Future uses of EK A380s
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 844
Future uses of EK A380s
From what we can glean from the leaks and our own conclusions it looks as if the flying EK A380
in its current use and configuration could at least be an endangered beast.
As an expensive iconic asset, it will therefore be interesting to see what happens to them.
They could be turned into hotels or restaurants, although right now thats not too compatible for social distancing.
One or two could be sunk in sea as in Bahrain for sightseeing but I hope that doesn't happen as non ecological.
And if converted to other flying modes, then can be used for more pax load on different routes or maybe with difficulty converted to freighters.
It would be sad to see them disappear even though some will at least be cannibalized for parts.
Just wondered other opinions of other FTers?
in its current use and configuration could at least be an endangered beast.
As an expensive iconic asset, it will therefore be interesting to see what happens to them.
They could be turned into hotels or restaurants, although right now thats not too compatible for social distancing.
One or two could be sunk in sea as in Bahrain for sightseeing but I hope that doesn't happen as non ecological.
And if converted to other flying modes, then can be used for more pax load on different routes or maybe with difficulty converted to freighters.
It would be sad to see them disappear even though some will at least be cannibalized for parts.
Just wondered other opinions of other FTers?
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 844
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BWI
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 766
As noted above, though, the A380 isn't a viable freighter; it's too heavy, so you would reach maximum takeoff weight before you fill the entire plane.
#6
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,556
https://www.flightglobal.com/air-tra...138247.article
German maintenance specialist Lufthansa Technik is working on a conversion for an Airbus A380 as part of its effort to offer temporary passenger-to-cargo modification services.
Lufthansa Technik has not identified the customer but states that it has been awarded the technical and engineering task to support the “operational change” for the double-deck type.
While the modification is intended to comply with temporary passenger-to-freight regulatory exemptions drawn up to meet demand during the coronavirus crisis, the company indicates that it will offer the conversion as a permanent solution.
“The current exemption and our solution for it can be transferred to our supplemental type certificate at a later point in time without major adjustments,” says aircraft modification base maintenance senior director Henning Jochmann.
Continues...
Lufthansa Technik has not identified the customer but states that it has been awarded the technical and engineering task to support the “operational change” for the double-deck type.
While the modification is intended to comply with temporary passenger-to-freight regulatory exemptions drawn up to meet demand during the coronavirus crisis, the company indicates that it will offer the conversion as a permanent solution.
“The current exemption and our solution for it can be transferred to our supplemental type certificate at a later point in time without major adjustments,” says aircraft modification base maintenance senior director Henning Jochmann.
Continues...
#7
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 102
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 844
I mean part of the pax deck converted to take even more cargo, similar to KL did with a few of their 747s. That enabled KL to maintain some long haul routes even increase frquency.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,471
I really hope this is true. I love the EK 380 experience in J and F. Hopefully pax numbers will return to something close to normal relatively quickly in 6-12 months
#14
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: Emirates Skywards Silver
Posts: 18
Love the positive outlook, but don't even know where to start with the claims that passenger numbers are going to return to the same....one thing this situation will prove is that a lot of business travel is actually non-essential as well as expensive in what will be a huge belt tightening period worldwide. That combined with lesser affluence in the general population as well as people's reassessment of being stuck in a metal tube subject to 'risk' will also have a huge affect on leisure travel. I'm not a pessimist either, I am just being realistic.
#15
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 258
I am hoping for this as well. Flying this class with Emirates has always been something I wanted to experience! We were planning to fly MXP - JFK home form our Italy trip in July and it's something we had planned for over a year. We had saved up enough amex and chase points to transfer to Emirates to book this and were really really looking forward to this, and sad we had to cancel. I am hoping these flights and this route will return, even if it takes a few years (our skymiles will be good for a few and we don't mind waiting). But if it does not I have no idea what we are going to do with all of the skymiles since we cannot turn them back into amex and chase points. I really do hope this is something we can just rebook in the future, no matter how long it takes. I can be patient lol.