The Airbus A380 superjumbo is close to the end of its production run, after demand has switched to smaller jets.
Emirates is seeking to cancel the last five of their final eight A380 deliveries; with manufacturer Airbus pushing back because the planes are already in assembly, according to Bloomberg.
According to Bloomberg, Emirates plans to take three more of the double-deckers before the end of their fiscal year next March; however they dont want the remaining five, according to people who have asked not to be named as the talks are private. Airbus is proposing a deferral of deliveries or payments, the people said.
Emirates said it remains “in regular dialog with Airbus” regarding fleet requirements and doesn’t comment on commercial discussions. Airbus declined to comment, saying talks with customers are confidential.
Speculation is mounting that Emirates could permanently decommission up to 40% of their A380 fleet.
The news comes a week after Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said “the A380 is over” and that the airline would be 20-30 percent smaller as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Another Blow to the A380
The news came after Air France announcement to permanently retire their 9 A380s today. Lufthansa has also announced that they will only operate 7 of the 15 A380s in their fleet after the pandemic.
Article Source: Bloomberg
Don’t blame them ! Its such sadness they are going SO QUICKLY! Some to be mothballed to things recover in passenger demand and a few already not with even 10 yrs flying time being sent to the scrapper for parts! All i hope is the B777-9X will be doing long haul as a replacememt as that will now be the widest cabin in the sky! For economy its very important indeed!! Maybe later this decade with RR-Ultra fan A350 Neo or Stretch NEO ?? That will probably become the longest Commercial Airliner stealing the tittle away from Boeing 9X as a 10X is probably a never gonna happen job! It all depends how this decade economy of many countries turns out after Corona,though people i talk too are going to fly so maybe airlines are being to dooms-day about future prospects?? I am sure it will return quicker than most think!!
Back to the article,well if Emirates want A380’s ,they could buy up all of Air France and half of Lufthansa fleet of A380’s and who knows BA?? Willie Walsh does not like its running costs,especially now if those planes are not even half filled! So maybe even BA will mothball some….. Plenty out there for parts and 2nd hand buys! All i can say is ,if you have not been on one and want to,better do it soon before they all go!!