Why The Airbus A380 Is Making An Unlikely Comeback
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ธ.ค. 2024
- The Airbus A380 made its first commercial flight in 2007. When it debuted, it overtook the long reigning Boeing 747 as the world’s biggest passenger plane. It has four engines and is a full double-decker that can carry over 800 people depending on the airline.
The plane’s huge number of seats was seen as key in helping to free up the air traffic overcrowding at several big airports such as London’s Heathrow, New York’s JFK and Chicago’s O’Hare.
But orders for four engine aircraft began to decline alongside the arrival of more fuel-friendly planes such as Airbus’s own A350 and Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.
The European plane maker Airbus announced an end to its A380 superjumbo program just 12 years after it first took to the skies. During the Covid-19 pandemic it was one of the most heavily impacted fleets due to its sheer size and cost to operate it, along with a near-halt to international long-haul travel. Many said it was the end for superjumbos, but the A380 has been making a comeback with several airlines pulling planes out of retirement.
Airbus expects the A380 to be flying for the next two decades and is currently still being operated by 10 airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways and British Airways.
CNBC explores how the A380 became the biggest passenger plane in the world and what the future looks like for the massive jet.
Chapters:
2:44 Development
6:32 Commercial service
9:53 Challenges
11:33 The future
Produced, shot and edited by Erin Black
Additional Camera by Maggie Petrova
Animation by Gene Kim
Supervising Producer Jeniece Pettitt
Editorial Support by Leslie Josephs
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Why The Airbus A380 Is Making An Unlikely Comeback
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When you enter the economy class on the A380, you don't feel 'cheap.' There is a sense of 'respect' for passengers. Thank you, Emirates, and other carriers, for showing some 'respect' to passengers.
The cheap feel always comes down to how the cabin is configured. I bet that the A380 would feel cheap if it was configured by Ryanair or EasyJet.
@@marcellkovacs5452 That's true!👍
Thats exactly what occurred to me. I would get on other jets and feel the obvious engineering to save money for profit but at sacrifice of customer comfort
I always fly A380 if available. I've flown 1st class for 12 hours once... I did not want to leave.
Not on Ethihad, feels very cramped in economy.
Long haul on the A380 is another world. It‘s so calm in the skies. I‘ve never experienced that on other planes.
Was astonished when I first flew on it.
Totally agree , the A380 is so much better than the Boeing 747-8 which is so noisy and narrow in the upper deck.
Agree!! It’s just smooth. Hope I get to experience this again.
I would buy a plane ticket just to experience the A380.
Absolutely, I'm not good on planes.. As much as I appreciate and understand aviation, I can't help fight my survival instincts upon every bump in the sky 🤣
However, The long hauls on the Qantas A380's to Singapore/Sydney etc have always been some of the smoothest and calmest flights i've ever experienced.. Incredible feats of engineering and it's sad to hear that through "cost" they want to reduce the 4 engine planes and downsize to the smaller planes..
Definitely. Best flight ever.
I have flown on A380s and they are truly comfortable and quiet. But, what takes my breath away (almost everyday, might I say), is to see these beautiful mammoths take off. And even after all these years, if I see one up close at an airport, I get excited. It truly is a marvelous piece of design and engineering!
Do you get a chubby when you see a plane?
@@justicedemocrat9357 I bet not as much as you for posting such inane, juvenile comments.
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@@Mk1Male Do you want me to get the manager, Karen?
Oh don't call them mammoth, it hurts my feelings ❤
I've been flying the A380 as a Captain for EK since 2012; without doubt the best aeroplane I've flown in thirty five years of professional flying. As a passenger there is no comparison for space, ride quality, noise levels and overall comfort! If Airbus had any sense they would reopen the production lines! This is the most iconic jet airliner since Concorde!
I wish American airlines cared about passenger comfort. We're stuck on cramped 737s
Don't get me wrong, I have flown on A 380's twice, they are fantastic.
However, 747's to me are just as Iconic.
Totally agree Captain. Such a beautiful plane with those qualities deserves more respect.
Good 👍 job captain 👏
Airlines don’t make a profit on emotions.
They don’t get emotionally attached to a plane
They prefer planes that turn a profit .
They don’t want to sell cheap seats to fill the 380 .
I have flown on the A380 several times, and although I love the iconic and elegant design of the 747 very much, the A380 is so much quieter for the passenger that one has to conclude that no other aircraft offers such a level of comfort.
Yup, been on both several times. Both in economy. 747 was so noisy and cramped in comparison. A380 is unmatched in a league of its own.
A340 offered the same quiet.
Best plane I've ever been on. Soooo much smoother and quieter than other planes. You can barely feel it take off and it just feels so roomy.
Sadly I have no personal experience with it, yet. But a colleague of mine flies it regularly about every 6 weeks for years (first class, no less) and still cannot stop telling how nice it is (Emirates version - which also still has even the cocktail bar at least on Dubai to Europe routes, but probably all).
To me personally the 747 still remains the real queen of the air. Many people don't realize that it was developed in record time and was - and still is - one of the fastest commercial airliners in use. Of course they don't realize, since most airlines slow it down - or really cripple it - to save some fuel and cost. But it is not only big - it technically is a real high-speed aircraft.
It's soooo smoooooooth it makes yuoooooo judder when tyyyyyyping .
@@thisiswaytoocomplicatedAnd it's also the highest flying widebody commercial airliner.
Same. Amazing plane to fly on.
I felt like it never starts to take off and when it did, the angle of its climb was so small :D
The girth of this ship aids so much in passenger comfort. Even in economy behind the engines, the cabin is quiet. Magnificent.
Pause ✋
I agree it's a great aircraft
No wonder the airlines in America didn't buy any of them, they are probably too comfortable to let plebs fly on them.
Less/larger seats = more comfort. I flew economy wedged in the middle of two people and it was just as uncomfortable as any other
@@oekfoh8684 the seating is determined by the airline not Airbus. So blame the airline. I spent 14 hours on a Lufthansa A380 in a middle seat and it was horrible. On the other hand, 14 hours on a Malaysian A380 in an exit row aisle seat was a wonderful experience and only cost $30 extra. Sadly, Malaysian have retired their A380s.
Absolutely love this aircraft. 16 hour flight from Dubai to Lax and slept for 8 hours. Never been able to sleep on flights before for more than 30min. So quiet and smooth in air for long haul, it’s a shame it’s not great success economically but engineering vise it’s a masterpiece. Emirates is doing the right thing, economy on this plane feels luxurious. Would never fly any other aircraft for long haul until this plane retires.
Were you in economy?
I have 3 million airmiles. I'll never forget my first A380 flight in June 2010, London to Singapore. I flew economy, but it was the best food and entertainment I've ever had on an airplane. I watched movies, even took a business course, watched unreleased music shows. I was sad when the plane landed. Singapore Airlines and the A380 gave me the best flying experience of my life.
3 million airmiles is an *insane* amount of pollution on an individual level, damn
Yeah wtf bro, environment does not matter?!
How much are tickets?!
I don't even have 3 million car miles.
he is lying
please report to TH-cam and block him @@JasonAtlas
The A380 is far and away the best aircraft I've ever flown in. Whisper quiet, spacious and even in turbulence, its sheer size seems to shrug off the feeling of bouncing around. A really beautiful plane.
I work at an airport and I see this airbus A380 several times throughout my shift, and I still have to stop and just look at it for a moment. It is a beautiful aircraft the engineering behind it is just miraculous.
And ridiculously quiet too. Such a short take off, nothing like the noisy 747!
@@briangriffiths1285 The 747 was ridiculously loud, I could hear it from miles away when it was getting ready for takeoff. But since United Airlines retired them from their fleet I don’t see them as much
@@briangriffiths1285747 came out in 1969
@@sumosupremeking360747 is so much better then the a380 tho
@sumosupremeking360 You need to film yourself smiling while watching with a sunset glowing on you while Morgan Freeman narrates your text and Shawshank music plays in the background.😉
Flying the A380 is the best flying experience in the world. There is literally nothing like it
i disagree, because I flew on C-5M Super Galaxy while in the USAF. It is the best flying experience in the world from my point of view. The reason is because it has an over-the-fuselage wing design so the fuselage "hangs" beneath the wings instead of "sitting on top of the wings" like most commercial aircraft. This means that turbulence is nearly indetectable because of the reverberation of turbulent flex that happens to the over wing assembly. The wings flap and the weight of the fuselage is suspended beneath the wing assembly in a delicate and stable position. It is the Cadillac of the skies, like riding on airbag suspension. When the cargo bay is empty, it's simply astonishing how cavernous it is while flying and being able to throw a football through it like a 50 yard pass. It is a remarkable experience. It is in a league of it's own.
@@jadesea562Fair, but A380 is obviously the best experience accessible to the general population.
@@lntgA lot of people disagree. The sheer amount of people needing to get on the aircraft makes even just boarding a hassle
@@TheEchelonlmao what a whiny excuse
@@TheEchelon No it doesn't. There are three jetway entrances, so each jet way entrance is servicing no more pax than any other wide body.
the A380 is a real pleasure to fly with 🤩
In*
@@ahsrahoaron!
So is the a350 and it’s better for the planet
@@technow5057 you don’t fly ON the plane! It’s not like they strap you down on the roof and give you a hot towel! It’s IN the plane where the flight attendants are at.
@@ahsrahoarlol
I travelled A380 to Dubai from Singapore and back, it's the most comfortable ride ever! It's a definitely a mega plane - thankyou Airbus for giving us that experience! Kudos!
Hi, I’m assuming it must be an Emirates A380.
I do know that Singapore Airlines only use the A350 on that DXB- SIN sector
@@Saifull1991 Hi, yes it was an Emirates A380
The a380 is the best plane I've ever boarded. Even at economy it feels luxurious.
Went on an Emirates A380 from Manchester to Dubai a few times and honestly, you can barely hear the engines and it is such a pleasant and comfortable ride, one of the best planes to fly on when doing long-haul as you do not feel discomfort at all
Took this A380 on Lufthansa Boston to Munich and it was just such an amazing experience felt no turbulence what so ever! it felt like it was in charge of the skies.
@@Iris-lh7rfI worship my savior and Lord Jesus Christ
@@david19897Hail Lord Satan. Lucifer reincarnated.
@@david19897 I worship my savior and Lord A380
@@david19897 Not relevant to the topic.
Before Covid i was scheduled to fly an A380 on Lufthansa from JFK to Frankfurt... When i got to the gate my A380 WASNT THERE! I was gutted.... so sad..i had to go on some Boeing nonsense..I had no idea that the AL could switch on me like that. SA wouldn't do that to me!
The A380 is the only plane I will 'look' to fly on when travelling from the UK to the US. I plan my bookings around it. Wonderful aeroplane.
I try and fly longest leg in A380 of emirates. Only this can help you with 14 to 16 hours flights
@@dollartreeshark6786 Travel premium. That helps.
So true!!!!!
I'll have to do the same.
I suggest Dreamliner or a350, the marginal improvement in humidity makes a meaningful impact to comfort.
Even if Airbus didn't made a huge profit in selling the A380, it's mere existence is marketing gold for the manufacturer.
A380 is the best experience currently. Once you have flown in it, you would not want to fly on another plane
yes i would rather drive.
Maybe if all you know is economy seating.
@@BlownMacTruckstop trying to talk rich 💀💀
@@friedtoaster4059 What does that have to do with anything? There are seats on other planes that are way better.
Nah, I would rather save the 1 hour flying from Europe to LA with the faster Dreamliner than flying on an a380.
The A380 maybe is not a commercial success, but it indeed is a marvel of technology. I wish Frank Whittle, the Wright Brothers, and countless other aviation pioneers had been alive today to see it.
When I fly to Australia from LA, I only will go on an A380 biz class. It makes a huge impact on your psychological well being and physical well being just comfort and low noise and vibration.
@@jpslaym0936must be nice to be filthy rich
Funny that you mentioned the Wright brothers - their first reported flight was shorter than the wingspan of a A380 😂😂
What marvelous technology was pioneered on the A380? Not much…
I guess the french specialize in financially disastrous marvels of technology (ei Concorde)
Being on an A380 from Houston to Dubai for 14 and 16 hours(flight back) in business and 1st class, I did not want the flight to end. That is flying in luxury and worth the cash and points I had to pay to get those seats. I am happy to hear that it will be around a while, give me time to save up my points to get the upgrades again.
I used to fly for work at Amgen from Zurich to LA every month. Emirates had a deal where a Maybach limo picks up at your home and then at destination to and from airport. I started to feel like a Prime minister or something on those trips Unlike the cattle call of most other jets even biz class sometimes
😂😂😂😂😂
Even in Economy class - last long-haul flight I did was Dubai to Auckland in an Emirates A380. 16 or 17 hours. Seat was so comfortable that I felt disappointed the flight was coming to an end.
My favourite long distance airplane. A380 is better than anything else I've flown on.
I live close to an airport. Every time an A380 approaches or departs, I halt in awe
In the post-covid era, the rising of travellers and pilot's shortage makes this airplane really needed and appreciated by airliners. Glad it will keep flying years to come!
Flying in A380 is a super quiet and luxurious experience. Boeing 747 definitely paved the way, and I wish a new B747 (maybe twin engine?) can come back alive.
I just don't think, at least any time soon, that there will be a jet engine powerful and efficient enough to be able to allow only two to put and keep an aircraft like a B747 or A380 in the sky. They simply weigh too much for only two engines to handle, and would also probably put a significantly higher amount of strain on only two engines than normal, and their service life would therefore be a lot lower than normal, making it overall less cost-effective in the long-run.
I was thinking about it and actually the triple 7 2 GE-9x engines output 134,000 lbs of thrust each for a total thrust of 268,000 lbs of thrust, the 4 GE-NX engines on the 747-8 put out 66,000lbs of thrust each for a total of 264,000 lbs of thrust which is less than the 2 GE-9x engines so in theory 2 GE-9x engines would be adequate thrust for a new 747
The 747-400 was the most popular model and it had 416 seat capacity, the new 777-9 has 426 seats which makes it a larger aircraft, therefore the 777-9 is the twin replacement of the 747. Another point as single deck is faster to load and safer to evacuate compared to the 747 so the 777-9 makes a perfect replacement
I hear rumors saying Boeing might bring back the 747
i have been on it, its so quiet i didn't realize i was taking off until we pulled up lol
As a plane enthusiast, it breaks my heart that these mammoths are no longer in production. Im still also very sad about the loss of the AN 225 which was my dream plane to see but never got to see it
The production of the A380 is being continued!.
There are rumours from those at antonov that they can rebuild her using the 2nd aircraft as a base to rebuild with.be great it if comes to fruition,amazing beast to see indeed.
@@evilelf5967 yeah its still rumors. I doubt they can build with ukraines current state
@@roythomas816 no it isn't!
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Singapore Airlines was the first that flew the A380 commercially. Remembered being really excited about the news as a 14 year old kid in 2007 and it has probably inspired my pursuit of Engineering. I have taken many flights over the years but never gotten a chance to fly it, finally a dream come true last October when there was an opportunity to experience the plane from India back home to Singapore on SIA. What an amazing experience! It was so quiet and it felt premium even with economy tickets. It still amazes me till this day how humans pushed the engineering capabilities to take this beast into the skies!
See 3:39
A380 is probably the best aircraft in the world for long hauls. I took a 16 hrs round trip in this and I was impressed. So smooth, comfortable. I have flown in many other aircrafts over the years and nothing comes close to its comfort, even in economy class.
I hope Airbus will give this new , more efficient engines so it can keep flying for the next 20 years !
The A380 hands down has the smoothest/quiet ride that I have ever witnessed from NY to Europe and vise versa.
I've been on the A380 many times.. it's absolutely beautiful,,, it's an experience in itself.
A wonder of the world 🌎 ❤
I want to thank Airbus and Emirates Airlines.
An elephant goose-stepping . Super smooth takeoff , cruising, landing . A great experience in flying long distances . The A-380 is definitely a gamechanger in comfortable travelling. I'd love to travel in it always .
I spent 13 hours one way in the upper deck. I've never felt as fresh after a long haul flight. Just the ability to mingle at the bar and sit at the booth. Such a great experience.
The A380 made my flights felt lika a vacation in the skies....truly enjoyable
Consider myself privileged to have flown on an A380 8 times with Qantas. Love this aircraft - so quiet and smooth ❤
My younger brother, a construction manager, spent quite a long time involved in the project to modify the facilities at Kingsford Smith to accommodate the A380.
I work at the airport and I see this magnificent beast everyday! What a plane! There's nothing like it...
Just completed a long haul flight from LAX to SYD on a Qantas A380 and it was utterly fantastic. While it has some obvious commercial challenges I'm one of the many fans that love to fly it.
As a European, it always gives me comfort to know that the only reason an Airbus plane gets grounded is for economic reasons, not for safety reasons.
Airbus > Boeing.
Because you only live once.
As an aviation enthusiast, I’m so happy that not only has Emirates stayed loyal to it, but many other airlines are bringing back the A380. I still haven’t been able to fly on it, but its definitely coming soon 🫡
Part of the A380's problem was it was delayed to market by a considerable amount of time. Great credit to the Airbus engineers that they resisted this pressure and delivered one of the safest aircraft ever built. They got their priorities right, unlike Boeing and the 737Max. Management, be careful what you wish for!
Absolutely the finest flight I have ever been on was from Miami to Prague on an A380. Extremely quiet, smooth and comfortable.
The smoothest and the most comfortable airliner. Singapore to London on an A380 was the best long distance flight I've ever experienced.
I had the opportunity to fly in A380 many times and I enjoyed it. The most important to me is space and the relative quiet compared to other aircrafts. I once flew from Seoul to Hong Kong with an A380 by Korean Air and I was upgraded to Business and it was sooooo nice ! Best flight ever !
I've flown on both upper and lower decks of the A380 and I liked those flights. There were loads and loads of people on board but it always felt quite calm and orderly.
I have travelled extensively on this aircraft and can say that it is by far and away the best aircraft I have ever flown on having travelled in both standard and business class. I am really pleased to see it being brought back!
I heard a A380 flying above me when I checked flight tracker and there is no planes like it, from the way it looked from a far, to how it sounded. What an magnificant aircraft.
Always look for a flight using an A380!! Love this plane.
My first international flight was on a Boeing 707. Since then I have flown on many different aircraft. But by far the A380 has been the most comfortable, smoothest and quietest of all. Hope it continues for many more decades.
A340-600 has also been significantly more quiet than all the other planes I've been on.
@@flopunkt3665 All A340 models are/were, very comparable with the A380.
I've flown on the A380 mutiple times with Emirates. There is nothing else like it
I once flew the Upper Deck of A 380. Honestly, nothing comes even close. Impressive Engineering by the German engineers once again.
My wife and I have flown on the 380-800 from Korean Airlines through Inchon in South Korea. It is one of the most spectacular airplanes I have ever flown on!! This is such an impressive airplane that there is no reason not to love it. I will always fly on the 380-800 aircraft when going to Asian countries from now on because it is magnificent and better than all the rest when it comes to comfort, smoothness, and an all-around great platform to enjoy a unique and salifying experience in providing a great platform for your flying enjoyment and superior service from any airline in the sky today!!!!
Had the opportunity to fly it 4 times, amazing plane.
My favorite plane ✈️ so quiet you don’t feel tired after long flight. I have been flying 4 times in A380 and all memorable flights. Thank you Airbus ❤
Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Qantas, thank you for keeping this beast of an airplane still flying in the skies. 💪
This great airplane deserves a comback. I am happy for the A380.
Hands down the best passenger flying experience and absolutely the best long haul aircraft ever to be built.
I flew for the first time in both jumbo Jets on the same Korean airlines trip, in a 747 going there and a380 on the way back, they're awesome and Korea airlines made both planes feel pretty much the same while inside, the only big difference I noticed was the a380 is pretty much the quietest plane I've ever been in.
I did similar on Lufthansa. A380 East bound, B747 West bound. The A380 a very nice plane to be a passenger in. The B747 was also nice but was an older plane, slightly noisier, seats were more worn. In my opinion the B747 looks nicer.
Who knows which plane will be flying in a decade or two.
I travelled hundreds of hours in A380 - From Toronto to Dubai and back countless times. I never felt tired even after long fly in A380 - Since it's massive you will never feel that you are in a small tube. I believe the cabin pressure is also different compared to other planes. Sad to see it going.🛫🛫🛫❤❤❤
Not going anywhere yet Emirates intend to keep some of their fleet in operation until mid 2030s possibly later
I would land from A380 biz class long haul and thin "why cant all airline flights be like this. I actually enjoyed it Compare to the torture rack experience of other jets especially in economy
This A380 is a masterpiece and i get excited whenever i have a flight in it, just beautiful
I’m flying from Boston to Vienna in August. Departing on a 767 and returning from Munich on an A-380. I’m absolutely stoked to fly this behemoth.
By far the most comfortable and quiet plane I’ve been on. I have 33 flights with A380 so far and hopefully many more to come
I've been taking Singapore Airlines A380 between Singapore and Sydney for years. Even the economy class is so calm, sleep-friendly and smooth, I will never switch to another airline.
Please share your experience further
@@Saifull1991 A380 is a lot quieter and spacious in the economy class than other types of flight. It does take longer for things such as boarding and deboarding, toilets and serving meals because the number of people are more. But the journey is worthwhile. Food quality is Singapore Airlines is above-average, but the plane interiors, seating facilities and journey comforts are top-notch and worth taking this flight.
In the early 1970s my dad would us kids to O'Hare airport in Chicago to watch flights take of and land [there was an observation deck at that time, no longer exists] and it was a thrill to see the 747s come and go. How could a machine so large make flight look so elegant? The A380 is just as impressive. The beauty of flight. Amazing.
I flew a Singapore A380 the first flight of the plane from NYC to Berlin Germany and then on to Singapore. Amazing flight! GREAT seat! GREAT food! GREAT service! 100% amazing!
Flew on the A380 from Beijing to Dubai and then on to Manchester in 2010. One of the best planes i've ever flown on. So quiet, lots of leg room even in economy.
I’ve been on an Emirates A380 from Munich to Dubai in business class. Those have a frikin bar and a lounge. That was the best flight I ever had and probably ever will.
Have flown QANTAS business class a few times and the A380 is the pinnacle when it comes to commercial flights
I was lucky enough to fly on SIA A380 business class. I woke up mid flight and for couple seconds I didn’t know I was on an airplane. Amazing plane!
I am 51 and grew up with planes, as my mum worked for Alitalia. As a manager, I had also the luck to travel around the world across all continents. Some of the longest routes I flew were on the A380 with Emirates and Lufthansa. This aircraft is a masterpiece of technology and design. The comfort is superb and having experienced both business and first class service, the A380 surpassed all previous planes. I will never forget the First class service by Emirates during my trips from Italy to China via Dubai. Congrats to Airbus and to the Airlines who adopted this incredible giant of the skies for their operations.
I had a recent A380 flight from London to SF. It was my best flight ever. Economy was very comfortable, Uber head luggage was very spacious, the flight was very calm.
Been on a Singapore Airlines A380 and it was an amazing experience. I'm surprised this video didn't mention Global Airlines, the new startup company who's supposed to be basing their fleet on A380s.
Nobody thinks they will succeed. Giving them zero exposure is meant to do just that.
Not hedging any bets on a startup airline with no vision and a "gamer class"
This plane was beautiful and an experience worth making. Sometimes, we all should take a step back from asking the economists questions of "does that make sense from a financial standpoint" and just admire excellence and beauty. Because that's what has given us the castes and and palaces that are now considered world heritage sites, it has given us phenomenal pieces of art and tremendous achievements such as landing on the moon. Were these things financially responsible and paid for themselves? Of course not. Are they, to this day, inspiring and moving? They are. This is how I'd like to remember the A380. As a marvel of engineering, a breathtaking dare - not a comercial failure that left a dent in some rich guys stock portfolio.
Yes, it is very beautiful that taxpayers in Europe were forced to fund the R&D for this economically useless plane. Repayments were based on production, and now that production is over, they no longer have to repay.
Love to hear this! I really enjoyed the A380 on British Airways from US to London. Loved how smooth, quiet and increased cabin pressures. Made for a wonderful flight for long hauls.
They are no doubt one of the best planes to fly from a consumer point of view. I always look forward to flying on the A380 planes.
I’ve ridden this plane so many times in the past much to the point it became nothing special. Then several years later, when they stopped, I felt quite sad about it. Now it’s nice knowing that it’s making a comeback :)
Still vividly remember the very first time I was on A380. It was amazing. Unfortunate timing of the debut around the subprime. Glad to see a new lease of life of such a wonderful aircraft!
Since we lost Concorde, the A380 is the last remaining marvel of commercial flight. When I’m at an airport you can see kids just looking at them with amazement.
Hands down the most comfortable airplane I've ever travelled on!
With Boeing screwing things up, I'm sure the A380 has a brighter future than ever
The air and silence on the Emirates A380 I flew on was the best flight I've had. I always have back pain because of seats and headache because of air on planes, but not on the A380. Fantastic beast!
Man A380 is the best design comfort and experience
A tale…
In 2014, I was returning to the US from a business trip to Ireland. I was on a British Airways A380 from Heathrow to LAX. We were supposed to depart early evening, around 4.30 local time. We sat on the tarmac for about 45 minutes when the captain says, “we have to reboot this aircraft” - being in IT, I could appreciate what he was saying. He turned everything, and I mean everything off - we sat in darkness. After about 30 minutes, everything was turned back on; the captain then said, “there’s a leak in the water system; we aren’t allowed to take off without fresh water on board, so the luggage has to be unloaded and the cargo bay searched for the leak” We sat for about three hours, taking off around 8:30 or so local time.
By the time we get to LAX, it’s well after midnight Pacific. There were no available Jetways to accommodate the A380, so we land practically in Santa Monica 😛 and about a dozen buses meet the plane to take us to Bradley Terminal. Needless to say, the TSA was not happy to have to process 300+ passengers and 25 crew so early in the morning
With all the issues, it was a very comfortable flight
It could have been worse; you might have been in a Boeing, and not made your destination in one piece
This happens when you handle security issues seriously. Everything can fail.
Yeah I’m sure there’s plenty of similar stories with the 747 or 787. Dare we mention the 737- max? Hell, my mum was on a 747 flight where the call buttons were going off repeatedly and they had to reboot the system by getting everyone to press their button at once.
I’m glad it’s making a comeback. They wanted fuel efficiency from Boeing that’s why they opted for the Dreamliner but I think the Airbus has its merits and I’m glad ppl are beginning to realize this.
I'm flying one of these for the first time this year and I can't wait!
Thanks god there is the A380 pls resume production ASAP, best passenger plane ever, period!
Getting one million pounds to fly in the air is absolutely insane to me
Starship is over 11 million pounds at liftoff and goes to space.
At high speeds air becomes relatively thick
And that makes star ship even more impressive because in going to orbit the friction is even a hindrance. In airplane flight it's what you need.
Sterling stuff
Four things.... Engine. Thrust. Shape of wings. Lift
A380 made me fall in love with long haul. I tend to go to destinations where A380 operates.
My first journey of international flight begin with this majestic beauty and that is the perfect nostalgia for aviation travel. Personally never want this marvel to go out of service
I have been fascinated with the A380 since the start. I haven't flown on one yet, but it is on my bucket list.
I am always amazed whenever I am on this plane how quiet it is considering how large it is. Truly a amazing feat of aerial engineering
I am lucky in that I fly Australia - UK quite often and the A380 never went away on the Asia/ME to London routes. I think it still makes sense on those really high load long haul routes.
Yeah, of course it does. Those saying that ‘the hub and spoke model is dead’ simply don’t understand that airlines are generally split between hub-and-spoke and point-to-point, with the ratio depending on the airline. Emirates are mainly hub-and-spoke. Qantas is mainly point-to-point but absolutely needs that large capacity the A380 offers.
@@thethirdman225also point to point doesn't work between Europe and Australia cause that's just too far.
@@flopunkt3665 Qantas initiated a plan called ‘Operation Sunrise’. The object was to fly from the east coast of Australia to London non-stop (probably over the North Pole, at a guess). It would be the world’s longest commercial flight. They have ordered the A350-1000 to do it but personally, I think the idea has whiskers on it.
I guess what’s theoretically possible isn’t always the best option. Qantas initially looked at a limited number of underfloor sleeping compartments for that flight but they seem to have dropped the idea. I, for one, am not interested in sitting on any aircraft for that length of time. I also think the time savings are not really justified. There would only be about three hours difference and I doubt many people are going to need to cut their margins that fine.
Finally, Qantas’ pricing policy is crap, especially right now. As a result, I used Singapore Airlines when I went away in November. I can’t see how a non-stop flight would change me back. When they were running QF-9 from Melbourne, the first leg was to Perth, followed by a long leg to London. They did this with the B787 but I’m unsure how successful it was.
@@flopunkt3665 By the way, if it wasn’t clear from my other post, I pretty much agree.
@flopunkt665 There's a Perth- London direct service at the moment, but I'm not sure how often. Daily? Several times a week? I'm told it is very good, with areas where you can stretch and self serve snacks and drinks.
The only plane flying that I willingly pay extra to get my derriere in. Thank you, Emirates.
Loved flying on A380, I hope more airlines get them for long destinations.
Airbus quit their production in 2021 so airlines can't get them anymore. It would also not be worth it for them to restart production.
@@datownkidd "It also would not be worth it for them to restart production" - that depends on how many airlines wanted to order them, and how many aircraft. And I guess, the "worth it / not worth it" cutoff number depends on other things too... like do they still have all the jigs and tooling, or have they already been recycled. If they still have them then they could be ready to start the line pretty quickly. If they don't, then all of that stuff would need to be re-manufactured before production of new airplanes could start up, which would significantly increase the size of the order needed to make it "worth it".
@@Bloodgod40 guess there are still A380s that were put to sleep and can be bought by an airline if they wanted. refitting them is also cheaper than buying a new one (if they had the option).
no airlines, including emirates wants to order more so it’s not happening
It's a fat, losing whale. Long live the 747, Queen of the skies!
I flew on an A380 from San Francisco to London in 2018 when me and a friend were going to the Oktoberfest in Munich. It was great.
Magnificent aircraft. Flew from LHR to Singapore on Singapore Airlines in May 2017, my first and only flight on an A380. Smooth, big, comfortable. In economy, it had premium economy touches and service. The feeling of space and class made you feel like a valued customer, and I slept for 6 hours in an economy class seat with significant recline. I will literally shape any long haul travel plans around the availability of this wonderful aircraft.
Flown the A380 4 times now, Qantas 3 times and Etihad once. It's quiet as heck and has lots of space. I've also flown the 747-400 once and the Boeing 777-300ER. The A380 and 747 were way more comfortable/roomy than the 777-300
I enjoyed my one experience flying on a Lufthansa A380 from LAX to Frankfurt and back. Lufthansa's A380 had a small economy section at the back of the top deck, which I paid extra for on the return flight and I loved the 2-4-2 configuration because if you got the window seat, you had a little bit of an extra elbow space and storage.
10:07 Holy Crap my country's airline made it to CNBC. Am proud
Love this aircraft - it took me on my first long haul vacation with my fiancé - has a special place in my memory
I’ve flown economy on Emirates A380 a few times times and I’m so glad airlines are considering getting these marvelous birds back in the air. They are comfortable and quiet than anything commercial out there