The aircraft maker next year expects to deliver the first A380 to Emirates Airline with 575 metric tons maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), which boosts the aircraft’s range to 8,500 nm.
Big boost from 569 to 575 ….. gives less than ½ hour flight!
Also becoming available is a 490-metric-ton maximum takeoff weight version, which complies with more stringent noise requirements and should allow airlines like Emirates to operate early-hour flights at slot-constrained airports, such as London Heathrow.
How? A full actual 380 out of LHR to DXB does not weigh more than 466 tons.
Emirates already has signed up to take a 510-metric-ton MTOW A380, to be used in regional routes with about 650 seats.
Again: What for? With a ZFW of 366, what regional route could require 144 tons of fuel?
The only way to make the dugong less fuel guzzling is to reduce it’s DOW.
We are waiting for such an announcement. Actually, unfortunately, they’re busy adding aluminium ……