A380 - ??

When is the the A380 due to arrive for VS. Does anybody have an idea of where it will fly to and what configeration VS could go fo ?r

Originally posted by porsche911
Does anybody have an idea of where it will fly?

In the sky.

[:#]Sorry, I am in one of those moods today[:#]. I am sure someone more knowledgable and sensible will give you a much more informative answer:D

[HighFlyer]

Last thing i heard was that delivery is to be expected around March 2008. Id expect this to be delayed further TBH.

The aircraft is most likely to be doing the MCO and JFK routes. Im pretty sure on that. Ive heard about the possibility of it doing Hong Kong, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sydney and Tokyo too.

On my last flight, one of the crew was chatting to me about the A380 and was certain that it would be flying in VS colours very soon as they had seen the config plans for them, the crew member told me that two different configurations were planned (to reflect the B&S market and the business i guess, which would make sense in comparison to the LGW & LHR configurations).

All it left me thinking was of the A380-900 - bound for MCO - eugh!

Thanks,
Sarah

I wonder when SIA will be then up and running with the a380. I believe they are to be the first but have there been some delays. There have been photos of this A380 in its full colours.

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by porsche911
I wonder when SIA will be then up and running with the a380. I believe they are to be the first but have there been some delays. There have been photos of this A380 in its full colours.

Yes, Singapore Airlines will be the first airline putting the A380 into commercial service, should be later this year. Im expecting around November to be honest (originally delivery was touted as March 2006) and id expect it to go to SFO from SIN too.

If you are interested in developments, keep an eye on this website from SQ themselves which charts most of the news and is affiliated with Airbus.

Thanks,
Sarah

I think that SQ are getting their 380's in November/December. I heard that their first revenue flight won't go to LHR and instead will go to SYD and HKG to start so that if any teething problems with the plane happen, then it will be close enough to SIN.

Does anybody have an idea of where it will fly?

In the sky.

That is the answer my two year old niece gave me when I was watching planes take off with her. It was a salutory lesson in horizons.

Gate 7 at LHR T3 has A380 markings and a very high jetway.... So at least somebody is ready

I'm suprised that VS is going for two configs, when there are only going to be 6 initially in the fleet.

I would have thought a LGW high Y layout unlikely previously (thought it was going to be marketed around extra thrills in a high J layout) - maybe I'm wrong!

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by Richard28
I'm suprised that VS is going for two configs, when there are only going to be 6 initially in the fleet.

I would have thought a LGW high Y layout unlikely previously (thought it was going to be marketed around extra thrills in a high J layout) - maybe I'm wrong!

As discussed kind of here these aircraft need to be filled as they are now cheap to run and the fixed costs are high,so putting them on high density routes like MCO makes a lot of sence.I am sure we will see things in UC that we havn't seen before,but I don't think the on board casino etc will make the final cut..good PR though.

[Nottingham Nick]

While I agree that VS will put the new aircraft on 'high density routes', I am surprised at MCO.

When they are delivered, it will no doubt be with the usual VS fanfare and the publicity machine will hit overdrive. Will they put them on a route without a Clubhouse at the other end? Not exactly the way to drum up new premium class pax. [?]

The other thing which seemed to dominate previous debates on this subject is... which airports are geared up to take them?

Nick

[Scrooge]

Well the first couple of flights may be to JFK,grab some attention for VS and their new product.I guess until we hear which config VS is getting first we can only guess at their plans,once we findout what the config will be for the first aircraft that will pretty much point at which airports will be used.

JFK and SFO are A380 ready,with only one flight a day to SFO,depending on when the aircraft is delivered it may slot into the VS 19/20 route nicely.

[HighFlyer]

Im only saying 2 config with MCO as that i what i was told by the crew, who said that they had seen two configs as plans, one heavy in seating and the other less so. Who is to say whether these are preliminary? The idea could get scrapped? But, as Jetwet1 says, loads need to be high to stay in profit with the A380, so MCO makes much sense as a workhorse for the aircraft.

If it does go 2 config, im betting all the glitz and glamour is done with the first config that will be LHR-JFK, then MCO slips in quietly as the ugly little brother

Thanks,
Sarah

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by HighFlyer

If it does go 2 config, im betting all the glitz and glamour is done with the first config that will be LHR-JFK, then MCO slips in quietly as the ugly little brother

Thanks,
Sarah

Yep thats what im guessing.

Of course if it's seating config has around 4-=60 J's then we could see them being switched between all the airports to run routes where there are very heavy loads.

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Im only saying 2 config with MCO as that i what i was told by the crew, who said that they had seen two configs as plans, one heavy in seating and the other less so. Who is to say whether these are preliminary? The idea could get scrapped? But, as Jetwet1 says, loads need to be high to stay in profit with the A380, so MCO makes much sense as a workhorse for the aircraft.

If it does go 2 config, im betting all the glitz and glamour is done with the first config that will be LHR-JFK, then MCO slips in quietly as the ugly little brother

Thanks,
Sarah

I think you may be right Sarah. I was speaking to some people the other day at LGW and they said they were looking at being ready fir the 380 in Summer/Autumn 2008. With that timeframe allows for a glitzy fanfare at LHR and then a nice quiet launch at LGW. Althought they will be limited because all the other B+S routes won't be able to take the 380.

Would be fun site at the satelite seeing the beast's tailfin towering over all the other VS flights in the morning. And I wonder if it could get under the new BA bridge?

Would it not be better to have a higher proportion of the aircraft as PE/J as they have much higher yields than Y?[?]
I'm not an economist so I'm probably wrong[:I]

However, if VS was to fill up with Y, I think that somewhere like MCO would be good as it's pretty much all holiday travellers who don't need a variety of flights to suit their needs like biz travellers do.

Cheers,
VS045

Originally posted by HighFlyer
If it does go 2 config, im betting all the glitz and glamour is done with the first config that will be LHR-JFK, then MCO slips in quietly as the ugly little brother

Think you could be right there.

I wonder if VS would merge the VS15/16 and VS27/28 flights onto a single A380 (which would have the benefit of freeing up a 747 for other routes).

If they did this they could add in an A340/747 peak season quite easily (they did have 3x747s on the MCO run on peak days last season).

Would seem a sensible thing to do.

{edited for spelling [:I] I blame the Jack Daniels!}

[HighFlyer]

Would it not be better to have a higher proportion of the aircraft as PE/J as they have much higher yields than Y?

Ex-LHR yes, but ex-LGW the B&S routes are primarily Y/PE (hence the different configs for the 744s) and would why VS seem to be looking at two configs for the A380.

Although W is the highest yielding cabin per square metre for all

Althought they will be limited because all the other B+S routes won't be able to take the 380

This is what i thought, than none of the other ex-LGW flights suit an A380, so VS would essentially be buying into a workhorse soley for MCO. Still, with 3 flights a day in peak season, we cant deny the popularity of the route!

I wonder if VS would merge the VS15/16 and VS27/28 flights onto a single A380 (which would have the benefit of freeing up a 747 for other routes)

Gosh, can you imagine ... if so, it would probably result in my flying to MCO from MIA to avoid it [:(]

{edited for spelling I blame the Jack Daniels!}

Ah, good old Jack

Im very interested to find out what the future holds for the A380s bound for VS. Please dont take anything i have said as gospel, im just passing on what i have been told by various crew, and all bets are off until the plane is actually delivered, but its very interesting to hear of the developments and that an A380 in VS livery is looking to be a certainty.

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
While I agree that VS will put the new aircraft on 'high density routes', I am surprised at MCO.

Makes perfect sense to me. Replace both daily LGW/MCO flights with one A380. Lower flight costs and a free LGW slot.......

I would imagine that it will be used on high density routes- so MCO would fit that mold quite well really- as would other popular routes like JFK. I do also remember SYD via HKG being rumoured for the 380. MCO btw is now 380 ready and I believe LAS could be as well along with SFO and JFK etc.This is the reason why SQ is using it on the LHR-SIN run- its high density and they can fill it!

AS for an arrival date for VS- its anyones guess but I wouldnt be surprised if it is delayed further.

I wouldnt also mind betting on VS launching a new livery on the 380 after all 2000 (or was it 1999) was the introduction of the current silver livery and the livery prior to that only lasted for 8 years! So who knows.....it would make sense as you cant believe that VS would bring in a whole load of new a/c and then change the livery within 18months of their arrival it would be a waste of paint and money!!!

SQ were due to get the a380 this year BUT i have noticed that there adverts in the press and also on the exit of the central area at LHR now dont have the slogan 'SIA first to fly the a380 in 2006' the 2006 has been dropped! Considering the massive amount of delays this a/c has had I think SQ arent planning for it to arrive prior to the new year.

Btw look out for a380 signing to be placed on one gate at LHR t3 ala Frankfurt style in preparation for the arrival of the 380- was supposed to be Thursday but has been changed to early may.

Did anyone else notice the report (can't find a link now) in the press about Richard Branson being snubbed for the "welcome the 380 to Heathrow" event. Apparently BAA are holding a big beano in one of the Terminal 3 lounges but it won't be the clubhouse. Given that Virgin are going to be the only UK-based airline to be operating it, the report said that Mr B wasn't too chuffed.

Chris

[HighFlyer]

Originally posted by cshore
Did anyone else notice the report (can't find a link now) in the press about Richard Branson being snubbed for the "welcome the 380 to Heathrow" event. Apparently BAA are holding a big beano in one of the Terminal 3 lounges but it won't be the clubhouse. Given that Virgin are going to be the only UK-based airline to be operating it, the report said that Mr B wasn't too chuffed.

There is a thread about this in the Clubhouse forum with the proposed information for the arrival of the A380 into LHR. I am trying to figure out a way of coordinating my work schedule with a visit to LHR to watch her arrive!

Link here for members

Thanks,
Sarah

[Bazz]

Found this interesting pieceon the VS website. I don't think it has been mentioned before but it does confirm what we thought and might stop some of the speculation regarding proposed routes.

Thanks Bazz,
Did anyone enter the competition?

2008 and it wont be doing MCO. Will be doing JFK and SFO then maybe HKG-SYD and DXB