HiFly

[Mr A Tis]

ACMI specialists Hi Fly to acquire two ex Singapore A380s

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/airbus-a380-secondhand-market-singapore-airlines-hi-fly-a8291116.html?amp&__twitter_impression=true

Interesting to see what work they can pick up for A380s especially not every airport can handle them.

[canberra97]

This deal has been a ''will they or won't they'' scenario that's been played out for the last few months and was looking more than likely not to materialise once Hi Fly recently ordered 9 A330-900 from Airbus.

I believe the deal breaker was regarding maintenance, Hi Fly wanted Airbus to be responsible for the A380's where as Airbus said otherwise, obviously a deal has been made in the last week for this to change for both parties concerned.

This deal is a good one for the A380 especially for it's second hand retail value and once everything is finalised we're eventually see a new operator of the aircraft gracing our skies.

[El Bunto]

Once Manchester and Birmingham have a few A380 diverts and Gatwick is pushed on capacity then I believe one of BA's alternates is Madrid.

I don't think it's a big issue, there are well over 200 approved diversion airfields for the big whale.

Manston, Doncaster, Stansted, Glasgow, Dublin, Shannon and Brussels are all compatible and approved by Airbus as A380 alternatives and which are closer than Madrid, for example. BA have already used Shannon ( G-XLEA ).

http://com.airbus-fenice.customers.artful.net/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/brochures_publications/aircraft_families/A380_airport_compatibility_network.pdf

[Planespeaking]

I don't think it's a big issue, there are well over 200 approved diversion airfields for the big whale.

Manston, Doncaster, Stansted, Glasgow, Dublin, Shannon and Brussels are all compatible and approved by Airbus as A380 alternatives and which are closer than Madrid, for example. BA have already used Shannon ( G-XLEA ).

http://com.airbus-fenice.customers.artful.net/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/brochures_publications/aircraft_families/A380_airport_compatibility_network.pdf
I feel Manston may present a slight problem these days!

[inOban]

Which airports in the Med can accommodate a 380? Seems ideal for the bulk transport of pax. Aren't they used in Asia for quite short flights?

[Fly757X]

Which airports in the Med can accommodate a 380? Seems ideal for the bulk transport of pax. Aren't they used in Asia for quite short flights?

Malta, Nice, Palma De Mallorca and Athens I assume.

[azz767]

My guess is they’ve already got someone lined up to have them I don’t think they’d have taken them without anyone in place to have them

[Logohu]

My guess is they'll be re-fitted and deployed on the annual Hajj movements on behalf of ME or SE Asian carriers. Aside from that maybe moving pax for the cruise ship lines, large sporting events etc.

Big aircraft to keep busy year round but no doubt they have done their sums.

[azz767]

From another forum it says they will remain in SQ’s configuration

[Alteagod]

I remember many years ago an senior airline manager telling me only a matter of time until we see the A380 in charter airline config. I thought you jest you must be pulling my tickiling stick but there we go Hifly have one. No doubt when the 747 first flew similar convos had.

[Mr A Tis]

Yes according to Flight Global, the aircraft will remain in Singapore 3 class configuration.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/hi-fly-to-introduce-471-seat-a380-by-mid-year-447342/

[dc9-32]

Mmmmm maybe a wet or damp lease back to SQ. Cheaper than SQ operating it themselves.

[N707ZS]

Is Lisbon equipped for the A380 or will they based else where?

[Wycombe]

Seen elsewhere online in the last few days a mock-up of the whale in PIA colours - maybe a deal already done?

[AdamThePassenger]

Seen elsewhere online in the last few days a mock-up of the whale in PIA colours - maybe a deal already done?

Would be ideal for hajj charters, and a handy increase in capacity over the 77W

[Mr A Tis]

Is Lisbon equipped for the A380 or will they based else where?

Looking at the Airbus website- appears no airport in Portugal handles an A380, however, Malta can & this is where some of the HiFly fleet are registered, so may well be based there.

As Wycome says the new PIA colour scheme has been circulated by various websites on an A380, of which PIA has none. Makes a good rumour ....

[Rotating Bacon]

HiFly received the first A380 yesterday, they hired a few ex EK Captains who got fired from EK for incompetence, see Moscow and JFK incidents, the guy in Moscow was at 400 feet 8NM from touchdown and then did 2 go arounds, the JFK guy only one go around after the tower told him that he is way too low.

[Mr A Tis]

Any substance in the rumour of a wet lease to BA ?

[cornishsimon]

Doubt it u less they are planning to use it on LGW-AGP/IBZ etc to free up slots etc

anf before anyone says it. I jest


cs

[rog747]

transaero was mooting to get A380's before they went bust - Canary Islands LPA FUE and TFS from Scandinavia and Germany could be a good gig in their high season

SSH Sharm was high capacity for the Russians and other countries but that flush has been pulled on that resort after all the troubles and then Metrojet
Rhodes and Heraklion not possible for 380 Ops (OK 744)
and Larnaca is OK for 380

Palma and AGP Hmmn maybe ----

IBZ and ALC an A380 cannot get handling there but Condor Aer Lingus KLM and Sabena jumbo 747's were all regulars there in the old package holiday heydays of the 70's and BOAC 747's went to Palma every weekend so maybe these two might come on line later

VCE ATH FCO and BCN are all cruise ship destinations and Cunard currently use BA 767's with 262Y on charter for those trips

[davidjpowell]

I don't think it's a big issue, there are well over 200 approved diversion airfields for the big whale.

Manston, Doncaster, Stansted, Glasgow, Dublin, Shannon and Brussels are all compatible and approved by Airbus as A380 alternatives and which are closer than Madrid, for example. BA have already used Shannon ( G-XLEA ).

http://com.airbus-fenice.customers.artful.net/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/brochures_publications/aircraft_families/A380_airport_compatibility_network.pdf

I would love to see Doncaster passport control cope with an A380. It would take some time....

[compton3bravo]

I would like to see it land at Manston, have you not heard it is closed and very unlikely to ever reopen.

[Beatts]

Off on a wet lease to TCX Scandinavia for a one off flight for them. Positioned today.

[flying phil 2007]

Hi-fly A380 on its way from Copenhagen to Larnaca.
Callsign Viking 1102

[toledoashley]

Norwegian are getting as from tomorrow to operate Gatwick to New York for the next 3 weeks.

[willy wombat]

Will the timings fit round the EK flights as I think LGW has only got one A380 stand but I could be wrong

[CabinCrewe]

there are presumably enough Remote areas that could be used if needed rather than dedicated hard stands

[flying phil 2007]

Apparently the Hi-fly A380 will be operating for Air Austral after Norwegian ops.. seems it is going to be busy..

[strawberry Ribena]

Apparently the Hi-fly A380 will be operating for Air Austral after Norwegian ops.. seems it is going to be busy..

a lot of raised eyebrows when they acquired them, but Hifly are laughing now!

[airborneksa]

Heard of romanian cabin crew hired but dropped them after keeping people on hold for 3 months, bad for their pr and bad for people who want to work for them. I guess 380 made them lose the basics of fair employment practices. Just like another joint in the neighborhood Euro-Atlantic.

[Mr Angry from Purley]

https://samchui.com/2018/08/03/fly-first-class-suite-on-board-hi-flys-a380-from-614-90-one-way-for-norwegian/#.W2cXVNJKi00

[rog747]

All doesn't seem well with 9H-WIP at present, today's JFK-LGW seems to have picked up 24h delay.
Might be nothing to do with the bird itself, of course...(source, FR24 + Norwegian's website).

playing catch up?

might be easier to screw up just one full days of pax flights rather than keep roll over delays day after day costing ££££££ for the compensation meals hotac etc etc

[Buster the Bear]

The airframe is incurring massive delays at JFK, as the airport has run out of A380 stands during the time it is scheduled to arrive.

[rog747]

The airframe is incurring massive delays at JFK, as the airport has run out of A380 stands during the time it is scheduled to arrive.


Ummm did no one think to ask the parking attendants at JFK first ? you cannot make this up surely (read ask apron control and the handling agents)

[DaveReidUK]

All doesn't seem well with 9H-WIP at present, today's JFK-LGW seems to have picked up 24h delay.
Might be nothing to do with the bird itself, of course...(source, FR24 + Norwegian's website).

LGW's website is still showing this evening's departure as scheduled. It's hard to believe that Norwegian are planning for it to sit on the ground at JFK for 24 hours plus.

[Wycombe]

It appears to have just departed LGW (2134L) on it's way to JFK.

[DaveReidUK]

It appears to have just departed LGW (2134L) on it's way to JFK.

And took off from JFK just under 3 hours ago, currently over Maine.

So no 24-hour delay.