding number of 50+. The last top-up order some 18 months ago is not firm and binding anyway (not sure it ever was) because RR did not come good on some promised engine improvements.

To take those in build / long-lead components committed to is to be expected though - it is not as if Airbus could place those frames with another airline desperate to acquire some so the cancellation penalties would potentially be enormous making it pointless paying them and not also acquiring the frames.

Shame BA never took up any of the options for the A380

ClubflyerLondon

While inevitable given the economics of the A380 vs 787/A350 i echo the comments of this outcome as rather sad. the A380 is my favorite aircraft in the BA fleet