V-Flyer

I was looking through some intersting stats for the 380 and noticed that VS has 6 on order, but BA and indeed no other UK airline (Can't actually think of any biggies anyway) have any on order. I was also surprised to see that Emirates have 43 on order, the biggest adopter by far.

Paul

Interesting. Do you have the source for this info? I have noticed that a number of the holiday companies are advertising that they will be using 380 flights (Kuoni for example) in their new brochures.

I have a spreadsheet that someone sent me, not exactly sure of its origins, but it does give the following information which is apparently correct as of end of November 2005.
10 Air France
5 CASI
5 China Southern AL
43 Emirates AL
4 Etihad AW
10 Federal Express
10 ILFC
5 Kingfisher AL
5 Korean AL
15 Lufthansa
6 Malaysian
12 Qantas
2 Qatar AW
10 Singapore AL
6 Thai AW Int'l
10 UPS
6 Virgin Atlantic

I can send you the spreadsheet if you PM me.

Paul

Apart from UPS and FedEx, none of the US airlines have ordered any. I suppose none of the long-hauls are in a robust enough financial position to get them.
BTW, does anyone know if airbus do a short-range version of the A380?

Cheers,
VS045

Not that I know off,there are of course plan's for a streched version down the road,but from what I have been reading there seem's to be more bump's in the road.

It look's like they are have a problem with the wake vortex's and for whatever reason it seems that the MTW is heading lower?

There's not really what I would say a problem with the wake, a380s just put out a little more wake. It was expected though. I don't think it will cause any delays.

Yes, there's no way any American passenger airline will get the a380, now, and most likely in the future. However I don't really care because UPS and FedEx both have cargo hubs at EWR, so I expect to see some of theirs.

And boy o boy o boy aren't we looking forward to them ... whatever the rumours and the counter rumours I for one expect Virgin to create something special in the sky on the 380.

I'm not surprised that MidEast and Eastern airlines have ordered more ... they are young, cash richer and not burdened with the inefficiencies of US in particular airlines. And they see greater growth than our more mature markets.

I would love to see BA order them, it would suit BA very well IMHO.

From what I've read and heard, the issues in testing are not out of the ordinary and won't affect the plane or the now revised delivery plans.

The wake problems stem from preliminary aircraft "spacing" recomended by authorities to air traffic control, before the A380 becomes properly certified for passenger travel.

Having said that, Airbus are not happy with the initial recomendations, and as I understand are going to do back to back proving flights against the 747/777.

Originally posted by Richard28
The wake problems stem from preliminary aircraft "spacing" recomended by authorities to air traffic control, before the A380 becomes properly certified for passenger travel.

Having said that, Airbus are not happy with the initial recomendations, and as I understand are going to do back to back proving flights against the 747/777.

HereIs an article about the new spacing recomendations.

Phil

Wow that it is a big increase, up to 10nm irrespective of the following aircraft. Mind you we all saw what Wake Vortex could do in October 2001 in New York, so it is not something I want them to agree lightly.

Paul

Thanks Pegitt,hadn't seen that before.

Wouldn't the 10 nm mess with the slot schedule at LHR?

Originally posted by jetwet1
Thanks Pegitt,hadn't seen that before.

Wouldn't the 10 nm mess with the slot schedule at LHR?

Dave - yes that's what's been said, if it is this distance then any benefit from dual runway operations is rumoured to be negated.

Will be interesting to see how this wake issue (raised by a US agency apparently, so don't know how much is politics?) affects the expected promo tour to LHR end of Feb start of march.
Nice to see a VS decal job that big,
We stepped up early with orders, fits the business model, present and future, also helps free up other aircraft by adding load capacity to high volume routes etc, plus we like to be trend setters, not followers (seat sale promotions and fuel tax not included!)
Colleagues at BA are adopting a more cautions wait and see attitude, and are looking at the 787 and possible new 747-800 (which would also be affected by the new wake category as an aside)
Happy New Year by the way from Crawley[y]

Thanks for that Garthy. Very pleased to see VS "stepping up to the plate" so early with your orders - its what we have come to expect[y].

Your point about excepting fare promotions from that aspiration is also interesting:

we like to be trend setters, not followers (seat sale promotions and fuel tax not included!)

....[:?].... Can we assume from your comment that VS do intend being followers with regards to recently announced triple miles promotions? [:I][}:)];)

Originally posted by garthy
We stepped up early with orders, fits the business model, present and future, also helps free up other aircraft by adding load capacity to high volume routes etc,

I wonder if that means that routes like MCO (which have 2/3 flights per day from LGW) will be replaced by 1 x 380? Routes like EWR/JFK I guess cannot be merged as these are timed to fit in with peoples arrival/departure requirements.

On every program I have watched about the 380 they seem to be looking at routes in/out of Asia although from what I have heard on this board it would suggest that VS may struggle to fill a 380 on their current asia routes.

Any speculations on which will be the first 6 routes VS put their 380s on?

Paul

IÕm not involved with Revenue of Marketing, so canÕt comment on mileage promotion. I was just being a little bit facetious, as BA went first with the fuel hike, and then we followed, sometimes happens with promotions too.
Still havenÕt got over BA getting under the new arch at Gatwick before us, and they donÕt fly 747Õs from LGW. Far-East is a plan for all airlines due to potential economic growth in the area.
the A380 doesn't just mean consolidation of flights, but replacements to cope with peak demand, allowing another aircraft to be used elsewhere, for increased or new services.
Will make a nice view from the viewing platform on the roof of club house phase 2 though

Sorry Garthy - I was asking the question light heartedly, knowing that you could not comment on upcoming revenue promotions even if you were in the know!

Originally posted by jetwet1
Thanks Pegitt,hadn't seen that before.

Wouldn't the 10 nm mess with the slot schedule at LHR?

There is a bit on LHR and the A380 seperation Here

Phil

Originally posted by garthy

Will make a nice view from the viewing platform on the roof of club house phase 2 though

I'll second that - do you know the dates of the promo tour to LHR for the 380 ... I'd like to be able to see that and live under the flight path-ish so will aim to get some good photos!

I was thinking about this at work tonight,it has been discused before about which route we think the 380's will end up on.

As was said JFK/EWR have the most flight's so I could see them getting maybe one flight a day,also maybe changing LAX into a one flight a day city so freeing up an aircraft,other than that im kind of scrating my head trying to find a route that has the constant load's to justify an aircraft of this size on an everyday basis?

T'would be great to see an A380 at EWR, especially from VS. EWR and JFK, according to airbus, can be A380 ready with only a few modifications.

Originally posted by p17blo
I wonder if that means that routes like MCO (which have 2/3 flights per day from LGW) will be replaced by 1 x 380? Routes like EWR/JFK I guess cannot be merged as these are timed to fit in with peoples arrival/departure requirements.

Although I would be a very happy chappy to fly to mco in a 380, would that not mess up the lhr-airbus, lgw-747 senario.

David

Try airlinerlist.com!! Interesting that the aicraft for VS is a reallocated aircraft from SQ & that it's the only one for VS in the first 35 off the production line!!!!

Remember that the A380's are going to have VS's latest product inside, plus, no doubt some extra's besides, and will have a higher J seat count than the current fleet.

So I think we can safely assume they'll not do any LGW runs in the short/medium term, and will be used to compete on routes with high yield J class demand, and Y demand.

My bets would be on JFK as the first route, with SFO/LAX coming on stream thereafter (similar to Upper Class Suite roll-out)

Thats my thinking,of course I know im not going to see one here in LAS,but me think's it may be mile's/money saving time again just incase they do have the double suites