Future uses of EK A380s

Old May 21, 2020, 4:06 am
  #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?
​​​​​
ElJudioErrante is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 4:24 am
  #2  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: EK1 ML5A ;-)
Programs: EK iO
Posts: 699
Transformed into a full freighter? Not sure if that's even possible. Cargo market was dead pre-Covid though so I'm not sure how economically viable this is.
iFlyMoreThanYou is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 5:41 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 102
a380 can not modify to full cargo, it is because the design issue. A380 have space, but the paylod only around 10% higher then 747-8 cargo. that is a wastage of space and operation cost.
sealsgod is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 5:47 am
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 844
Originally Posted by sealsgod
a380 can not modify to full cargo, it is because the design issue. A380 have space, but the paylod only around 10% higher then 747-8 cargo. that is a wastage of space and operation cost.
Then maybe can be converted to combi?
ElJudioErrante is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 6:04 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: BWI
Programs: HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 766
Originally Posted by iFlyMoreThanYou
Cargo market was dead pre-Covid though so I'm not sure how economically viable this is.
Air freight rates have skyrocketed in the US, due to the drastic decrease in passenger flights cutting into available cargo space (a decent % of baggage space is devoted to air freight).

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.
iFlyMoreThanYou likes this.
pokeable is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 7:00 am
  #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...
ElJudioErrante likes this.
DYKWIA is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 8:25 am
  #7  
 
Join Date: Apr 2020
Posts: 102
Originally Posted by ElJudioErrante
Then maybe can be converted to combi?
I not sure what you mean, a380 in EK also is combi in some way, if you say is first half for cargo and second half fox pax, this idea now work in a380 as the design
sealsgod is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 11:45 am
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 844
Originally Posted by sealsgod
I not sure what you mean, a380 in EK also is combi in some way, if you say is first half for cargo and second half fox pax, this idea now work in a380 as the design
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.
ElJudioErrante is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 12:32 pm
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: OKC
Programs: IHG Spire, National Exec, AA Plat
Posts: 2,267
Could it support 1 deck as freight and 1 as pax?
Qatar Airways likes this.
bchandler02 is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 1:22 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 233
Perhaps sell them at knock down prices to some of the local Sheikhs, assuming they haven't had their wealth wiped out.
Longton is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 7:35 pm
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,278
I think passenger numbers will return and they'll be used "as is" for another 10 years or so until their natural retirement. People will still want to fly on them, just as they've done since they were launched.
ft101 is offline  
Old May 21, 2020, 8:04 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: KBOS
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 921
Outfit the entire lower deck with biz class seats and turn the whole thing into a land-side day hotel.
Peregrine415 is offline  
Old May 22, 2020, 3:07 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,471
Originally Posted by ft101
I think passenger numbers will return and they'll be used "as is" for another 10 years or so until their natural retirement. People will still want to fly on them, just as they've done since they were launched.
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
modularmayhem is offline  
Old May 22, 2020, 9:22 am
  #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.
KillaPowa is offline  
Old May 27, 2020, 5:41 pm
  #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.
Jenn0625 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.