Is this the revival of the big birds? - Aviation for Aviators
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Is this the revival of the big birds?

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Only a bit more than a year ago, in May 2021, the shocking news was all around the portals. It seemed that the A380 was coming to an end of its short life as many airlines seemed unhappy with the performance and the issues caused by the pandemic.

In my opinion, looking back, it was the biggest mistake we did, to purchase A380s Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO of Qatar Airways

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Once upon a time – a year ago

In summer 2022 the world was facing its second year of a never-seen-before global pandemic. In 2021, aviation began to recover but was still far away from pre-COVID numbers. With not even 2.3 billion passengers 2021 was only around 2006. To compare: 2019 (the year with the highest number so far) ended with more than 4.5 billion passengers. 2020, where the pandemic hit strong from March, ended with 1.8 billion passengers. These numbers are important to understand. They show that the whole situation was changed within a short period of time.

¨Yearly passenger numbers (source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/)
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Once upon a time – at the beginning of the Millenium

Other than in 2006, the overall mood was negative. 2006 was in a phase of the growing economy, the effects of 9/11 were fading and the whole industry was ready to jump into the next time age. Under these circumstances and the prognosed growth, airlines were excited to use and float in Airbus’ new flagship – the A380. Until COVID, the yearly passenger numbers kept growing. Even the financial crisis in 2008 had only a minor stagnation as a consequence and the industry recovered fast. With this development, the airlines were happy to use the A380 and used it also as the flagship of their entire fleet.

Grounded aircraft during the pandemic (source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-52089046)
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Hit be the pandemic, the world did change. With fewer passengers, there was an overall surplus of aircraft. Pictures of grounded aircraft all over the world were in the media. Even with the increasing demand in 2021, the load factors were no longer justifying using the A380. In addition to the fewer passenger demand, increasing fuel costs had a negative influence on the financial performance of the aircraft (the negative aspect of 4 engines). In a conclusion, many airlines reduced their fleet of A380s or even completely stopped their operation, such as Air France.

And now?

2022 is different than the years before. Yes, the virus is still around, but thanks to the vaccination the world returned to normal. While the world enjoys being back to normality, aviation is still far away from the ordinary. During the past two years, staff (airlines, ground handlers, catering companies, etc.) was made redundant. Now – all of a sudden (really so surprising?) – this staff force would be bitterly needed. Despite hiring initiatives since the start of the year, the companies struggle to build up the requested workforce, which results in delays and high-scale cancellations.
This brings back the big bird. With only one flight, more passengers can be transported. One flight means fewer side costs such as airport fees, ground handling fees, planning, and scheduling, or cabin crews. With high load factors, the A380 can support the airlines a bit in the current situation, release pressure and allow passengers to enjoy the long-awaited holidays.

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And the future?

Well, it is difficult to say, what the future will look like. There are still many variables that can change the whole setup (COVID19, monkeypox, staff shortage with strikes…). As it seems difficult to build up the requested workforce levels for all involved parties, the difficult situation does not look to be completely resolved by next summer. Especially keeping in mind the increasing passenger number predictions. Maybe we can still enjoy the A380 much longer than expected.

Sources:
https://simpleflying.com/qatar-airways-a380-mistake/
https://www.airfranceklm.com/en/phase-out-air-france-entire-airbus-a380-fleet
https://www.statista.com/statistics/564717/airline-industry-passenger-traffic-globally/
https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/07/12/ba-easyjet-turkish-airlines-which-european-airlines-are-cancelling-the-most-flights-this-s
https://www.axios.com/2022/06/19/airlines-flights-staff-shortages-delays-summer-vacation
https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/over-half-of-emirates-a380s-have-returned-to-service/148648.article

Featured image:
https://www.theneweconomy.com/strategy/why-the-airbus-a380-failed-to-take-off

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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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