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Airbus welcomes A380 operations in India

• Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation approves A380 operations in India

Airbus welcomes the news that the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation has approved the operations of the Airbus A380 in India.

“This is good news for Indian airports and the Indian flying public. The A380 is the world’s most fuel efficient aircraft in service with the lowest operating costs per seat and the highest revenue generating potential which benefits the airlines and the travelling public. For the Indian flying public, the A380 offers the world’s most comfortable flying experience,” said Dr. Kiran Rao, Airbus EVP Strategy and Marketing.

                                                                 Photo credit: Airbus images

A booming economy, a growing middle classe, migration, urbanisation and tourism are all factors pushing India to become one of the world’s fastest growing aviation markets.  Larger aircraft like the A380 combined with higher load factors make the most efficient use of limited airport slots and contribute to rising passenger numbers without additional flights to capture this growth.

As recently confirmed by London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest A380 airport, the Airbus A380 lets airports maximise efficiency and revenue potential by offering more passenger seats with the same number of flights.

The A380 is the world’s quietest large aircraft inside and out, making less than half the noise of its nearest rival around airports. In recognition of this, in 2012 the A380 won an award from the UK’s Noise Abatement Society for its quiet operations. It is also one of the greenest aircraft, with unmatched fuel efficiency.

So far, over 120 A380s have been delivered to 10 of the world’s leading airlines. Over 50 million passengers have enjoyed the A380 flying experience and the fleet has accumulated some 150,000 flights and over 1.2 million flight hours. The A380 has visited nearly 160 airports of all sizes and in all continents of the world.

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India needs over 1,040 aircraft worth US$145 billion in next 20 years

Demand for larger Eco-efficient aircraft

 According to Airbus’ latest market forecast, Indian carriers will require 1,043 new passenger (1,020) and freighter (23) aircraft valued at US$145 billion between now and 2030 to satisfy surging annual demand. India’s market for new aircraft makes it the world’s fourth largest in both number of aircraft and value.

Indian annual passenger traffic growth rates of 7.2 per cent are well above the regional Asia Pacific average growth rate of 5.9 per cent and the world average 4.8 per cent.

Of the requirement for 1,020 new passenger aircraft, some 860 will be for growth and 160 to replace the eldest aircraft in the existing fleet of 327. By 2030, this means that India’s passenger fleet will more than triple to some 1,180 aircraft. The new passenger aircraft include 646 single aisles like the A320 and A320neo Family, 308 twin aisles like the A350 XWB and A330, and 66 very large aircraft such as the A380.

Growing urbanization and population concentrations combined with a growing middle class and dynamic economic growth are driving demand and this trend is expected to continue. Despite near term challenges, the Indian economy is forecast to continue expanding, helping India’s growth in domestic air travel to reach even higher growth rates of nearly 10 per cent annually, making it one of the fastest growing aviation markets anywhere in the world.

“By 2030, India’s economy is forecast to be the fourth largest in the world creating exceptional potential for growth in the aviation sector. Through our Indian industrial partnerships we are proud to boast that every A320 today is partly made in India,” said Dr. Kiran Rao, Airbus Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, and President of Airbus India. “Our engineering and industrial footprint in India supports over 2,000 highly skilled Indian jobs throughout our supply chain, and this figure is growing.”

Airbus’ partnership with India dates back almost 40 years. Today, half of all A320 forward doors and all flap track beams are produced in India. Established in 2006, the Airbus Engineering Centre India (AECI) in Bangalore employs over 270 highly skilled local engineers working in high end analysis and design on all Airbus products. The center is expected to grow to 450 over the next three years. Airbus recently established a second pilot training center in Noida (this one in cooperation with CAE and Interglobe) to complement the existing facility in Bangalore. Combined, they will have the capacity to train up to 5,000 pilots and maintenance engineers per year. Airbus’ market share of new aircraft orders in India is over 70 per cent.

Flight Global

Malaysia Airlines provides first glimpse of A380 in new livery

Photo Credit: Flight Global

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) today revealed the design and specifications for its new A380, featuring a bright new livery and luxurious cabin layout. The aircraft will accommodate 494 passengers in a three class configuration, seating eight passengers in First Class, 66 in Business Class and 420 in Economy. All seats are fitted with the latest individual in-flight entertainment systems, USB ports and satellite telephone facilities.

Photo Credit: Flight Global

MAS Group CHief Executive Office, Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said, ' The A380 will showcase our latest premium offering in products and services. This will be our flagship aircraft to launch our exciting new levels of comfort, luxury and convenience in long haul travel'. Altogether, MAS has order six A380s. The carrier is set to become the eighth operator of the aircraft when it begins commercial service with the type between Kuala Lumpur and London in July.




Airbus Media 

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Airbus to offer higher-weight A380 from 2013

THAI’s first A380 makes maiden flight from Toulouse

THAI’s first A380 makes maiden flight from Toulouse

Next phase will be cabin installation and aircraft painting

The first A380 for Thai Airways International (THAI) took off for its maiden flight on 5th March following completion of the airframe assembly and system tests in Toulouse, France.

After a successful flight of more than four hours, the aircraft landed in Hamburg, Germany, where it is entering the next phase of production, covering cabin installation and painting.

THAI will become the ninth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2012. The airline has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its premier routes from Bangkok to Europe.

Airbus Media

Hong Kong Airlines May Cancel A380 Over ETS

 

Hong Kong Airlines Ltd. has threatened to cancel an order for 10 Airbus A380s in the latest escalation of tension over the European Union’s decision to extend its emissions trading system (ETS) to aviation, the South China Morning Post reported. The Hong Kong-based carrier, which is backed by China’s fourth-largest carrier, Hainan Airlines Co. Ltd., said it is under pressure to cancel its order for 10 A380s with a list value of $3.8 billion, the Hong Kong newspaper said.

“We cannot do something which is against our country’s interests,” it quoted airline president Yang Jianhong as saying.A spokeswoman for Airbus said the Hong Kong Airlines orders “have been placed in the order book and they remain there”.Others officials declined to comment. “I cannot confirm this and I have no comment on this,” said Kenneth Thong, Hong Kong Airlines’ head of corporate governance and international affairs.

In Brussels, Isaac Valero-Ladron, EU spokesman for climate action, said the European Commission does not comment on “possible commercial decisions.” Plans to announce the high-profile A380 deal between Airbus and Hong Kong Airlines were called off at the Paris Airshow last June because of China’s anger over the ETS, industry sources said. But Hong Kong Airlines confirmed its A380 order some months later.

So far, China Southern Airlines is the only mainland Chinese airline to order the A380. Two of the five planes it ordered are already in service on the Beijing-Guangzhou route. In February, China banned its airlines from participating in the European Commission’s ETS unless they were given approval.
At a daily briefing on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei repeated China’s opposition.

“The facts show that Europe’s actions are unpopular and will have no effect,” he said. “We hope that Europe can face squarely the international community’s concerns and devote themselves to solving the issue, not further complicating it.”

Airbus to offer higher-weight A380 from 2013

Airbus is to offer a higher-weight version of the A380, which will be available for delivery to customers early next year. The airframer will raise the maximum take-off weight to 575t, corresponding to a 6t increase on the current heaviest variant and 15t above the basic specification. It will stretch the range of the double-deck aircraft by some 150nm, said Airbus, taking its capability to around 15,500km (8,350nm) at current payloads. Airbus said the higher-weight version would be offered for introduction to service early in 2013.

The airframer's most recent aircraft characteristics document, from November last year, listed six weight variants for the passenger type. These had maximum take-off weights ranging up to 569t for the WV002 variant. Airbus said the heavier version would include a 3t increase in maximum zero-fuel weight as well as maximum landing weight, with a resulting 3t increase in payload.

Before the type entered service with Singapore Airlines in 2007, Airbus performed rejected take-off tests with the aircraft at a weight of 575t. The proposed freighter would have had a take-off weight of 590t.
Engine Alliance is to have a higher-thrust version of its GP7200 powerplant ready for service entry by early 2013, to support the higher-weight version.

The engine, designated the GP7272, will be rated at 72,000lbs (320kN), said Mary Ellen Jones, president of the General Electric-Pratt & Whitney joint venture. With 2,000lb of extra thrust over the current version of the GP7200, this engine will enable services such as Dubai-Los Angeles. Engine Alliance is offering the GP7272 to customers, although none has selected it so far.

The powerplant manufacturer has confirmed, however, that Middle Eastern operator Qatar Airways has selected the GP7200 for its 10 A380s. "We have nearly 600 orders to date, giving us a 56% market share of total engine orders for the A380 so far," said Jones. Qatar Airways joins Emirates, Air France and Korean Air, which between them have 31 A380s in operation, as well as Air Austral and Etihad Airways, as GP7200 customers. A further 14 A380s powered by GP7200s will be delivered by Airbus this year, said Jones.

She said Engine Alliance is focused on campaigns to place GP7200s with Hong Kong Airlines and Russia's Transaero, and is presenting the engine to China Eastern Airlines, which has expressed an interest in the aircraft.

 Source:  Flight Global

THAI signs Flight Hour Services with Airbus for its A380 fleet

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW – Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) has signed a ‘Flight Hour Services -Tailored Support Package’ contract with Airbus to provide aircraft inventory and maintenance support for its A380 fleet.

The contract, which will run for 15 years, provides an extensive scope of A380 line replaceable units and spare parts availability, component repairs, logistics services, and tools availability, as well as APU and nacelle services to Thai Airways. A dedicated Airbus on-site team will assist Thai Airways’ daily spares management ensuring reliable on-time aircraft operations.

Captain Montree Jumrieng, Managing Director of Thai Airways Technical Department said: “This long-term commitment recognizes our confidence in Airbus to deliver the best possible service for our new flagship product. Airbus has developed a customized and tailored offer to perfectly match our operational needs. Having the Airbus supporting our aircraft inventory and maintenance will thus enable us to optimize our A380 daily operations around the world.”

Didier Lux, EVP Customer Services at Airbus said: “We are delighted to welcome Thai Airways International as our newest FHS customer. This is a real sign of trust from the national airline of Thailand, and the start of a long term and successful relationship. We are committed to providing highest quality tailored services to our customer to secure their operational needs by bringing Airbus experience and expertise.”

THAI is one of the longest standing Airbus customers in Asia, having ordered its first A300B4 in April 1977, and today operates almost 50 Airbus aircraft. The airline will become the ninth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2012. THAI has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its premier routes from Bangkok to Europe.

Airbus FHS contracts have now been selected to cover almost 100 aircraft from operators of A330, A340 and A380 aircraft. This new contract reinforces Airbus position on the A380 maintenance market, having now FHS contracts to support 41 aircraft.

Airbus Media

The A380 is the largest, jumbo-size (by size and weight) commercial passenger airliner in the world today. For more info about the A380 aircraft and its family, visit Airbus.com/A380