A380 Divulgação/Airbus
Commercial
Aviation
/ Middle East
A big mistake?
Qatar Airways CEO says A380 is an error
By: Gabriela Ramos
On: 6/15/2021
A380
Divulgação/Airbus
Recently, according to Aerotime Hub, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker says he is in doubt about the future of the airline's A380 fleet. According to him, the luxury aircraft has no future in Qatar's fleet.
In the Simple Flying webinar, Al Baker commented that the aircraft does more harm than good to the company and the environment. “The biggest mistake we made was buying the Airbus A380. (...) We landed the A380 simply because it is not a fuel-efficient plane,” he said.
Al Baker also said the company is focusing more on more fuel-efficient aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
According to data from planespotters.net, Qatar has ten A380s in its fleet, with each unit costing $445.6 million. As for the A350 and 787, the company has 53 and 47 units, respectively.
However, Qatar says that, in terms of its sustainability plan, it would swap its A350s and 787s for other more fuel-efficient and carbon-efficient aircraft if “Boeing and Airbus introduced new generation aircraft”.
Al Baker says, “Qatar Airways invests heavily in aircraft with lower emissions. We do not allow the average age of aircraft to exceed ten years.”
In 2001, Qatar placed an order for two A380s, becoming the ninth customer to purchase the aircraft. In 2007, during the Paris Air Show, it ordered three more units of the giant aircraft, and in 2011, at the Dubai Air Show, it ordered five more.
The A380 is equipped with technologies that have made it one of the best on the market, such as its monitors and flight management and navigation systems, as well as its in-flight passenger entertainment system. Comfortable seats and well-designed restrooms are also highlights of the aircraft.
However, the 2000s brought complications to the A380's operations. A global financial crisis, the tragedy of September 11th, rising oil prices, a heightened awareness of the environment, and now a pandemic, the A380 no longer seems to serve the purposes of airlines.
With the crisis caused by the Covid pandemic, other airlines have also questioned the status of super jumbos.
Lufthansa, for example, took out of operation its penultimate A380, which went into long-term storage at facilities in Teruel. Although the aircraft are valued at $100 million, there are no interested buyers.
Etihad Airways also dumped its last A380, which also went into long-term storage.
Another example is Malaysia Airlines, which is preparing a retirement plan for its Super Jumbos.
However, on the other hand, Emirates and Qantas are two companies that, despite currently having their A380s out of operation, intend to get their fleet of A380s back to the skies soon.
Gabriela Ramos
Gabriela is the latest addition to the editorial team of our website, having provided us with her solid background in editing, publishing and photography, and her interest and training in aviation history and historiography. His good taste and common sense and great cleverness and sagacity in the selection of themes and materials greatly enriched our vocabulary and narrative style. Gabriela brought unusual predicates and came to stay, helping to point the way of success of our portal.
   
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