Why The Airbus A380 Is Making An Unlikely Comeback
Vložit
- čas přidán 12. 12. 2023
- 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
» Subscribe to CNBC: cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC
» Subscribe to CNBC TV: cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision
About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.
Connect with CNBC News Online
Get the latest news: www.cnbc.com/
Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Facebook: cnb.cx/LikeCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Twitter: cnb.cx/FollowCNBC
Follow CNBC News on Instagram: cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC
#CNBC
Why The Airbus A380 Is Making An Unlikely Comeback
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.
//;;//;//...;;//..
@@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.
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.
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.
I never saw a comment section being so unanimously enthusiastic about the subject of a video, and so many people being glad to experience travelling in a vehicle of any kind.
Yes. But you should check any concorde documentary.
@@Antonio5559398 There are at least 109 people who certainly didn't like their flight on a Concorde, but none of them would be able to testify.
@@chucku00 even then, the cause of the crash was the garbage piece of trash MD Douglas dc-10
@@Antonio5559398 You know it, I know it.
But _they_ don't know.
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.😉
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 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
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?!
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.
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!
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
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.
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)
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.
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!
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.
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
The a380 is the best plane I've ever boarded. Even at economy it feels luxurious.
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.
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.
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!
//;;//;//;;//;;//....***;;//*;//.
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
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!
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 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.
I read a lot of comments in here and not one single negative word about the A380. Now THAT is as impressive as it gets!
The A380 hands down has the smoothest/quiet ride that I have ever witnessed from NY to Europe and vise versa.
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 .
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.
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 ❤
Always look for a flight using an A380!! Love this plane.
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
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.
This great airplane deserves a comback. I am happy for the A380.
Had the opportunity to fly it 4 times, amazing plane.
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 🫡
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 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!
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"
Absolutely the finest flight I have ever been on was from Miami to Prague on an A380. Extremely quiet, smooth and comfortable.
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.
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 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.
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!
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!!!!
Flew and Emirates A380 Biz Class from Dubai to New York, JFK. One of the longest flights in my life, and one of the few times I was reluctant to leave an airplane. The overall experience was that good.
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.
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'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.
The smoothest and the most comfortable airliner. Singapore to London on an A380 was the best long distance flight I've ever experienced.
Hands down the best passenger flying experience and absolutely the best long haul aircraft ever to be built.
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.
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 truly believe the A380’s best days are ahead of it. The world is only getting more and more populated - with that capacity, soon it’ll be doing the 737’s job, just like the 747 did in east Asia.
I think it may have come about twenty years too early. I could definitely see some American carriers picking up a few of these to run between New York and LA or New York and SF today whereas in 2005-2010, they were still very infatuated with the idea of "737 for all the things".
The are no longer being built, so no, you are wrong. Furthermore, the 737 fills a completely different role.
@@doogleticker5183 they will bring it back into production. You just couldn’t help yourself, *had* to even, try to start an argument and be “right” on CZcams, didn’t you? Do you think I’m stupid? There’s already hundreds out there. They will bring it back into production as the world becomes populated.
How many passengers does 737 hold? What routes was the 747 doing in Japan? Short haul. You aren’t as smart as you think you are.
@@Johnashward212 Last I heard, Airbus will need to have at least 500+ firm orders plus at least about the same number in credible options before they will even reconsider about starting production again.
Somehow I don't see that happening.
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 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!
00:07 The Airbus A380 is a massive plane designed for long-haul flights.
01:45 The Airbus A380 faced decline but is now making a comeback
03:45 Airbus A380 faced significant challenges and investment, but lacked profitability.
05:29 The A380's unique design and features
07:18 The Airbus A380 offers high-end amenities and poses challenges for airports.
09:03 A380 is gaining popularity in niche markets.
10:51 Despite challenges, the A380 has a long future ahead.
12:39 Airbus sees A380 as a success
You Can't Judge A Video By Its Cover. you can by its first few chapters and certainly by its last.
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
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
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!
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!
I have flown boeing's 747, 737, 777 and airbus's 310, 320, 330, 350 and 380.....all in economy cause i am poor but by far, the best experience i have had is with the a380 (flown only on emirates but multiple times)......its a dream aircraft.
Have flown QANTAS business class a few times and the A380 is the pinnacle when it comes to commercial flights
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.
I have been fascinated with the A380 since the start. I haven't flown on one yet, but it is on my bucket list.
Love this aircraft - it took me on my first long haul vacation with my fiancé - has a special place in my memory
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
Man A380 is the best design comfort and experience
For the last 10 years i ve only flown in the A380's and A350's ... And cannot think of flying in other aircrafts.
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!
A380 made me fall in love with long haul. I tend to go to destinations where A380 operates.
Hands down the most comfortable airplane I've ever travelled on!
A double-decker that seats 800 passengers?! Like a miniature city up there flying around in the sky. I want to fly on of these!
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.
Thanks god there is the A380 pls resume production ASAP, best passenger plane ever, period!
This video has rekindled my desire to fly the A380. I don’t know how soon this is going to happen but I am confident that it shall come to pass. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I have never been on a 380 but I really want to at some point in my life. I also want to commend Airbus for really swinging for the fences on this one, maybe it wasn’t a financial success, but it really gave me confidence in the company and a fantastic impression of them as a member of the public. So many companies stick to boring, sensible, iterative change but something as new as this doesn’t come around often and I hope they have the courage to do something this wild again.
We all pray that the A380 stays in service. It’s the best aircraft in the sky.
I've flown on both A380 and B777, Emirates, the seat on 777 feels like it has half the width of superjumbo's. Unreal how comfy the plane is
Seat width has nothing to do with aircraft type.
@@ThePolaroid669 if we're talking about economy of course it does, 380 is wider, same config of 10 abreast, hence seats are about inch wider.
@@ThePolaroid669 Don't be silly. Fuselage width determines seat width. If you want 2-4-2 in a B777, the seats have to be narrower than 2-4-2 on an A380. Try and use your common snese!
It is hardly half the width for seats.
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
А380 is a pinnacle of engineering! Incredible performance, size and it’s so comfortable to travel in. I look forward to flying again on board of A380 🙌
The A380 made my flights felt lika a vacation in the skies....truly enjoyable
The 2008 recession dealt a major blow to the A380 since gearung toward efficiency / fuel economy became prominent coming out of it and four engine planes will not cut it in this new world.
The gulf carriers make money on it, so it's not about fuel, it carries such a large quantity of people that airfares stay largely the same, it's the same way you can't drive a bus as daily driver, not because you can't, if you're rich you can but it's impractical in most places unless they are specific places
@@mwat22 The Gulf Carrier also receive money from around the world for their oil reserves. So they can waste money on expensive luxury items.
It was important long before any recession.
@@erauprcwa irrelevant. Business owners want to make a profit. People want to waste money on themselves, not providing a service to show off.
If you can fill the A380 it is very efficient. Even compared to two engine planes. It's just very hard to operate routes that will consistently fill such a large plane and with a lot of empty seats it's a very inefficient plane.
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.
Fabulous aircraft, flew from Australia to London in a Qantas A380 in premium economy, only way to travel in my opinion, it’s very quiet, comfortable and gives you a very smooth flight. We must support and keep these aircraft flying..
Speaking of double-deck passenger planes long before the 747, there was the massive Convair XC-99 (a derivative of the B-36 bomber) with two full-length decks, and the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, with a cozy lower deck lounge.
One of the most incredible planes ever... even making shadow to the 747. I am sad to see that it didn't work out commercially
Tell that to Emirates and Etihad.
It will be in service for two decades and still used by 10 companies though. So a win for the consumers.
The A380 doesn't shadow the 747. The 747 was the perfect plane capable of basically anything, the A380 was too large and incapable of what a 747 can do
@@Planetrainguy Most of people on this comment section are consumers so our priority is to have the best passenger flight in that regard A380 is above 747.
The A380 is by far the best and most comfortable commercial airplane ever built. It has the most space per passenger, even in economy, it is a super quiet plane inside and you cannot feel turbulences, it is so smooth. Especially the upper deck with premium seats only and its own entrance makes it super comfy for premium passengers who don't interfere with eco passengers.
I disagree with the upper deck with premium only being super comfy. You feel like your in a crowded bus even in business on the second floor due to the sheer amount of seats around you. Also service is slow because flight attendants have to take care of more business passengers compared to other planes.
@@jp06231 it is the fault of the airline if they do not provide enough flight attendants. I flew the Singapore airlines A380 in Business Class, service was quick and attentive, and the seats offer great privacy, no bus feeling. The bus feeling comes from outdated seats Lufthansa with no privacy.
Amazing smooth flying experience
10:07 Holy Crap my country's airline made it to CNBC. Am proud
A masterpiece! I see it often taking off from SFO (Emirates) - you can spot it right away! So distinctive!
I think what CNBC meant to say was air travel is making a resurgence, and some parked A380's are being reactivated (Quantas and Lufthansa). Of the 251 planes made, only 195 frames are airworthy. Asiana and Qatar will both retire their aircraft in 2026 and 2028 due to maintenance costs. China Southers, Air France, Thai and Malaysia airlines all already retired theirs. Thai tried auctioning them off, however the buyer would have been forced to seek permits because they were in such poor shape. Emirates has retired 7 of their 123 and uses them for parts. Brittish and Singapore airlines are the only ones that have their original fleet airworthy.
Maintenance costs were always higher than expected with these planes, and high capacity flights mid distance were profitable, but even in 2019 the pacific rim operators had a hard time getting a 70% passenger load.
The A350-900 seats 440, can fly 300 nautical miles further than the A380, and burns 27% less fuel per passenger than a 606 passenger A380.
Lastly, while the contributor was right to say it could hold up to 800 people, they were only set up to hold a maximum of 606 on Thai airlines, and many fewer on other lines (469 on Brittish, 407 on Korean, 485 on Quantas, and 471 on Singapore). The A380 required a special Group VI slot, a $3.8 million jet ridge that couldn't be used for any other aircraft, and needed the best runways (that were at least 250' wide with skirting). The 747-800 required a 220' wide runway and skirting (common width).
Im not hating on Airbus - the 321neo and 350-900 are great planes, but the A380 was nothing more than a niche aircraft.
Very well informed comment, thank you.
The A380 is the best long haul aircraft ever developed. It’s hardly a niche aircraft. Now if you are an American that goes absolutely nowhere, then maybe it is to you.
The A380 was a lot more than a niche aircraft. Look at the vast majority of responses on this video to see how many people liked the experience of flying on it. Sure, the A350 is more efficient but it's also a much newer design, and production will take time. By the way, Qantas doesn't have a "u" in it. It was originally an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". I'm curious where your figure of the number of airworthy airframes come from.
That's because Thai Airways is basically bankrupt. And Malaysian has also been bleeding money.
Hopefully all the airlines do retire their A320 and A330 aircrafts. It's ridiculous that those dinosaurs are still allowed in the air.
Flew this amazing craft twice. We were 500 feet off the ground before I realized we had left the ground. So quiet! First fljght was business class for 10 hours and hardly felt it. Second flight was a 4 hour flight from Dubai to Cairo and it was sad to know the entire upper deck was empty. Like - what a waste of fuel to get this mammoth plane in the air for only 200 passengers. But what a treat to be in this massive engineering marvel. I really hope they keep it going.
Taken twice on Air France SFO to Paris & British Airways LAX - London .. absolutely my best flying experience by far .. can’t wait for my next flight ✈️
I had flown in to NY from Paris on this behemoth it’s absolutely insane how big this plane is. Truly an incredible experience. I think there was 800 passengers
That’s about it’s maximum pax count in a all economy configuration.
Who did you fly Air France? They surely would only have about 500 or so seats on board.
Bad guess
@@CongressSux1776Air France used the A380 from JFK To CDG Back in the Day
Yeah, I don't think any airlines went with the 800 seat design. There's too much money to be made with spacious long haul first and business class.
The airlines who have best perfected the low cost model, don't use the bigger airports@@CongressSux1776
@@CongressSux1776 You are correct. AF A380s had a capacity of 538. There must of been passengers standing in the aisle the entire flight for 800 people to be there.