Emirates to launch A380 service to JFK
 

Hi! Just saw the news update on the Emirates site that mentions the A380 going into service soon on the JFK route - I wonder how they are going to differentiate themselves?

Also, wonder how much longer the waiting will be for bags, security etc etc., given that it's a massive number of people on board?

Emirates A-380 has about 450 seats, similar to Singapore Airlines and also to the just announced configuration for Qantas A-380, most 747-400's have something I guess around 385-395 so not such a great difference. There are also 747-300's in the skies with around 500-512 seats, so it is not much of a difference.

The A380 is still a dud....

Wrong place, wrong time....

Old technology.

The airlines are committed, but they are not very happy at this time with the product. They have to make the best of the situation but nobody is ordering anymore of these dinosaurs.

AAflyer

<< Old technology >> - Incorrect

<<The airlines are committed, but they are not very happy at this time with the product.>>

Perhaps you could provide a link to those airlines that are not happy with the product to back up your claim

<<They have to make the best of the situation but nobody is ordering anymore of these dinosaurs.>>

Do you want to bet on that!

Geordie

Geordie: While I don't understand what AAFF's post has to do with the orignal post, it isn't wrong. The A380 has, so far, been a pretty big failure. They likely need to sell another 400-500 of them, just to break even. There has not been a major order since the BA order quite some time ago. What is worse, all of the likely airlines to order it have already done so. And they have ordered in numbers that make further orders seem unlikely.

As for the original post, I think Emirates will differentiate themselves the way they always do, with top-notch service in the front cabins. Cutting edge in-flight entertainment. And ultimate luxury in First class. I am certain that none of the US airlines will be able to compete with them.

Travelgourmet - The commercial success or failure of the A380 is not what I was disputing. What I was disputing with AAFlyer are the following statements that he made:

1. Old Technology

2. Airlines that have ordered are unhappy with the product

3. Nobody will order the plane

Simple as that

I'm sure Emirates will come up with something special, hopefully better than what Qantas have done, they've really a missed an opportunity in my book

Geordie

I'm not sure Emirates service is upto scratch anymore. I just flew them from India to Nairobi and back via Dubai. It seems to me that with the massive expansion, some of their cabin crew are still not adequately trained in terms of the great service that they are renowned for!

Still, as someone mentioned head and shoulders above all major US airlines where it's difficult to get a simple smile from the FAs.

<i>2. Airlines that have ordered are unhappy with the product

3. Nobody will order the plane</i>

I said that?

I don't believe so....

Please read my OP again.

I spent some time going through the Qantas A-380 details and it does seem they have not managed much special. Premium Y looks ok, Business clas though looks not much different, lie flat, but nothing at all like the Singapore Airlines Business Class !
Their First does not look that impressive either, again, compared with SQ, it will be interesting to see what Emirates come up with.

&lt;&lt;Please read my OP again.&gt;&gt;

Here's your quote word for word

&lt;&lt;The airlines are committed, but they are not very happy at this time with the product. They have to make the best of the situation but nobody is ordering anymore of these dinosaurs.&gt;&gt;

and I summarised your quote as follows:

Airlines that have ordered are unhappy with the product

Nobody will order the plane

I realise you may not have a great grasp of the English language but which part of your quote did I misunderstand

Geordie

James A - I think the worst part are the green seats in economy - awful, although I agree the self service bar in economy is a nice touch

Geordie

Perhaps it's you that has a hard time understanding....

I said, &quot;nobody <b>IS</b> ordering&quot;, not that nobody ever will...

but you go ahead and put your own spin on it.

As far as the &quot;happiness factor&quot; is concerned, I meant that the following:

The A380 is old technology, it does not save any substantial cash on fuel consumption, and with the current fuel price crises, the A380 is looking more and more like a dud.

Wrong place, wrong time.

Get it?

Does anyone know, which of the two JFK bound flights is going to be the A380 one? Reason I ask, I will be flying in mid-August and the website mentions that after the launch flights, one of the regular flights will be switched to the A380.

The A380 will be operating EK201/202 on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in August and September, according to some posts in airliners.net. The other days still the 773ER. It will be daily from October 1.

I wish they would concentrate on a faster airplane as opposed to just a larger one.

Faster airplane? We had some - Convair 990 and of course the Concorde. ;) Just get yourself a time machine and turn back the clock.

Ahh, the Concorde, but alas, I wasn't such a mileage hound then so never got more than a cabin tour.

Just curious, how does the fuel compare with the 747-300 and the Airbus A380, seeing that they hold about the same amount of people?

An A380 has significantly more room than a 747-300/400, or even the larger 747-8. It's the airlines' decision to put under 500 seats for its longhaul A380, so more high-yield business class seats, and fewer coach. [When Emirates get more A380s, you'll see some configured for shorthaul routes to get people to/from India, for example; which will have a lot more seats than 500.]

If you're talking about similar class ratio, then an A380 is about as efficient (i.e. fuel burn per seat) as the current champ in the longhaul class - the 777-300ER. When the 747-8 arrives, it'll also be about the same.

These 3 aircrafts are all significantly more efficient than the 747-400, which is why you see the 744 being replaced by 773ER in so many longhaul routes by so many airlines - like Air France, ANA, Singapore, etc.

But AAFF's point is that this is still an aluminum aircraft with 4 engines. So, it is indeed 20th C technology. Just like the 773ER or 748. The 787 and A350, when they arrive, will be significantly more efficient then the 380, 773ER and 748.

Because seat revenues for international, long distance aircraft are the highest, the A380 is the most efficient plane if it is full. Which, of course, is the goal of every airline. Regional aircraft are the worst because of frequent take off and landings. Those routes will be seriously curtailed in the future. The A380 maybe turn out to be a savior for international travel as no other current aircraft can deliver it's level of efficiency.

As far as regional airline upgrading their current fleets that is not going to happen because there will be a plethora of new, lightly used aircraft on the market due to other airlines going out of business.

&quot;Also, wonder how much longer the waiting will be for bags, security etc etc., given that it's a massive number of people on board?&quot;

Convenience will not longer be a factor for airlines as they will be happy just to be in business and you will be happy just to be able to fly to your destination.

The 773ER and the upcoming 748 already matches the 380's efficiency in terms of cost per seat miles. And the 787 and 350 will surpass it.

The 380's advantage is at slot controlled airports. Like LHR, NRT, and in a limited sense JFK. Each pairs of slots at these airports are expensive and hard to get, so you want to have the highest capacity to serve these airports.

And also, on markets that have frequencies restricted by government regulations.

Airports will reconfigure and markets will adjust in the short term.

And as far as the A350 &amp; 787.

Who knows. They still have a long way to go and the market may not support them at all. A 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency is not enough to offset fuel prices.

<i>A 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency is not enough to offset fuel prices.</i>

when your fuel bill is 1 cool billion then 20% does make a BIG difference....

<i>And as far as the A350 &amp; 787.

Who knows. They still have a long way to go and the market may not support them at all.</i>

Well, if the market doesn't support these planes, then that doesn't say much for the future of air travel. In terms of size and range, both of these planes are aimed at the bulk of the international routes being flown today.

&quot;bulk of the international routes being flown today.&quot;

You can probably remove the word bulk out of the equation.