Where is the A380 flying to next?

[nykelaz]

Is T1 capable of handling A380s?

[KeithMEL]

Is T1 capable of handling A380s?

Yes it is. The QF A380 is now serving SIN T1.

[stargold]

Now, now...

The evidence points in the other direction. SQ have been canceling SIN-LHR flights due to poor load factors and poor yields.

SQ has only cancelled SQ308/SQ319 - the only 744 flight remaining on LHR. One could in fact turn it around and say, "Maybe the A380 took away so much traffic away from the last remaining 744 flight that it became too unprofitable to operate that flight" - this would be a much more feasible conclusion than saying "The A380 drove the customers away so we're cancelling the 744 flights" If that were really true, cutting the 744 flight would be like putting on a bandage on your left hand when your right hand is the one that has a cut...

BA have not been canceling LHR-SIN flights.

BA's capacity on the route is substantially lower than SQ's, so it was natural that the downturn would hit SQ harder than BA.

BA currently operate 1x 744 and 1x 777 daily, which (assuming 70J config on 744) gives 28F, 118J, 70W and 312Y per day.

SQ operating the three flights (1x 744, 2x 380) gives 36F, 170J and 1211Y per day.

It means SQ offers 50% more J seats than BA, and a staggering 290% more Y seats than BA every day. (although SQ does not have W)

Example: If the flights were full before, then suffering a 20% decline in overall demand means SQ now faces 7 less F, 34 less J and 242 less Y per day. That's basically the 744 flight gone, because it represents roughly 75% of the 744 capacity.

On the other hand, a 20% decline in demand for BA on the route only means a reduction of 6 less F, 24 less J, 14 less W and 62 less Y per day. That is nowhere near sufficient to cancel the flight because they will cut a lot more capacity than the decrease in demand.

[nykelaz]

Yes it is. The QF A380 is now serving SIN T1.

Oh, I'm refering to CDG.

[KeithMEL]

Oh, I'm refering to CDG.

Oh...

[zvezda]

Now, now...
SQ has only cancelled SQ308/SQ319 - the only 744 flight remaining on LHR. One could in fact turn it around and say, "Maybe the A380 took away so much traffic away from the last remaining 744 flight that it became too unprofitable to operate that flight" - this would be a much more feasible conclusion than saying "The A380 drove the customers away so we're cancelling the 744 flights"

However, we know that SQ308/319 always had the least demand among SQ's three LHR flights, so there is no evidence that demand has shifted due to aircraft type.

[zvezda]

9V-SKK (051) has been spotted.

No, 9V-SKK has not been built yet. 9V-SKJ had to be towed back into the hanger and someone mistakenly assumed she was 9V-SKK.

[stargold]

However, we know that SQ308/319 always had the least demand among SQ's three LHR flights, so there is no evidence that demand has shifted due to aircraft type.

Nevertheless, my previous post is somewhat more likely than

The evidence points in the other direction. SQ have been canceling SIN-LHR flights due to poor load factors and poor yields. BA have not been canceling LHR-SIN flights.

which has a natural implication that SQ's A380 has been an active contributor to lower demand for SQ on SIN-LHR, whereas BA did not have to cancel any flights because they do not operate the A380.

As I outlined in my previous post, SQ has a huge amount of capacity on LHR-SIN compared to BA. If the decrease in demand is assumed to be same across airlines, cutting the flight from 3 to 2 may have a positive effect for the overall profitability of the route for SQ with no huge penalty in revenue (if 2x A380 is sufficient), whereas BA might find that unless it cuts the 777 which would involve cutting capacity beyond the slack, it is unable to improve profitability on the route.

[zvezda]

... which has a natural implication that SQ's A380 has been an active contributor to lower demand for SQ on SIN-LHR....

There was no such implication. Increasing supply does not cause a reduction in demand. Increasing supply does, all else being equal, cause a decrease in load factors. Increasing supply at the same time that demand is dropping for other reasons means that either yields or load factors or both will suffer.

[sumitsan]

I may go to Malaysia/Singapore in April 2009, if I can get more time off from work. I will be going thru LHR since I have a wedding to attend to in London. I just hope the SQ308/319 will be active on certain days with the Megatop when I travel 'cause I'm always looking forward to travelling by the Megatop, not the A380, even tho I've been on the 744 many times (including other airlines) and never on the A380. But that's just me.

I think the only, only way I'll ever go on the A380 is if that becomes the only plane that travels long haul flights among all airlines. Hurts me to say this, but once the Megatops are phased out, and if SQ does not have any other passenger 747s, I will most likely take another airline where the flight will be operated by a 747 (if possible) instead of taking the SQ A380, even tho' the inflight service of SQ is basically unmatched by other airlines.

[stargold]

All other things being equal, the only cabin that I would think about choosing 747 over A380 is First Class because I really like the nose and don't care too much about the closed-door Suites.

In Business or Economy, there is a huge difference in the amenities and quality of product. There is no way I would give that up just to sit in a plane that I cannot see the exterior from when I am sitting inside

[dcflyer]

In Business or Economy, there is a huge difference in the amenities and quality of product. There is no way I would give that up just to sit in a plane that I cannot see the exterior from when I am sitting inside

Agreed. Business class is so vastly superior on the A380 compared to the 747 that I don't miss First much when flying business on the A380. Economy actually looks doable whereas economy on the 747 is simply miserable in comparison.

[Nick C]

9V-SKK (051) has been spotted.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MXWPJdxDc0...2-05,1,m,1.jpg

No, 9V-SKK has not been built yet. 9V-SKJ had to be towed back into the hanger and someone mistakenly assumed she was 9V-SKK.

Short lived excitement

Is T1 capable of handling A380s?

I believe T1 has 2 A380 ready gates.

[zvezda]

Short lived excitement

I'm excited that 9V-SKG, 9V-SKH, and 9V-SKI are all outfitting in Finkenwerder.

[Nick C]

I'm excited that 9V-SKG, 9V-SKH, and 9V-SKI are all outfitting in Finkenwerder.

Any news regarding the interiors of the second batch of 380s? I guess the deal for the fittings should be inked by now and with the current climate I think it will be the same layout as the first 10.