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Rumor: UA may buy A380 {UA CFO says "just doesnt really work for us"}

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Rumor: UA may buy A380 {UA CFO says "just doesnt really work for us"}

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Old Jun 1, 2015, 12:41 pm
  #1  
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Rumor: UA may buy A380 {UA CFO says "just doesnt really work for us"}

Rumor! Rumor! Rumor!!!

UA may buy A380 by ex-Skymark. I think UA will take 8 or 10 A380.

Let the speculation begin.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 12:43 pm
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Hahaha yeah right.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 12:46 pm
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That would be the complete opposite of what I've been hearing which is that the A380 line will be shuttered once all the remaining orders are complete.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 12:49 pm
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I highly doubt it. Unless all the talk of "capacity discipline" were just that; Talk.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 12:51 pm
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Originally Posted by fgirard
That would be the complete opposite of what I've been hearing which is that the A380 line will be shuttered once all the remaining orders are complete.
UA will buy used ones on the open market and pack 1000 slim line coach seats into them with no entertainment, not even PED.

Just kidding. I don't see UA buying these.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 12:58 pm
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When was Skymark's order supposed to deliver?

Nevermind, I see two are built.

Last edited by jhayes_1780; Jun 1, 2015 at 1:08 pm
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 12:59 pm
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With the 10 77Ws coming on line, does UA still need all 35 A350-1000s? The shift of some of the 787 orders to 77W last month makes me inclined to not disbelieve that UA could well make a similar agreement with Airbus.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:01 pm
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Originally Posted by Baze
UA will buy used ones on the open market and pack 1000 slim line coach seats into them with no entertainment, not even PED.
With the new TPAC meal changes, 1,000 seats x $7.99 for a Classic snack box = $8,000 in potential ancillary revenue from mid-flight snacks alone.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:02 pm
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I could see UA switching some of its A350 orders to A380. The A380 could replace the 747s.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:05 pm
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Originally Posted by Hartmann
I highly doubt it. Unless all the talk of "capacity discipline" were just that; Talk.
Right, I can't think of a current UA route where this would make sense. It would have to replace a couple flights on smaller wide bodies, and be a relatively long flight. Those of you who know more about the economics may tell me I'm wrong.

Routes like ORD-LHR probably have the demand, but I don't know that you'd use an A380 on a 7-8 hour flight. Capacity to NRT is supplemented by ANA so I doubt they need it there. Perhaps a US-FRA route?

Don't see it happening, especially 8-10 of them.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:05 pm
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UA did mention they wanted to cut down on frequency and upgage flights between hubs. They can offer 3-4 flights a day from LAX/SFO to EWR/ORD/IAD -- all A380 service. Cut costs and cram as many people in each plane as possible.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:08 pm
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Originally Posted by channa
With the new TPAC meal changes, 1,000 seats x $7.99 for a Classic snack box = $8,000 in potential ancillary revenue from mid-flight snacks alone.
This makes me laugh and cry simultaneously.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:08 pm
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Originally Posted by sfozrhfco
UA did mention they wanted to cut down on frequency and upgage flights between hubs. They can offer 3-4 flights a day from LAX/SFO to EWR/ORD/IAD -- all A380 service. Cut costs and cram as many people in each plane as possible.
I'd love to board a 380 out of T2 at ORD...
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:12 pm
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Originally Posted by JBord
Right, I can't think of a current UA route where this would make sense. It would have to replace a couple flights on smaller wide bodies, and be a relatively long flight. Those of you who know more about the economics may tell me I'm wrong.

Routes like ORD-LHR probably have the demand, but I don't know that you'd use an A380 on a 7-8 hour flight. Capacity to NRT is supplemented by ANA so I doubt they need it there. Perhaps a US-FRA route?

Don't see it happening, especially 8-10 of them.
Bolding Mine.

But, according to the JV with UA and LH, there is plenty of lift, especially on routes where LH deploys the A380, like LAX and SFO as well as the 748s, IAD, ORD.
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Old Jun 1, 2015, 1:14 pm
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Originally Posted by JBord
I'd love to board a 380 out of T2 at ORD...
Hammer on the head. EWR and ORD can't support them domestically with the gates and ORD says it'll be a few months for T5 to have the ability. So... UA would buy them to fly what exactly?

No way this happens.
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