Airbus A380 - A Decade Old...

Not sure if this is the right place to post - but thought this really warranted a thread...

Today, 10 years ago the Airbus A380 made its maiden voyage - a 4 hour test flight..! This was at the time a marvel, and for many (Airbus exec's included) the future of air travel.

A decade on and there are still only about 300 of these actually operating. Was this the last of the Super Jumbos to grace the sky as airlines look to run multiple flights on super efficient airliners - or perhaps just a false dawn?

I have never flown on one, and would very much like to - however, I would be keen to hear about others experiences on this plane and if its all it was told us it would be...

On a side note, doesn't time fly..! I remember this being on the news and the conversations about this from super positive to absurdly negative.

Remember this?

Virgin Atlantic, which has ordered six of the planes, is planning to use the extra space for in-flight gyms, beauty salons and casinos. Other airlines, including Emirates, intend to install showers and private rooms for first-class passengers.

Emirates managed the showers and room.

Whatever happened to the VS plan?? ): ): ):

I suppose given the size of the world wide recession that we are only just coming out of the sales figures are not that bad. My favourite aircraft the 747 has averaged 345 per ten years and to be fair for the first 25 years of the 747's service it didn't have that much competition. I would still like VS to have the b***s to buy at least 4 and take on BA on the LAX SFO MIA and HKG routes. It would also be great if VS went a further step and introduced first class on theses routes with the on board the therapist returning. With regard to the lounge situation, the clubhouse is good enough to be used in its present configuration but for those who wanted more exclusivity a small corner could be converted into the "Branson suite" . Ah still I can dream

10 years - shocking isn't it.

I was brought up short last week when reading an article that quoted Tim Clark (CEO f Emerates) as sayign that buying second hand A380s was a great option for airlines wishing to try the type without the initial huge outlay.

Second hand? They are brand new aren't they? 10 yuears old? Erm!

Now then, VS could try second hand aircraft?

I suppose the world was different back when so many airlines had so many plans for the A380...

I am told it's a lovely aircraft to fly on, very, very quite....but am still to do so myself, which is really annoying!

Thanks for posting this, good topic.

I've flown on A380s from 3 different airlines, in different classes...

- upstairs is usually more comfortable
- they're super quiet.. possibly too quiet..
- the luggage bins above your head are big, and always breaking
- disembarking at destination takes forever.!!..

+1 on the really eerie quietness. I've found that quite strange every single time!

Remember this?

Virgin Atlantic, which has ordered six of the planes, is planning to use the extra space for in-flight gyms, beauty salons and casinos. Other airlines, including Emirates, intend to install showers and private rooms for first-class passengers.

Emirates managed the showers and room.

Whatever happened to the VS plan?? ): ): ):

I suppose Etihad have picked the ball up again, concentrating on personal space rather than communal space like Emirates, but most airlines seem to be cramming as many seats on as possible, even Emirates have announced a 2 class A380.

Even SQ are increasing seats, introducing a PE product (with 36 seats on the a380) at the expense of biz/f.

It's very telling, I think, that the A380 didn't have a single new customer last year. And also very telling that Airbus publicly mooted ending production before Emirates kicked off.

With the new 747 also struggling to find buyers it does seem small is the way forward.

It's a great plane but impractical for most airlines. Unless the Chinese or US airlines suddenly put in big orders you have to question its future.

My sister flys BHX/DXB on 777/300 and then DXB/SYD on the 380, When asked if it felt was there more space etc in economy that she flys, she told me both flights were just as good and the service and food were the most important bits of the long flight there. She said there was no need to upgrade as she is happy with economy on both legs, she sleeps through most of it any way. So you can enjoy this less expensive price £995.00 return in modest comfort. The food is always lovely and drinks free flowing. So maybe smaller aircraft can still make good if they get the service spot on.

Afternoon all,

So far my only experience of the A380 was a return LHR-JNB last year with Mrs Hull in Club World, we were seated downstairs front and centre of the CW cabin facing backwards for the outbound and upstairs at the front for the return.

I was very impressed with how smooth and quiet the entire flight was (I slept for nine straight hours on the return leg). the lower deck felt huge even though we were in effect "penned in" due to the CW design, the upper deck window seats have very little headroom due to the curvature of the fuselage.

I'm very much looking forward to experiencing a 380 in F in December.

Enjoyed a couple of flights in Business with Singapore. Certainly agree with the comments regarding how quiet the aircraft is.
Strangely I was not really aware of the size, approaching them up a narrow tube like any other plane there was no close up view. However I mightily impressed by the size of the upstairs toilet! So much so that I had to take a photograph! 8D

I love the BA A380, the F suite is great, could seat 3 of us for afternoon tea.

I do believe Airbus are struggling to sell them, with airlines looking to replace some of their 747's with similar or greater capacity aircraft, the A380 is now competing with future variants of the 777X and A350 families.

[buns]

It's very telling, I think, that the A380 didn't have a single new customer last year. And also very telling that Airbus publicly mooted ending production before Emirates kicked off.

With the new 747 also struggling to find buyers it does seem small is the way forward.

It's a great plane but impractical for most airlines. Unless the Chinese or US airlines suddenly put in big orders you have to question its future.

This fact was picked up by the BBC last week

Link

buns

never seen one
never been on one

I just view planes as buses with wings.
A mode of transport to get me to where I want to go.

I might look forward to the day when they make planes as big as this & as fast as concorde... but I doubt I'll see it in my lifetime.

I've been on the A380 twice - one on a BA F flight and once on an EK F flight. I too found it eerily quiet :0 and if the EK camera hadn't been on I wouldn't have really known we were moving. Personally I prefer the EK config of F on the upper deck as it just felt more special but the available space on both airlines was immense ( granted it was F).
I don't find it aesthetically appealing externally, but am in awe of it's sheer size and bulk.

DL

I have flown on 380's but only in Y
I flew CDG-LHR with AF on the upper deck and loved it.
Then LHR-LAX with BA on the upper deck and was not impressed with the service but loved the aircraft then on the return to LHR sat at the back of the main deck.

I love the A380 as it is so quiet and spacious
Given the choice of an Airbus 380 or Boeing 747 I would go for the Airbus.

I'm flying on EK A380s for all 4 sectors of our Mauritius trip in 18 days' time (not that I'm counting)! I shall be sure to share my feedback in the TR

I'm flying on EK A380s for all 4 sectors of our Mauritius trip in 18 days' time (not that I'm counting)! I shall be sure to share my feedback in the TR

In Business or First ? If so, make sure you use the bar. Not so much for the contents of same (though that is good) but just the feeling of being on an aircraft but well away from a seat staring at at a TV. (If in F you may not feel like slumming it, though ).

Having had the 380 experience on both EK and QF, EK have made better use of the available space in the J cabin by putting the bar in. QF kind of have a similar space, but have placed it at the front (EK bar is at the rear) where the stairs go down to F, and it feels a bit redundant.

@pjh - I wish! We will be in economy, but still hoping for a better than usual experience since it's with EK and on an A380... Two sectors are LGW-DXB and back, and they weren't operated by A380 until recently

[honey lamb]

I've flown on the A380 on SQ, EK and BA all in J (and one leg in F with BA)

SQ had a seat that was very wide but when converted to a bed was as good as a single bed. Service was very good but a tad formulaic.

EK's star was the bar at the back of the J cabin. It was specious and well-stocked with the most delicious hot canapés. It far exceeded J on the 777s I had flown on the DUB-DXB-DUR legs.

BA was very bland by comparison in J and really no different than on other aircraft, though in F the star was the tasting menu.

EK's star was the bar at the back of the J cabin. It was specious and well-stocked with the most delicious hot canapés. It far exceeded J on the 777s I had flown on the DUB-DXB-DUR legs.

BA was very bland by comparison in J and really no different than on other aircraft, though in F the star was the tasting menu.

A nugget of gold there, thank you.

BA was very bland by comparison in J and really no different than on other aircraft, though in F the star was the tasting menu.

Yes that is what BA have decided to do with their A380's and B787's, whilst making a play on the new aircraft and the benefits (quiet, humidity etc) they want the product to be as consistent as possible. The latest CW is just an evolution of the original CW.

Flew LHR - HGK and back in BA first in January and had plenty of time at airports. Plane great and very comfortable and should be for the BA First price. Very good product and I found the plane spacious and comfortable. The quietness was a bonus for me and genuinely felt fresher than the Virgin UC flights I do. Not sure how well I would have fared in CW especially if travelling backwards.

As far as lounges very disappointed with all at Heathrow including Concorde Room. LP Champagne is as good as they say but atmosphere in lounges stayed and old fashioned compared to BA. Bonus of a One World First was using Cathay Lounges in HKG. First class in The Pier was excellent and food by The Peninsula was some of best airport food I had. Made a pig of myself to be honest !

Some great posts on here - I love the views on the A380... To be honest, I am really surprised by everyone saying its quiet..!

Having flown on a 747 once (second time in a few weeks!) I recall it was a very noisy flight. So for something that big I would have guessed the same! Although - no plane can beat he noise when sitting at the back of an internal US Delta MD-80..!

What really surprised me was that it was 10 years old - I thought it was about 3 years old... That, makes me feel a bit older...