AIRBUS A380 SUPERJUMBO STILL FLYING HIGH
Superjumbo has loyal following globally as it offers superior comfort, says company
EUROPEAN airframe manufacturer Airbus SE expressed confidence its A380 superjumbo will remain relevant in commercial aviation, particularly in the secondary market where the aircraft can be leased or acquired at attractive rates.
The A380 also provides opportunities for new entrants or new business models to capture growth and market share, fuelled by its superior comfort, capacity and great economics, an Airbus spokesman told Business Times.
“Since its launch, the A380 has been the unprecedented comfort leader. Passengers love the aircraft and the A380 has a loyal following globally.
“Larger capacity aircraft such as the A380 is the only solution for growth going forward,” said Airbus, adding that airlines had shown interest in the company’s ongoing campaigns.
The company plans to deliver 12 A380s this year, followed by eight next year and six from 2020, which is the industrially sustainable baseline.
“As of June, there are 331 A380s on order with 17 airlines. We also have delivered 228 A380s to date.”
Meanwhile, Dubai-based Emirates, the largest A380 operator, said it had every confidence the aircraft would remain popular with its passengers.
“Everywhere we operate, the Emirates A380 attracts consumer demand for our industryleading inflight experience in all cabin classes, and is welcomed by local economies as a contributor to tourism and visitor growth,” said Emirates country manager for Malaysia, Abdalla Al Zamani.
Emirates began its A380 operations on August 1, 2008, and this year marks its 10th anniversary since the airline’s first commercial A380 service.
“More than 105 million passengers have flown on the A380 since it first joined Emirates’ modern fleet.
“Emirates A380s currently fly to 49 destinations, spanning Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas,” he said, adding that Emirates A380 services had visited 73 airports globally.
The airline will launch the A380 services to Osaka and Hamburg in October.
To date, Abdalla said there were 104 A380 aircraft in Emirates’ fleet, with an additional 58 pending delivery.
He pointed out that the aircraft had become an integral part of the Emirates fleet, especially on long-haul high-traffic routes.
“Emirates regularly reviews route plans and adapts its business approach in accordance with market demands. We will continue to evaluate its operations around the world and we will launch new routes or deploy our flights to serve market demand according to commercial priorities and operational factors.”
Emirates operates into Malaysia using A380 and B777300ER. Depending on operational requirements, the airline operates either the three-class (519 seats) or two-class (615 seats) configured A380.
“We are always looking for ways to enhance our presence in this market.
“We will continue to seek opportunities that help us capture future growth, unlock new markets, and provide valuable air connectivity to travellers and economies.”