European Aircraft Industry: Airbus A380 upgrade waits in the wings at Paris Airshow

The Airbus A-380

Airbus is preparing to roll out a novel A380 wingtip design to rally support for the world's largest passenger jet by improving its fuel efficiency, according to a prototype seen on Saturday.

A Reuters photographer got up close to the roughly three-meter-high split wingtip which has been installed on an A380 belonging to the Air and Space Museum at Le Bourget airport, where the Paris Airshow opens on Monday.

It confirms an upgrade reported by Reuters and Usine Nouvelle on Friday. Airbus declined comment.

Drag-reducing 'scimitar' split wingtips have been used on Boeing's medium-haul Boeing 737 MAX, but never on a jetliner the size of the A380, which has a 79.9-metre (262-foot) wingspan.

The aircraft sporting the prototype 'winglet' will be towed out to join others on display at the June 19-25 air show, giving airlines a glimpse of an improvement that Airbus hopes will turn around the present weak sales of its flagship double-decker

Read more: Airbus A380 upgrade waits in the wings at Paris Airshow | Reuters

European Aircraft Industry: How can Airbus widen the appeal of the A380? - by Murdo Morrison

Emirates Airbus-380

Airbus sensed it could be a long haul, but almost a decade after the world’s largest airliner took to the skies for the first time, A380 sales remain underwhelming.

Although, at 324, orders are edging towards acceptability seven years after entry into service, the A380 has yet to become a game-changer in the long-haul market the way the Boeing 747 was in the 1970s and 1980s.

One airline, Emirates, has put the A380 at the heart of its fleet strategy. But for other blue-chip carriers, from British Airways to Singapore Airlines, the quadjet remains a niche product, filling a role on the densest trunk routes.

Some see Emirates’ faith in the A380 as a good thing for Airbus – the Dubai-based airline has stuck with the type even after cancelling a deal in June for 70 of Toulouse’s other big widebody, the A350.

Emirates’ commitment for 50 more superjumbos at November 2013’s Dubai air show takes its total orders to 140 – more than four in 10 of all A380 sales, and well over a quarter of the backlog. However, sceptics view the Gulf carrier’s unique business model as evidence that the A380 will struggle to replace even the dozens of 747s still in service – let alone find customers in new market segments.

For Airbus, the great hope is that passengers wowed by the roomy environment – and not just the novelty – of the airliner will convince existing A380 operators, and possibly their competitors, to place further orders
Read more> ANALYSIS: How can Airbus widen the appeal of the A380? - 6/20/2014 - Flight Global

European Aircraft Industry: Turkish Airlines considering acquiring Airbus A380 or Boeing 747-8 says chairman

Airbus A380 and Alpha Jets

Flag carrier Turkish Airlines is continuing feasibility work on acquiring either the Airbus A380 or Boeing 747-8, Chairman Hamdi Topcu said on Thursday.

Turkish Airlines, Europe's fourth-biggest airline, is also continuing talks with Germany's Lufthansa on whether the two companies can form "synergies," Topcu said in an interview with CNN Turk that was broadcast live.

Read more: Turkish Airlines considering acquiring Airbus A380 or Boeing 747-8, chairman says | Reuters

European Aircraft Industry: Airbus A380 superjumbo gets boost with $8.3 billion order

Airbus A380

Airbus' flagship A380 got a fresh lift Wednesday after leasing firm Amedeo firmed up its order for 20 of the superjumbo aircraft in a deal worth $8.3 billion.

The two firms signed the purchase agreement at the Singapore Airshow. The European plane maker had suffered some setbacks last year after the discovery of cracks on some of the giant aircrafts' wings.

But John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer for customers, said: "This firm order from Amedeo is a clear recognition of the A380's long-term market appeal. "The A380 is the best tool for airlines to capture growth and increase profits."

Amedeo, formerly Doric Lease Corp, is the world's biggest manager of leased A380s.

Amedeo chief executive Mark Lapidus said the signing of the agreement "is a great day for aviation as we offer airlines a new, more flexible way to access the unique benefits of the A380 through our tailored leasing solutions".

He added in the statement that "as world air traffic continues to double every 15 years and airport infrastructure and slots do not, the A380 is the best solution for airlines to capture that growth".

Speaking at a media briefing, Lapidus said: "In comparable comfort and configuration the A380 will offer lower yield cost economics and better product offering.

Read more: Airbus A380 superjumbo gets boost with $8.3 billion order - Economic Times

Aircraft Industry: Apple iPad debuts on Airbus A380

Airbus A380

Malaysia Airlines cabin crew today began using iPads to enhance inflight services to customers travelling on the airline’s A380 flights. The iPads are part of Sita’s innovative digital cabin crew solution, CrewTablet, which will enable crew members to quickly and easily access passenger and operational data.

Crew members of Malaysia Airlines will trial the new solution—which the airline has branded MHcrew—for six months. MHcrew is much more efficient than traditional paper-based processes, enabling accurate, timely and superior service delivery to passengers. “Passengers spend more time with our cabin crew than other employees.

As key front-liners, we rely on our cabin crew to provide an outstanding guest experience to passengers. The MHCrew solution will help our crew by providing lots of information at their fingertips so they can be more responsive to our guests,” said Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Group CEO, Malaysia Airlines.

“Use of tablets is exploding worldwide and at Sita, we recognise that these new mobile devices offer airlines and airports a new way of working. But introducing this new technology in a secure way and integrating it into existing processes demands time, resources and specific skills that many IT departments cannot allocate,” said Francesco Violante, CEO, Sita.

Read more: Apple iPad debuts on Airbus A380 - Emirates 24/7

Air France Airbus A-380 starts service at Dulles

Just before two Monday afternoon, the world’s largest passenger jet, an Air France Airbus A-380, rolled down the runway at the Washington-Baltimore Dulles Airport.

Rob Yingling, of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, said a new fueling pit was installed to accommodate the extra fueling capacity on the Airbus. A few taxi-way signs were moved as well.

One of the things they also had to change at Dulles were the jet ways. Since the Airbus has two floors, there are now two separate jet ways for both the lower and upper levels.

For more: Airbus A-380 starts service at Dulles | WJLA.com