[dropcap size=small]T[/dropcap]he end of an era is upon us, and boy has it been a ride.
After a dozen years in service, the Airbus A380, nicknamed “Superjumbo”, is at the end of the line, with its production to cease in 2021.
The decision was made after the double-decker jet’s biggest customer, Emirates, curtailed their existing order of 53 A380s to just 14 – forcing Airbus to pull the plug on the manufacturing of the celebrated aircraft, whose programme was on life support at that point.
This follows a drying market for very large aircrafts – such as the A380 and its competitor the Boeing 747, nicknamed “Jumbo Jet”, both of which far exceed the US Federal Aviation Administration’s defining weight for a large aircraft of 5,700kg – as a shift in airline preferences and simultaneous technological advancements make for an increased demand for smaller, more efficient planes that fly similar ranges to the Airbus A380.
For instance, the mammoth A380 has a maximum takeoff weight of 560,000kg and a range of 14,800km, while the smaller Airbus 350-900 and Boeing 787-8 have significantly lesser weights of 268,000kg and 227,930kg, with ranges of 15,000km and 13,620km respectively.
(Related: Cathay Pacific’s business class lounge now offers a yoga and meditation studio)
As the aviation market moves toward the newer and more economical point-to-point airliners, there seems to be little space left in the skies for the “Superjumbo” and her outdated hub-and-spoke model. In a point-to-point system, the aeroplane simply travels from node to node directly, without passing through a central hub, whereas in a hub-and-spoke model, much like the hub and spokes of a wheel, all routes pass through the hub before moving to another node.
https://www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg/lifestyle/airbus-a380-discontinued-lesser-known-facts-about-the-superjumbo-plane/
Airbus A380
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01: THE FIRST EVER SUPERJUMBO WAS DELIVERED TO SINGAPORE
After a much anticipated release, on 30 Oct 2007, the very first Airbus A380 was delivered to Singapore Airlines (SIA), thereby kickstarting the aviation legend’s passenger service.
To date, SIA has 19 operating Airbus A380s.
Photo: The Business Times
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02: THE AIRBUS A380 FLIES TWO OF THE LONGEST NON-STOP FLIGHTS IN THE WORLD
With a maximum range of 14,800km, the Airbus A380 is responsible for two of the longest non-stop flights around the world – the 14,200km flight from Auckland to Dubai by Emirates, and the 13,804km flight from Dallas to Sydney by Qantas.
Photo: The Straits Times
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03: OTHER PLANES MAKE WAY FOR THE AIRBUS A380
Because of its sheer size, after an A380 takes off, other aeroplanes have to wait up to three minutes before they can commence their own takeoffs due to the wake turbulence from the monstrous aircraft.
Photo: The Straits Times
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04: ITS CALLED THE SUPERJUMBO FOR A REASON
Putting together a behemoth that size is a feat of equivalent magnitude. The aircraft has 4 million individual components, produced by 1500 companies, in 30 different countries, making this beast an international jigsaw puzzle of grandiose scale.
Photo: The Straits Times
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05: LONG FLIGHTS, LONGER WIRES
Each A380 has more than 530km of highly complex wiring, comprising of 98,000 wires and 40,000 connectors. The intricacy of this circuitry was one of the key reason why the aircraft was delayed in its official commercial debut. If laid out in a straight fashion, this could go from Edinburgh to London.
Following this, the release of the “Superjumbo” was further postponed twice due to concurrent design and production phases, a high degree of customisation required for each airline and failures in configuration management and change control.
Photo: The Straits Times
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06: AIRPORTS ADJUST TO THE AIRBUS A380
Because of its colossal stature, airports have to either build new terminals or upgrade existing infrastructure to house the “Superjumbo”. Sydney Airport alone spent US$128 million on upgrades.
Upon announcement of its release, many airports scrambled to put together some facility to accommodate the gargantuan craft – the likes of which had not been seen by the world till then – only to learn that they had ample time to make proper adjustments due to the numerous delays.
Photo: The Straits Times
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07: OUR CENTENNIAL AVIATION HEADWAY IN SUMMARY
Even if you’re not a aviation whizz, the A380 is a chance for all of us to marvel at our progress in a mere century. In 1903, the Wright Brothers’ – aviators credible for the first-ever aeroplane, allowing man to achieve dominance of the aerial dimension – had achieved flight for the first time, lasting a whopping 12 seconds and flying a distance of about 37m.
The wingspan of the Airbus A380 is more than twofold that, totalling at 80m across.
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08: THE SUPERJUMBO IS A MEAN, GREEN, GENTLE GIANT
With 40% more seating capacity the its nearest competitor, married with low emission engines, this 555-seater burns 17% less fuel per seat, ultimately equating to 17% less CO2 emissions, making the gentle giant that is the A380 the most environmentally friendly widebody aircraft in the world.
Photo: The Straits Times
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09: LIVE THE LAVISH LIFE OF LUXURY WITH FIRST CLASS
SIA has since refurbished the interior of their existing A380s to host six new palatial first class suites. Each of these private suites features a bed and a Poltrona Frau leather reclining swivel chair. For couples or families, some of the suites may even be linked to create more space to share with loved ones. Not to mention the two bathrooms that come with the suite, one of which even boasts a sit-down vanity, truly upholding the name of “premium full-service air travel”.
Photo: Singapore Airlines
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10: TREAT YOURSELF AT THE A380 BAR
Onboard the Emirates’ A380, first class and business class passengers enjoy access to the Emirates A380 bar (once seatbelt signs have been switched off).
Enjoy ambrosial hors d’oeuvres while unwinding at an exclusive bar and lounge complete with soft atmospheric lighting, with a Kir Royale or Martini in hand, all while cruising through a cobalt sky over the Atlantic Ocean. Some flights even serve the upmarket Hennessy Paradis Imperial for first class passengers.
Photo: Emirates
Said Airbus’ outgoing chief executive officer Tom Enders, in a live interview with CNBC: “If you have a product, which, despite all the efforts you put into it, you can’t sell anymore, or you can sell only below production cost, then you have to stop that product.”
“This is the decision – a painful decision – that we had to take.”
But as one door closes, another opens. With a burgeoning A320 programme, coupled with new large order from Emirates for the newer A330 and A350 models, the some 3500 jobs affected by the A380 shutdown will be provided with “a significant number of internal mobility opportunities”.
Fortunately, the demise of the A380 merely means a stoppage in production of the majestic craft. Passengers and aviation diehards alike will still see and be able to fly the existing fleet potentially for decades to come before retirement, giving everyone a chance to catch and experience true luxury in the skies.
(Related: A video tour of Qatar Airways’ Qsuite business class cabins with suite-like qualities)
Featured image: Emirates
