Airbus A380 Neo, anyone ?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Where the test flights are
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Airbus A380 Neo, anyone ?
Dear fellow PPRuners
I was wondering if Airbus ever considered a revamped, re-engined version of the A380, with newer, cleaner, and more efficient engines ?
These engines exist now, and I believe that the airframe is great IMHO, and maybe they could have led to a second life or even to a successful successor, before many airlines decided to retire their Legacy models
Waddayathink ?
I was wondering if Airbus ever considered a revamped, re-engined version of the A380, with newer, cleaner, and more efficient engines ?
These engines exist now, and I believe that the airframe is great IMHO, and maybe they could have led to a second life or even to a successful successor, before many airlines decided to retire their Legacy models
Waddayathink ?
Their final offer was the "A380plus" without new engines, just with aerodynamic tweaks and cabin modifications. Nobody ordered.
At the same time both A350- and A330neo-engines were available. A350-engines were even flight tested using some A380 prototype. The world moved on to twins it seems.
At the same time both A350- and A330neo-engines were available. A350-engines were even flight tested using some A380 prototype. The world moved on to twins it seems.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: London
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting recent interview with John Leahy, former head of sales for Airbus: https://www.airlineratings.com/news/...-a380-failure/
Essentially, the A380 was so late entering service (2007) it was only a few years before a major shift in engine efficiency (Trent 1000, Trent XWB, GEnx).
Essentially, the A380 was so late entering service (2007) it was only a few years before a major shift in engine efficiency (Trent 1000, Trent XWB, GEnx).
Maybe the next generation of engines combined with future slot constraints, will make a comeback possible.
https://www.ladepeche.fr/2019/08/06/...se,8349694.php
I think Fullwings has given the realistic answer..
Big twins are what makes airlines money. Much cheaper to operate per passenger mile than a triple or a quad.
ETOPS has led to the end of the four engined aircraft.
From a passenger point of view, a big shame.
ETOPS has led to the end of the four engined aircraft.
From a passenger point of view, a big shame.
Unfortunately for Airbus, the sales momentum never got anywhere near the point where a stretch could be launched, and that in turn meant that there was little or no interest from the engine manufacturers in developing a suitable powerplant.
The key problem on the A380 demand side was that China did opt politically to create many small "babyflot" airlines instead of a few huge ones along mega hubs flying the biggest aircraft possible.
When it is suggested that you could re-engine an A380, what would you replace the RR Trent 900s with that would be significantly more efficient, and what would that cost per airframe? One of the factors that isn’t going to go away is the Dry Operating Weight of 280-300T, equivalent to ~2 777s or A350s.
I like the A380 as a passenger but compared to the competition, both internal and external, it’s heavy and inefficient. That’s not so important if you can cram it full of premium passengers on routes that aren’t that fought over but you’re not going to be able to win on price against twins...
I like the A380 as a passenger but compared to the competition, both internal and external, it’s heavy and inefficient. That’s not so important if you can cram it full of premium passengers on routes that aren’t that fought over but you’re not going to be able to win on price against twins...
In general you save cost per seat as the airplane used gets bigger. That's if it has the same engine generation as the smaller competing aircraft. The A380 hadn't. And it needed to be filled with paying passengers which is a trickier business the bigger an airplane gets.
Plus: Airlines prefered more flights per day on a given route instead of one single pair of A380 flights to better cater for higher yield business travellers. All together meant it didn't work out.
Plus: Airlines prefered more flights per day on a given route instead of one single pair of A380 flights to better cater for higher yield business travellers. All together meant it didn't work out.