Emirates will add premium economy seating to 105 aircraft in its fleet, joining the handful of 380s delivered with the product on board. The retrofit program is expected to begin at the end of 2022 and take 18 months to complete.
A380
Qantas boosts rebound, points opportunities with Australia border reopening
Australia is reopening its borders, and Qantas is ready to take advantage of the pent up demand for travel. The airline will accelerate the return of many international routes, as well as larger aircraft, to support consumer demand. It is also adding a frequent flyer twist, with several “points planes” loaded for travelers.
Singapore Airlines brings back the A380
Singapore Airlines is the latest carrier to bring back the A380 super jumbo. Citing strong demand – and customer preference for the type – as the country expands its vaccinated traveler lane (VTL) program, London will be the first market to see regular A380 flights resume.
The British Airways A380 is back!
The British Airways A380 is officially coming back. The airline will use its largest aircraft to carry passengers to warm, sunny destinations as part of a significant rebound in long-haul service volume for the winter.
Qantas making big moves, looks to restart international travel
The financials are, expectedly, not great for Qantas. But with the carrier’s latest earnings report it also expressed optimism in the reopening of international markets later this year. And, potentially, a return of the A380 to service sooner than expected.
British Airways extends maintenance on A380 fleet, but…
The British Airways A380 fleet should be in tip-top shape for flying through at least 2027. The carrier signed a contract extension with Lufthansa Technik (LHT) that calls for the planes to be maintained at LHT’s Manila base. But current conditions suggest not all the planes will return to service.
Emirates unveils Premium Economy offering
Emirates’ customers finally have a premium economy option for their travels. But there’s a catch: Travelers cannot book the seat yet and might not be able to for some time.
Hi Fly to retire the A380
After three years of operations European charter specialist Hi Fly intends to retire its A380 from service. The carrier chose to not renew the lease on 9H-MIP bringing a close to that era.
Airbus, EASA warn on parked aircraft battery issues
With thousands of aircraft parked around the globe this year the industry is learning more and more about the impact of these long-term storage actions. This week Airbus and EASA issued an advisory regarding battery systems on the A320, A330, A340 and A380 family aircraft that “could lead to reduced battery endurance performance, possibly resulting […]
Lufthansa to park A380s, A340-600s
Facing a revised demand forecast roughly half of what it previously anticipated, Lufthansa will move its remaining A380s and A340-600s into long-term storage. The carrier expects that they will “only be reactivated in the event of an unexpectedly rapid market recovery.” The move affects eight A380 and ten A340-600 planes.