2 class started on 1 Jan this year. A380 delayed until 2019, with Aer Lingus growth putting to much pressure on infrastructure apparently! Country manager strongly hinted at 3rd daily (possibly seasonal) would be next if revenues to grown despite QR starting and CX next year at an event a few weeks ago.

First has always done rather good for them, the two class switch was more of increased Y demand on the evening service rather than not filling a good level of F seats.

Emirates has just announced an order for another 36 A380's.

Is this the programme saving order that Airbus have been waiting for?

Short term saving - yes
long term saving - no, they'd need more orders, probably from other airlines too.

Is nice to see even more of the glorious big birds coming soon though :)

Any specifics about the model ordered?

I wonder if they intend to operate them all, or if they'll do an SQ and use some to replace some of the older ones. Not that any of them are very old by commercial airliner standards....

Not quite. Firm orders for 20, options for 16. I’d be interested to know who blinked first on this one.

As to saving the programme, I’d say it keeps it on life support for the time being. I guess Airbus hope that in 10 years time the market may have changed.

So, any new A380 routes to expect?
ARN with it's brand new A380 gate should be a candidate, right?

I too hope that India and China become more realistic A380 markets in the next 10/20 years and keep it going. Although I have a feeling the A380 could end up the Concorde of the 21st century

I suspect many of these will be replacement aircraft, and I sincerely hope the used aircraft market for the A380 will be strong

Very few details about the deal...

What model? 380 plus?
What engines?
2 or 3 class?

Anyone in the know?

Press release I saw on Twitter earlier today said Rolls Royce engines I believe

What it does do is give Airbus breathing space.May allow time for a next generation engine to be developed which might make it more economic and attractive to more airlines, especially in China.

I would imagine so. You wouldn't build a gate especially for the A380 if it wasn't coming.

Emirates have said some will be used for fleet renewal, leaving a few extra for new routes/ increased frequency. I certainly wouldn't put ARN out of contention, another decent addition to the hub & spoke business model

Brussels Airport is also building a A380 gate :ok:

Apparently GLA is also currently constructing an A380 gate?

The A380 still has support.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-a...-idUSKBN1F80K5

There is a huge market for mass travel from China which suggests a future for the secondhand fleet.

Just wondering: is Emirates flying the 380 to any place not specifically equipped with double decker gates?

After all I have boarded more than once a 380 in DBX from the tarmac (not a great experience)...

Over on the BA thread, there is talk that Willy might be considering leasing pre-owned 380's for his British airline (and maybe Iberia).

A real sign of how the aviation world has changed if the once "World's Favourite Airline" is reduced to taking aircraft second-hand from an airline that was a relative minnow 20 years ago (although I am also aware that Singapore are offloading early-build 380's and that Malaysian are looking to do so also).

Not without precedent at IAG though, who have second-hand BA 320's at LGW that came from Wizz.

No there isn’t the economics aren’t there yet for leisure travel especially as the PRC continue to impose travel restrictions (can’t get or afford a passport) on the working classes (the politburo mandarins fear they won’t return and are probably right).

Today and probably right into the mid term that mass travel market is internally within China powering the movement of labour from the fields into the cities however even this migration is already showing signs of slowing.

IMHO there is far to much believe in the Chinese powering mass leisure travel.

Their International growth is about power projection and ensuring world traders can buy much of their crap product.

I guess you have not been through BKK lately.

Thailand is flooded with Chinese tourists.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...whelm-upgrades

I was flying back to BKK from Macau a few weeks ago. The Air Asia flight was about 90% Chinese tourists.

Again organised tours for party favoured middle classes and the party faithful including students these remain a relatively small proportion of the Chinese populus.

China is all smoke and mirrors never believe the half of it .