The Ultimate Airbus which Failed to Deliver - Aviation for Aviators
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The Ultimate Airbus which Failed to Deliver

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The pinnacle of excellence, and an eye-catcher; the Airbus A380 is truly a marvel. When Singapore Airlines took the A380 for its first commercial flight in 2007, there was huge excitement and noise around the world that the future of air travel had finally arrived. From hotel suites to bars in business class, all seemed extremely normal for the superjumbo. It is often known as the ‘hotel in the sky’ with the sheer amount of lavishness and craftsmanship found on deck. It is also one of the most expensive airplanes ever built with a price tag of about $450 million a piece. So, why did the world’s largest passenger plane, fail after just 12 years of production?

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Photo credits: New York Magazine
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Cause

The sheer size and luxury of the A380 also played a role in its downfall. Ironically, double-decker planes are popular with passengers, but airlines have come to view them as inefficient. The cost of flying and maintaining an A380 is extremely high. From maintenance costs to repair costs, the more in the fleet, the more damaging.

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The design is another key element where the A380 is often criticized. The structural design of the airframe is poor so it develops cracks more frequently than other aircraft. The wingspan itself is a separate headache. The wingspan is about 50 feet wider than a Boeing 747 and so wide that most airports have no ramp space for such a large aircraft. Pilots also have to be on special alert when taxiing the jumbo jet due to its abnormal size. Quite often the wingtips would exceed the width of the tarmac. Overall, the A380 is roughly 30% larger in size than the 747. Some argue that internally the A380 is too large, as it can carry up to 800 passengers, making it unprofitable when too many seats go unfilled. Many also consider the four Rolls-Royce Trent 9000 engines to be inefficient as well when compared to engines of other similar range aircraft. The A380 travels more but consume even more.

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However, Airbus did manage to save their image and divert attention by unveiling the A350 family, made to rival Boeing’s 787. Since 2005, a total of 57 firm orders for the A380 have been canceled by airlines including Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, and Lufthansa. A cargo version of the plane also never took off because of a lack of interest and poor planning.

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Photo credits: Wired UK
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An A380 with a B747. Photo credits: aeronef.net
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Moving on?

Although the primary users of the Airbus A380 are Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, other airlines also use this aircraft. Emirates, however, is the only airline to significantly invest in the plane, making up more than half of the 300-odd orders for the superjumbo jet since its launch in 2007. In total, the airline has 110 A380s in service and more on order. Many airlines have started to replace their fleet of A380s with cheaper and more efficient options such as the 787s, A350s, and the 777s. Some airlines prefer to wait for more details about Boeing’s new family of 777s which have fewer seats but the same range and two fewer engines. With the introduction of Boeing’s latest 777-9X, the odds of seeing an A380 will diminish even further.

Air France B787 and A350. Photo credits: Airway
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A little over a decade ago, Airbus unveiled the A380 which was seen as the future of aviation, but sadly not all stories have a happy ending.


Sources

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/airbus-a380-retirement https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47225789#:~:text=Some%20argue%20that%20the%20A380,too%20many%20seats%20go%20unfilled.&text=Since%202005%2C%20a%20total%20of,of%20a%20lack%20of%20interest.

Cover photo: https://aeronauticsonline.com/emirates-plans-to-retire-airbus-a380-fleet-by-mid-2030/

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Airbus Unveils New Automated A321XLR Equipping Hangar in Hamburg

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Airbus marked a significant step in its journey towards modernization and ramped-up production with the official opening of its new automated A321XLR equipping hangar in Hamburg. The inauguration was graced by Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher, and the German Aerospace Coordinator, Anna Christmann.

Hamburg
Photo by Airbus

Stepping Up Production

Airbus aims to ramp up the production rate for the A320 program to 75 by 2026. This new hangar plays an integral part in achieving that goal, as it would house the production of A321 fuselages. André Walter, Head of Airbus Commercial Aircraft Production in Germany, said, “The design of the building reflects the latest standards in production and sustainability.”

Dr. Peter Tschentscher emphasized Hamburg’s prominence in Airbus’s scheme of things, calling it a central location for Airbus’ single-aisle development and production. The new A321XLR, described as the flagship of the A320 Family, will be assembled at the Finkenwerder site in Hamburg.

Anna Christmann, Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy, pointed out that investing in the new hangar is a pivotal move towards achieving climate neutrality in aviation. With Airbus positioning itself as a pioneer in sustainable aviation, it sends a clear message about the future direction of the industry.

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Hangar H259: A Peek Inside

Hamburg
Photo by Airbus

The new hangar, labeled H259, spans 9,600 m^2 of production space. It is equipped with advanced technologies, including automated logistics, digital systems, and real-time test stations. Every fuselage section undergoes rigorous testing after system installation and then heads to the final assembly line in Hamburg.

Employee comfort and efficiency were prioritized while planning the hangar. Moreover, sustainability was also at the forefront, with a 3,000 m^2 photovoltaic system powering the hangar and the surplus electricity being used for the site. An automatic control system for heating, ventilation, and lighting, along with the office block’s superior insulation, underlines Airbus’s commitment to sustainability.

Spotlight on the A321XLR

Hamburg
Photo by Airbus

The A321XLR is poised to be a game-changer. This evolution of the A320neo offers an impressive range of up to 4,700 nm, 15% more than its predecessor, the A321LR. The aircraft promises 30% lower fuel consumption per seat than older competitor models. Furthermore, the A321XLR offers enhanced passenger comfort, all while maintaining the low operational costs of a single-aisle aircraft. The A321XLR, with nearly 570 orders globally, is set to make its entry into service in 2024’s second quarter.

Read Also: AIRBUS A321XLR – Gamechanger in the World of Narrow Bodies

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Final and Sixth Beluga XL Rolls Out at Airbus

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Airbus

Airbus has rolled out the sixth and last of its Beluga XL freighters at the production facility in Toulouse, France. Based on the A330-200 platform and boasting a special livery, this plane joins a quintet of similar aircraft assisting Airbus in meeting production schedules at its various plants across the globe.

The Final Super Transporter

The concluding Airbus Beluga XL, also known as the ‘super transporter,’ marks the end of a production run consisting of six airplanes. Unlike its five predecessors, each displaying a consistent livery barring their fleet numbers (1-5), the final aircraft showcases a modified external color scheme.

This latest addition features Airbus’ standard house tail colors, logo, and the ‘Airbus Beluga XL’ fuselage titles present on the other five planes. However, it also carries the additional text ‘Also flying outsize cargo to your destination’ and a unique ‘winking eye’ motif on the left side of the forward fuselage.

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Beluga XL
Photo: Airbus

Currently, the sixth Beluga XL is preparing for its maiden flight, scheduled to occur within a few days. Its entry into service is expected in the latter half of 2023.

The Beluga XL: An Oversized Freight Carrier

Launched officially in November 2014, the Beluga XL program was initiated in response to Airbus’s evolving logistical transport needs. This new generation aircraft, derived from the Airbus A330-200 airliner platform, replaced the previous Beluga ST transporter, whose job was to ferry aircraft components between Airbus factories and assembly plants across Europe.

Beluga XL
Photo: Airbus

The Beluga XL had its first flight in July 2018 and entered service in February 2021 with Airbus Transport International (ATI), the logistics division of the European aerospace group.

Before the Beluga STs, Airbus relied on a fleet of four Super Guppies, a turboprop freighter developed by Boeing in the 1960s. However, their limited cargo capability led to their replacement by the Beluga ST, which now gives way to the Beluga XL fleet.

Unmatched Capabilities of the Beluga XL

Being seven meters longer and one meter wider than the Beluga ST, the Beluga XL can boast of a 30% increase in load capacity. Thanks to improved loading systems, the Beluga XL’s turnaround time is approximately one hour, nearly halving that of the Beluga ST.

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One of the unique features of the Beluga XL is its large cargo door located above the flight deck, which allows easy loading of whole wings and large sections of fuselage into the enormous cargo compartment. According to Airbus, the Beluga XL can carry two completed wings of the A350 XWB, while the Beluga ST could only manage one.

Read more about the Beluga XL: Airbus Beluga: A Marvel of Engineering and Design

Joining a Busy Worldwide Fleet

Beluga XL
Photo: Airbus

Soon, the final Beluga XL will join the ATI fleet, operating between 11 European destinations, gradually replacing the five-member-strong Beluga ST fleet. However, the Beluga ST fleet isn’t retiring yet. They are being phased into another operational division of ATI – Airbus Beluga Transport (AiBT), launched in July 2022.

While AiBT initially focused on missions for other Airbus divisions, it plans to accommodate an increasing number of external commercial customers as the Beluga XLs take over the primary role of transporting commercial airplane components for Airbus. By February 2023, AiBT had already filled nearly 50% of its slots for the rest of the year, catering to many requests for outsized cargo transportation missions worldwide.

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Bulgaria Air’s Airbus A220: Latest-Generation Addition to Fleet

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A220 Aircraft
Stefan Markov via PLANESPOTTERS

Bulgaria Air now proudly hosts the Airbus A220 in its fleet, marking an important step towards greener aviation. The A220’s attributes of operational flexibility, unrivaled comfort, and reduced emissions make it a sought-after choice for airlines working towards more efficient and sustainable aircraft operations. With the addition of Bulgaria Air’s Airbus A220, passengers can now look forward to a state-of-the-art flight experience that has already been enjoyed by over 90 million travelers worldwide.

Bulgaria Air's Airbus A220
Image Via: Aviation24.be

Bulgaria Air, the national airline of Bulgaria, has received its first A220 aircraft from Airbus’ Mirabel facility in Canada. The A220, which will be leased from Air Lease Corporation, will operate on regional and international routes throughout Europe. Bulgaria Air will lease a total of seven A220s from ALC.

The A220, Airbus’ latest-generation aircraft, will complement Bulgaria Air’s existing fleet of seven A320s. With a range of up to 3,450 nm (6,390 km), the A220 offers increased operational flexibility to airlines like Bulgaria Air.

The initial configuration of Bulgaria Air’s A220 will have a total of 143 seats in dual-class, including eight business-class seats. The A220 is designed for the 100-150 seat market and incorporates advanced aerodynamics, materials, and Pratt & Whitney engines. It provides unbeatable comfort in a small single aisle with the widest windows, largest seats, and overhead stowage, as well as the widest and quietest cabin in its category.

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The A220 also supports Bulgaria Air’s commitment to decarbonizing aviation, as it produces up to 25% lower fuel burn and CO2 emissions per seat than previous-generation aircraft and 50% lower NOx emissions than industry standards. Additionally, the aircraft’s noise footprint is reduced by 50% compared to previous-generation aircraft.

Airbus has received nearly 800 orders from 30 customers for the A220, with 265 already delivered. The A220 is currently in service with 16 airlines worldwide, operating on over 1,100 routes and over 375 destinations. Over 90 million passengers have flown on the A220 to date.

Hence, What do you think are the benefits of Bulgaria Air’s addition of the Airbus A220 to its fleet?

Also, you may be interested in reading: The Story of the A220, how it Came About and How it’s Becoming Popular

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