Why US Carriers NEVER ordered the Airbus A380

[@Sacto1654]

The reason is simple: all of the major US international airports don't have the type of severe landing slot restrictions that London Heathrow has. Indeed, the A380 was specifically designed to get around this restriction.

[@gunnarkaestle]

Maybe not specificly for Heathrow alone, but for a valuable number of limited landing slots. If there was an attractive connection you could as an airline try to use one slot for 500+ passengers or you needed two.

[@calvindmncn8085]

In fact in france, they're a polimic here, saying that's us government put pressure on us company for taking USA over French.

[@cdpond]

Not so sure about that specific requirement being a show stopper, but the requirement for dual level boarding gates was, as any airport that serviced them needed to create new or retrofit existing gates to comply with the loading/deplaning logistics. We have a couple of gates at the international airport in the city I live in that were created specifically for A380's, and now that the A380 program has been scrapped it's largely a wasted endeavour.

[@DeputyNordburg]

A380 fuel cost per passenger is higher than 747, 777, 787.

[@ls93780]

There’s also the fact that many smaller types of planes have such long ranges now the spoke and wheel type of system that really made jumbos money makers has slowly become less and less relevant. The newer models of 777 and the A350 could fly Londoners seeking a tropical vacation directly to Cairns Australia with no need for connecting flights, with much less worry about being able to fill the plane fully.

[@unkokrispy]

The A380 is known to require a 85% load factor to break even. And when you’re talking about 600+ seats, that’s a lot of butts needed to just pay the bills.

[@thatguyalex2835]

So, why did many airlines only fill it up to 450 seats? Isn't the maximum capacity 850 seats? I know they need space for the business class, but that is wasted potential.

[@cuddlycocaroach]

@@thatguyalex2835 well wouldn't they make more money from less economy more business + first class seats?

[@thatguyalex2835]

@@cuddlycocaroach Potentially, depending on the amount of money they charge per seat. But they would get more passengers, and save on fuel economy per passenger if the airline filled the plane to the brim. So, monetary and environmental efficiency must be balanced out.

[@Lukas-qf2uh]

so basically it makes more sense for the more densely inhabited and frankly crowded European market.

[@basardoang5199]

@@thatguyalex2835 MMJJHHIIJ8KKKKLL7IOOOLLLKLPPPPPPPPPPPP0

[@777coletrain]

"not to a hub but to smaller regional airports" continues showing more hubs, some of which are more busy than LAX or JFK

[@amtrakatl]

“Smaller regional airports” Atlanta: Am I a joke to you?

[@tyrantgaming7492]

Yeah, Dallas Fort Worth international, as well. It has 7 runways, and is a major hub for the central United States.

[@jamessimms415]

Sounds like English arrogance

[@gunnarkaestle]

@@jamessimms415 Atlanta is a giant domestic hub, but internationally (A380 was designed for long haul services such as the 747) it is a minor hub. images.cdn.centreforaviation.com/stories/2017/nov/16/Routes_from_ATL.jpg

[@Cmonster-hr6tq]

DIA in Denver with 8 dif runways and direct flights to eroupe and some Asian countries and they were a airport who made it even thought there are no a380s flying there they can easily fit them they made it because they thought they were going to have them fly there

[@tylerHphoto]

Atlanta is literally the busiest passenger airport on the planet. Not a "smaller regional airport".

[@tylerHphoto]

@@supermarionathan1426 2019 Passanger numbers Atlanata 110,531,300 JFK 62,551,072 Atlanta ranked 1st globally while JFK was 20th.

[@mikkomalmstrom5700]

Well, Atlanta can be considered a super large regional airport, but it is more a regional airport rather than an international one. It ranks seventh as a gateway hub for international flights in the U.S.

[@kcaviation3024]

@@mikkomalmstrom5700 doesn’t change the fact that is it the busiest and one the largest airports in size in the world

[@mikkomalmstrom5700]

@@kcaviation3024 it does in the context of a large double decker airplane used mainly for flights between international hubs.

[@gunnarkaestle]

@@mikkomalmstrom5700 From the airport facilities it is just the number of passengeners which hop on or off or transit which counts: number of security check posts, airbridges, toilets, check-in counters, luggage transportation infrastructure, etc. But there might be another metric for this A380 question and that is the number of channeled transportation needs : Sum of passengers multiplied with their travelling distance. I have not the data available, but I could assume that from Atlanta a large number of short haul flights start with a regional destination, whereas New York handles more long haul flights to international hubs. "A very heavy concentration of domestic services is evident, but international services have been established [..] to the extent that Atlanta could be considered to be a minor international hub." centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/atlantas-airport-belies-the-citys-relatively-low-ranking-on-the-global-economic-scale-381488

[@parkerjon29]

Don’t forget that Emirates is heavily subsidized so profit is not a concern.

[@d.b.cooper1]

Tbh given how big they've got they probably could churn a profit if needed....Have to remember most that investment has been to promote Dubai....which has grown immensely as a tourist hotspot, layover hub & a place to live/work partly due to Emirates.

[@BikingVikingHH]

Subsidized by our money and tax dollars LOL

[@fbpo1699]

Dont forget American Airlines had 3 profitable quarters since 2005 and is only in existence because of Chapter 11 and tax-dollar bail outs.

[@d.b.cooper1]

@@fbpo1699 Yup, One of the biggest recipients of corporate socialism from the taxpayer in subsidies/loans etc too. On top of that consider their miltaryly division which has a huge monoply on all US govt contracts for which they overcharge by insane amounts & use to fund other parts of their business. Even Trump of all people knew he was getting ripped off & reufsed to sign off on deals till they dropped prices. They spend insane amounts of lobbyists too which sums up just how much they rely on government from controlling regulation themselves to hand outs. At least UAE/Emirates have a reason as tourism has quickly become a huge part of their economy due to their status as a global airline hub....They're also well run & could easily be profitable, but they invest in their planes, service, staff & more.

[@dctraveler7507]

@@fbpo1699 you seems to don’t know the difference between chapter 11 with government loan and government subsidies. Chapter 11 is a pre bankruptcy protection program if you will, you can use the time to negotiate with your creditors to lower or forgo your debt, and re-struck company structure, you lose a lot of freedom as creditors will take a look if they are happy about it. Government loans means low interest rates loan but the company have to payback with the interest. Government subsidies is a grant you don’t have to payback regardlessly what. US airlines did not making a profit from the government loans. As if you borrow money from bank, you can not say you made huge profit from the bank !

[@andrew.jooste]

I remember flying on the A380 about 3 years ago, it was honestly an amazing experience…

[@TheTallMan50]

I bet it was... after you got over the shock of the air fare.

[@andrew.jooste]

@@TheTallMan50 It wasn’t actually that expensive

[@TheTallMan50]

@@andrew.jooste That depends on what your idea of 'expensive' is.

[@quintuscrinis]

£2,000 (or $1,500) to fly all the way from London to Sydney at New Year. Pretty good value for money frankly.

[@foodmore]

As an aircrew, it was a terrible aircraft to work on. Too many passengers and too much work. Yes I know that is my job, but I have better work environment on other aircraft like a350 or 777. 380 is just like working overtime.

[@iannarita9816]

The cost of 4 engines in a A380 vs the 2 engines of a Boeing 777 has been a major factor as well. This is also effecting the Boeing 747. Though the 747 is better set up for cargo operations.

[@petercdowney]

It's not that simple actually.

[@RandySnarsh]

@ian narita I agree, 747 feels so much better for cargo.

[@747heavyboeing3]

A 380s weren't designed as freighters. What was Airbus thinking?

[@protonneutron9046]

@@747heavyboeing3 they WEREN'T thinking. They just wanted to say they had produced the largest airliner in history. That's the problem with gov ownership and control of private enterprise.

[@747heavyboeing3]

@@protonneutron9046 Exactly.

[@maxbergan2289]

Did you just call Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world, a “smaller regional airport”

[@billolsen4360]

Like saying Tokyo is a nice medium sized city.

[@matthewgaines10]

Yup...pretty much. It wasn't this content provider's finest moment.

[@martinishot]

They are calling a plane the industry gave up on a great success. What do you expect.

[@cdavlogs5597]

He called KATL, KSFO, KSEA, KDAL, KMCO, KMIA, KDEN, KBOS and many more “smaller regional airports"!

[@galescott8433]

Yeah?? Really?? Atlanta airport is one of the busiest airports!! My brother lives by that airport and trys to never get close unless he has to! Huge!!

[@jwc3104]

"A380 saw great success" I stopped the video laughing out loud.

[@watchyosleep7417]

Glad I’m not the only one who found that funny

[@asdax8311]

Key word: "saw"

[@hc8181]

Best plane I flew in by a mile

[@hc8181]

Like the 787max 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tryithere]

That's what I was thinking. Nothing like starting off a video with a lie.

[@shrimpflea]

Although it is a technological marvel the A380 was not a success. They only built 242 and it was a loss financially for Airbus by their own admission.

[@glennchartrand5411]

I dont think it qualifies as a technological marvel. The most important metric for an airliner is how much does it cost to operate? When a 300 seat airliner costs $9 000 an hour to operate the 600 seat airliner needs to cost $18,000 an hour ....the Airbus 380 costs $22,000 an hour. It was too expensive to operate, it took too long to develop and it was designed for the Airlines of the 1980's instead of today's.

[@shrimpflea]

@@glennchartrand5411 Fair enough

[@karan_IV]

@@glennchartrand5411 also airbus didn't thought of it's future after pax service. Boeing 747 is a great freighter but nothing like that is possible with A380 as of now

[@kenoliver8913]

They made design mistakes. Not building it with freight in mind was the biggest (the 747 was originally designed as a freighter). Not developing new ultra-high bypass engines another. Oversizing the landing gear and wings for future stretches (with consequent weight penalties) another. Not enough doors for fast loading another. The 380 didn't HAVE to be a commercial failure but Airbus kicked a lot of own goals.

[@Horizon301.]

It has broke even so I think it was a success really given it’s so iconic and it’s revolutionised the industry massively. It’s cost effective when filled, if not then twin engined aircraft are more economical. I think people ought to realise that the Dreamliner, after Boeing has sold 1000+ is only just going to start making a profit.

[@patrickmcintee5892]

I love how KSFO and ORD got labeled as “Smaller regional” airports that can’t harbor the plane and yet airlines fly the A380 into both of them no problem lol

[@tamasmasable]

Calling ORD a "smaller regional airport" is basically just a complete disconnect from reality. It's one of the largest and busiest in the world

[@adoberoots]

And not to mention Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world!! Also, Denver is a huge airport and busy as well.

[@emreyurttas5051]

Yeah ORD is a major hub for two of the big three! What regional airport?

[@braddavis4276]

AS AN EX DELTA AIRLINES EMPLOYEE FOR OVER 35yrs , I STARTED BACK IN 1978 YOU KNOW WHEN FLYING WAS SO MUCH FUN 👍💯. OUR LARGEST JET WAS THE L1011 A REALLY GREAT AND WELL LOVED BY ALL OUR CUSTOMERS, MUCH LESS THE BEST SAFTY RECORD FOR MAINTENANCE OF ANY AIRCRAFT ESPECIALLY THE DC-10 IN GOOD OLD McDONALD DOUGLAS NEW ALL ALONG THE PROBLEMS AND WERE NEVER REPAIRED AND CAUSING MANY FATALITIES 🫣🫣😫😡🤬!!!! DELTA’S EARLY 747 FLEET WAS THE ORIGINAL 100 SERIES AND LIKE MOST US CARRIERS DOMESTIC SERVICE EXCEPT UNITED TO HAWAII 🌺 AND NORTHWEST AIRLINES ( ORIENT) TO ASIA. SO ONLY 2 AIRLINES SAW THE 747 FROM THE 100 TO THE HUGE 747-400. DELTA AIRLINES TOOK OVER NORTHWEST AIRLINES AND ACQUIRED THERE 13 747-400 . IT WAS GREAT DELTA HAD BY THEN BECOME THE LARGEST AIRLINE IN AVIATION , AND ITS INTERNATIONAL ROUTES WERE NOW PERFECT FOR THE GREAT AIRCRAFT ✈️🌎✈️🌍✈️🌎 TO BE FLOWN IN NEW ROUTES . LIKE ATLANTA TO HONOLULU I FLEW IT FIRST CLASS ROUND TRIP FIRST CLASS YEP ✈️👍 UNFORTUNATELY WITH AIRBUS AND ITS A-330 A-350 THE 747’S BECAME FULE INEFFICIENT BIG TIME 😢👎👎 !!!! THE VERY VERY LAST 747 LEFT BOEING FOR ATLAS CARGO JUST THIS MONTH FEBRUARY 2023 . I FEEL SO VERY LUCKY AND VERY PROUD TO HAVE BEEN APART OF WON OF BEST IF NOT THE VERY BEST FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL AIRLINES IN HISTORY ❤️✈️❤️✈️😁!!!!

[@kristopherloviska9042]

I flew Lufthansa business class once on an A-380 from Frankfurt to Delhi. Hands down it was the smoothest flight I have ever taken. An absolutely amazing plane.

[@keiththoma2559]

One major thing you missed is the US carriers did essentially have A380s via their intl JV partners. For Delta why buy a 380 when Air France will take care of it same for United and Star partners.

[@c182SkylaneRG]

You pretty much got to the heart of the reason towards the end of the video: US-based airlines were already looking to divest themselves of their existing 747's, which were a proven, reliable aircraft, because more, smaller, aircraft were proving to be more economically viable for them than fewer larger ones. In that market, there's no way they were going to buy something even BIGGER than a 747, if even that aircraft was already too big.

[@gimp6019]

The A380 was just about 40 years to late to see US sales

[@jean-jacquesngac3366]

Hi...! Congratulations for your comments....clear and easy to understand...please do again on other events aviation...!

[@kenoliver8913]

But Airbus never much intended it for the US. It was about ultralong over ocean routes (which twins were not then allowed to fly) and ultradense Asian routes (where there were not enough landing slots). What sunk the jumbos was relaxed ETOPS rules and the Chinese airport and high speed rail building boom.

[@gimp6019]

@@kenoliver8913 I said that a long time ago

[@gimp6019]

@@kenoliver8913 I have said that a long time ago and I agree with ETOPS killing the quad jets

[@therealsnow]

Yeah US carriers didn't buy the 747 for its capacity but rather it's range. Once smaller planes could match the range many got retired.

[@SoCalGuy20]

I love flying out of LAX. There’s always A380s there from multiple airlines. Although during COVID, I’ve only seen China Southerns. Hoping the others will return. QANTAS has some parked by their hanger. Lufthansa is still flying the 747-8 in, which I love.

[@747heavyboeing3]

747-8 is a real airplane

[@stevenv2190]

@@747heavyboeing3 Long live the queen (747). There has been some BA A380s there recently. I see mostly Emirates A380s there often. LA planespotting.

[@747heavyboeing3]

@@stevenv2190 Yes I have a few A 380 videos of them there. They are massive indeed.

[@jp7585]

@@747heavyboeing3 Totally true.

[@brandonaldaymachuse6669]

And Lufthansa will probably keep flying the 747 because its the greatest commercial jet ever produced. Ive heard their 747s should last at least another 10 years or more.

[@SomeOrdinaryJanitor]

as a big plane nerd, i actually shed a tear to hear the 747 is on its way out, but its completely understandable why.

[@AntoniaAtaide]

In Brazil, we just have one flight (EK 261, EK 262, Dubai/São Paulo - São Paulo / Dubai) and nothing more than this, however, that's a dream for many but just a few can afford it.

[@Hamburglar96]

It was too big and expensive maintenance. U.S airlines prefer fuel saving twin engine and 787 solve that problem.

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

In addition to most U.S. carriers adopting the point to point model.

[@paulsz6194]

jeffrey skoritowski I also think that low-cost carrier’s (LCC’s) helped set off that point to point model. Legacy carrier’s saw the growth of thease airlines and made legacy carriers realise that passengers were willing to pay less, and fly to a secondary airport in exchange for much cheaper prices . For some people, the secondary airport is actually closer to their final destination, so it suits them well. But legacy carriers had to better compete with LCC’s by lowering their prices and flying more efficient single-aisle twin jets more frequently, or or in some circumstances, flying their own mainline or regional carriers into the same airport as the LCC’s.

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

@@paulsz6194 Exactly. The Boeing 757 was the perfect aircraft for this. Unfortunately 911 devastated its sale's and by the time things recovered it was gone.

[@Horizon301.]

@@jeffreyskoritowski4114 more like the A321 came along which ended up being a better aircraft. The B757 was hugely popular and most of the American carriers would happily wish to see a redesigned B757

[@NickyD]

@@jeffreyskoritowski4114 the planes that hit the towers were 767's through

[@PRH123]

The us airline I work for had many on order, and full preparations were underway for their use. The orders were cancelled when the 1 year production startup delay occurred. So if that hadn’t happened they would be in our fleet now.

[@prestonlee9965]

Unlikely considering that many airlines like Air France and BA are already retiring them. Unless your cargo, that may be a different story.

[@PRH123]

@@prestonlee9965 yes cargo :)

[@kenoliver8913]

One thing that killed the 380 is not mentioned here. When the 380 was designed twin engine planes weren't allowed to fly more than two hours away from an airport in case an engine failed. This was changed for the 787/A350 because engine failure is now very rare. The 380 (and 747) lost its monopoly on these routes.

[@RaysDad]

I worked for McDonnell Douglas in "New Business" when the department generated the business case for a super jumbo. Extensive market analyses made it clear that our company wouldn't make enough return on the development costs of such a plane. At the time our two aisle plane was the MD-11, so we were aware that airlines were becoming reluctant to purchase even a three engine plane. It was a surprise when Airbus decided to go ahead with the A380. It seemed like a vanity project.

[@monkeybusinessasusuall5467]

Rip McDonnell Douglas

[@billolsen4360]

I saw plenty A380's last time I was at LAX. Impressive in size, it seems impossible for them to fly but they take off just fine! 😏 They still looks like overfed babies to me, though.

[@Realthinx]

no way a thing that huuuge can fly

[@gunnarkaestle]

@@Realthinx Huuuge is ok, but heavy becomes a problem. I like the double decker approach, and I enjoyed the low noise level when I flew with one a couple of years ago.

[@jameshogue1639]

It's not the take off of the 380, it's the landings that look scary. Too much air playing under those wings.

[@sbolden123]

💯😂

[@LunarJim69]

Flown on them twice. Once with Emirates, once with British Airways. Beautiful massive aircraft and a shame more were not sold.

[@redballthing]

A380 just didn't came in at the right time. It's still a beautiful and gorgeous aircraft that will be in our hearts forever. ❤ Luckily we have people like Nick covering these kinds of topics! I hope you can keep up with the great work and continue making stunning content like this! Edit: Your voice is very soft and nice. One of the best men voice I had ever heard before 😃

[@FoundAndExplained]

Couldn't agree more!

[@volleyballjerry]

I have flown in the A380 in economy (Asiana) and it was a fantastic experience. Fourteen hours between LAX and Incheon. Beautiful aircraft. And we were full to the gills. Total of 480 passengers and a crew of 29 (4 pilots and 25 cabin attendants). But the economics is what it is. When COVID-19 hit, that was the nail in the coffin for the A380 and the B747.

[@cgjason7168]

I felt that is Pan Am still exists, they gonna buy tones of A380s

[@lukamarko1037]

The brand technivly still exists, but they have no planes, no personnel, no anything

[@dynasty0019]

Doubt it, one of the reasons for their downfall was overcapacity with too much 747's. Pan Am was already trying to go for the smaller widebodies by ordering A300's and A310's, but by the time those entered service it was already too late.

[@kadenzheng9159]

And Md-12ss

[@gunnarkaestle]

Was Pan Am a frequent Airbus buyer?

[@FabianHunor]

@@gunnarkaestle Pan Am ordered 13 a300s and 21 A310s (according to airfleets.net); they also owned 74 747s 17 Dc10s and 12 Tristars. Most of the A200s and A310s were probably destined to partly replace their widebody fleet as well as make it younger. TWA (another now dead airline with a large quantity of 747s and Tristars) was also planning to replace their MD80s and MD90s with Airbus A320s, but these purchase plans ultimately were cancelled due to the airline's 3rd (and final) bankruptcy in early 2001.

[@buttermaster5621]

0:33 :Nick:Never see big planes in the US Boeing 747 of united airlines:Am i a joke to you?

[@glennchartrand5411]

For the same reason they stopped buying 747's. They got rid of the "hub and spoke" air routes.

[@billolsen4360]

I always intendeded to fly on a 747 but never go the chance. Now it looks like I'll have to get elected President of the US to fulfill that objective.

[@glennchartrand5411]

@@billolsen4360 You'll never have the joy of making two transfers on the same trip either. I really prefer the smaller planes.

[@aufstiegundfall]

The A380 is an eye-catcher. I love watching em land and take off I also had my greatest flying experience flying Emirates A380 by far the most comfy flying experience ever

[@spl1011]

"A380 saw great success worldwide" *checks notes* - didn't break even and soon no longer in production.

[@meccavs50]

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[@kentfrederick8929]

American does have major hubs, including JFK/LGA, ORD, DFW, and LAX. But, airlines like BA, Air France, Lufthansa, Emirates, and Singapore all have one hub. LH has Frankfurt and Munich. U.S. carriers have multiple hubs for overseas service. AA has service to Europe from JFK, PHL, CLT, MIA, DFW, ORD, and LAX. It has Latin American service from MIA and DFW, with limited service from other hubs. Its Asian service flies out of DFW, ORD, and LAX. The Phoenix metro area keeps growing, meaning that AA will start to add more overseas service in the future. It's the same situation with United and Delta. United has EWR, IAD, ORD, IAH, DEN, SFO, and LAX. Delta has JFK, ATL, DTW, MSP, SLC, and LAX. Meanwhile, AA and DL are starting the fight over Seattle. Delta has been expanding, and AA and Alaska are expanding code sharing, while AA plans to add international routes. Except for a very few select routes, such as JFK or ORD to LHR for AA, ATL to LHR, CDG, or AMS for Delta, or ORD or EWR to FRA for United, the A380 would be way too many seats for any given flight. It doesn't make sense to buy only a few planes of any type, let alone a few super-jumbos.

[@4realjacob637]

This guy also doesn't understand that domestic flights don't even exist much in Europe. Whereas in the United States there's nearly a thousand domestic flights a day. Obviously doesn't understand hub cities is when Chicago and Atlanta are massive Plus Memphis and Louisville have massive cargo airports.

[@jerryofsanfrancisco]

I am happy that I had the experience to fly on the 747 and the 380. Fond memories of disappearing aircraft!

[@RickySTT]

I’ve never so much as seen an A380. Do they fly into SFO?

[@jerryofsanfrancisco]

@@RickySTT Due to the pandemic many airplanes are grounded. I gave up searching for flights from San Francisco. When the travel environment returns to some normalcy I am certain there will be A380s to/from SFO. No American airlines bought the airplane. Asia & the Middle East have A380. From what I read Air France recently retired the last A380 which I flew on several years ago & liked it very much. The odds are I will never again fly on the plane as it will not fly where I want to go.

[@jonpetter8921]

@@jerryofsanfrancisco I ve heard Emirates will use them htoughout 2030-35

[@jerryofsanfrancisco]

@@jonpetter8921 I just saw two reviews of the new Emirates premium economy cabin which is quite beautiful. In the interview on one review Emirates is confident that the A380 will work well for them.

[@davidmiller1379]

The a380 won't be around much longer. I'm glad it had its chance and got to see one.

[@eopal-uk265]

european superority -

[@NoHatJack]

Same reason why I don’t get an 18 wheeler to deliver my pizza 🍕

[@markg6860]

I've never flown on an A380 and probably never will. I'm in Dallas, where (pre-Covid) AA had four daily 777 flights DFW-LHR, plus the one BA 777 flight. I'd much sooner have multiple departure options ... it's just more convenient. *** UPDATE Apr 8, 2022 *** AA's four daily DFW-LHR-DFW 777s are back and BA will be switching to an A380 for their LHR-DFW-LHR flights. (Heaven knows where all those passengers are coming from!)

[@carlosgamarrath244]

I dit 6 time coz live in Europe

[@anno-fw7xn]

i flown in a dremliner and than in a380 after this and many A380 is just better for the passenge more Quite and so on ; both bin the same ariline.

[@andrewdavidson665]

I will very much miss the A380s. They are just better to be in than even the more recent twin engines like 787 and 350. Roomier and quieter for a start. Shame.

[@markg6860]

@@andrewdavidson665 They appear to be coming back. QF's SYD-DFW-SYD flight has returned, but "downgraded" to a 787-9. I'm guessing QF7/QF8 will eventually revert back to an A380.

[@andrewdavidson665]

@@markg6860 yeah they’re not gone yet but their time is now winding down. It’s a shame because for those really long haul routes nothing comes close.

[@frankbebey3933]

Interesting note about that Fedex 727 you see landing and being taxied at 7:08. I believe it was the last Fedex 727, and it was being retired to its new home in Anchorage Alaska, on a small-plane airport named Merril Field. There was some buzz about it because there was a real question of whether or not the plane could land on that short runway. great video!

[@ZtephanEgerlein5783]

The flight characteristics of the A380 machine are awesome! It's not a bit cumbersome, on the contrary, it flies like a small, handy machine. It can land in wind forces that blow other planes off the runway! The toughest and most ingenious Airbus ever built! You've forgot the A350 in your Video!

[@NorthPaddle]

Interesting footage at 7:04. That was a FedEx 727 that was donated to the University of Alaska aircraft maintenance program in Anchorage. The footage was of the jet landing at Merrill Field, a small regional airport in downtown Anchorage, Alaska normally used by light single engine aircraft.

[@jettack531]

That was a fantastic video! Keep up the good work Nick!

[@FoundAndExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@PureDhan]

An American airline operating a A380 is more cursed than a Ryanair operating a Concorde

[@edmhie1]

That's why they require at least an hour of boarding time before the flight unlike the regular 30 minutes.......but the best experience is while you're on board. Very stable once it's cruising.......and the seats are roomy and the food. Perfect for a long haul.

[@filbao8113]

Never flown tho😥

[@mihirpanchal5754]

It’s also that Boeing 787 and the A350 wipe the floor with the A380 in efficiency. So the three major US carriers chose those instead of the a380.

[@handsfree1000]

In their determination to build a bigger better jumbo jet they didn’t think carefully enough about the demand for such a large and expensive aircraft. It’s a beautiful aircraft though

[@catbriggs8362]

Mega grocery stores found that, after a certain square footage was reached, their profits declined. There can be too much of a good thing.

[@relaxo916x]

"It’s a beautiful aircraft though" - I think the 747 looks better.

[@pancakes8966]

Sweetie this sounds like a love letter/sales pitch lmao good video tho love you’re content

[@Love2Cruise]

You forgot Southwest's livery on A380. If any US carriers can fill an A380, it'd be Southwest with a transcon service at $49 per person.

[@clubback]

Forget Southwest. Get Spirit Airlines to buy one and not put seats in it. Just have grab handles and a 1,200 passenger capacity.

[@Wolfennsteinn]

This channel should deserve more subscribers. You the man.

[@olympicnut]

"great success worldwide"? Sales don't justify that claim.

[@catsnchords]

I think he was referring to it's success with the airlines that liked it: Emirates, Singapore, Qantas, etc

[@narayanantheone]

Excellent video with great amount of information !

[@yacobgugsa2524]

2:37 One quick correction. There were no A380s used on the JFK-LHR route. BA uses Terminal 7 at JFK which can't accomodate the A380. I don't think there were any A380s used on EWR-LHR either.

[@thefinn2018]

i live in miami and a british airways a380 comes everyday i think its cool and i’m glad i get to see this beautiful plane

[@felixli5279]

The key reasons why the 380 failed in the longhaul market(i.e. the shortest production run of all civil widebody families in history except the L1011 Tristar and MD11) are the same reasons why the 321XLR is becoming increasingly successful in that market segment today - the decades long market trend/phenomenon known as 'fragmentation' started since the advent of ETOPS in the mid 80s. Key points: 1) 380 superficially seems to be a solution to severely slot restricted hub airports like LHR. However, since a high% of those pax on a typical 380 flight still need to connect to/from other flights at the hubs, more slots will still be needed for those increased connecting flights. 2) Famous wisdom/quote by AA CEO from decades ago: Airlines never lose $ because their airplanes are too small. But they often do when their airplanes are too big.

[@relaxo916x]

ETOPS - Engines Turn Or Passengers Swim

[@davidbrogan606]

As a passenger, I don't miss these huge aircraft at all. Embarking and disembarking is not fun. From an aircraft lover's POV I enjoy all the huge aircraft.

[@colino72]

No US airline bought the A380, but every aviation channel has done a YT video on why not 🙄

[@bftjoe]

And yet you watched each and every single one despite them all saying the same thing.

[@gregderrick5831]

I really enjoy your watching your great videos. I am an retired UAL Fleetservice employee and have worked at one time or another on most of the aircraft you cover starting with the 707s to the 787 Deramliners and most in between. Never the A380s. UAL never had them as you know hahaha. As a Fleetservice or Rampservice worker. I saw the huge engines that were on the 777s and later on the 787s. I was always curious as to why, if they could manufacture an engine as large as the 777s and 787s for these two wonderful sky-birds both to use 2 engines. Why didn't some engineer come up with the Idea to manufacture a large enough engine to use two of them on the 747 and an American made jumbo to rival the A380? Think this concept of mine over, and hopefully you can do a video for Jumbo engines on monster aircraft. Thanks my friend have a wonderful day and Fly Safe.........

[@fighter5583]

Why bother with a big aircraft like that when you have eight hubs?

[@benjohnson2183]

I dont remember the timestamp but whenever he said "the a380 was never used in a domestic market" can we take a moment to continue to realize the 747 is the far better version simply because boeing made a short version for a high capacity route Japan Air Lines needed

[@L33tSkE3t]

The A380 was not exactly a success. It's expensive, difficult to fill on the more point to point travel that exists in the US, can't land at a majority of US airports. Half of all A380s went to Emirates and it did not meet it's sales targets and don't have much use secondhand as freighters where the B747 was originally designed as a frieghter and can easily convrrt.

[@warehousetechtips]

Yes but cuz of the A380 more roughts were created and helped companies to make better engines

[@L33tSkE3t]

@@warehousetechtips The Trent 900 and GP7000 on the A380 were originally proposed for an unreleased version of the B747 in 1996 so their development was already underway before being proposed for the A380

[@jonpetter8921]

The B747 is a sardine cane compared to the A380 thought....

[@warehousetechtips]

Yes

[@L33tSkE3t]

@@jonpetter8921 Well Boeing managed to sell 1,558 of those "sardine cans" and Airbus only managed to sell 251 Aircraft which made the entire program unprofitable and is shutting down next year.

[@yengsabio5315]

Great aircraft the A380 is, but definitely expensive to operate esp. at these depressing times!

[@Kansasavation]

“Most of these flights are not to other major hubs but small regional centres” casually shows Atlanta and Denver

[@michaelhall9138]

Boeing looked into a 380 sized a/c years ago and decided it didn’t make economic sense.

[@billolsen4360]

Boeing's design would have looked more graceful, I'd hope.

[@kuden8844]

I've flew on A380 and 787. I gotta admit the A380 is much better for a long distance haul and very comfortable.

[@riliryrimaddyvia9630]

If only the A380 came out in the 70s

[@cow3210]

Would have made to much noise

[@dontrapani7778]

A real shame, I flew British Airways A380 from London Heathrow to SFO and it was a wonderful experience.

[@mr.voodoo9243]

The A380 was a beautiful aircraft, but she was a day late and a dollar short. In my opinion the 747 is still the more successful aircraft of the two. Not only in production and life expectancy but the historical importance of the 747.

[@JBM425]

Another thing that favored the 747 was the placement of the cockpit. By stationing the cockpit on the second deck, the cargo version could raise its nose to allow large roll-on/off cargo. With the A380, the traditional cockpit placement would require extensive modification to allow the nose to rotate similar to the Super Guppy, or lower the cockpit as Airbus did with its highly-modified Beluga A300-600.

[@anothercitizen4867]

Not ordering that behemoth was a stroke of genius

[@jansupronowicz1300]

To the best of my knowledge, no North American passenger airline went even for the domestic Boeing 747-8 model, let alone the foreign A380. Perhaps too bad from sentimental standpoint, but one cannot argue with economic realities.

[@portuguesnomundo]

Nice video ✈️

[@AirProGames99]

The A380 is really underrated.

[@galescott8433]

Yes i agree

[@galescott8433]

Thankyou. Understand now about one or two engines

[@galescott8433]

But so gorgeous Was accepted to be a flight attendant. I would want to fly on that plane?! Feel better on the big planes and four motors!!!

[@tariqsiddique4561]

Nice video 👍 brother Iam from London

[@alamgudiel1663]

Covid-19 be like yup! you won’t need them for a fee time

[@hansenhenry5438]

This channel is so amazing, you need so much more credit than what you get. Sad video 😂. God Bless & Merry Christmas!

[@FoundAndExplained]

God bless you for your comment thanks so much!

[@stealthg35infiniti94]

One of the things I hate about the super large planes is the time it takes to embark and disembark...The other thing is there's so many people on board that it sounds like Grand Central Station...Noise canceling headphones or earplugs are required.

[@filbao8113]

To me more are better

[@4k_papi_andrew]

Ryanair joins the chat to destroy a380 landing gear

[@Chrisw678]

I always wondered why they couldn’t turn off 2 engines while in flight. I’m sure there is a logical engineering answer just curios.

[@dynasty0019]

Because an engine without thrust is deadweight plus drag.

[@CineZoneYT]

Many airports in the USA would be equiped pretty well for the A380 because they are already equiped for the 747. Detroit for example has two gates with two jetways for 747 at different levels now used for the A350.

[@AubriGryphon]

As resources grew more scarce, the giants of the past simply couldn't sustain their bulk in competition with smaller, more nimble creatures. But, eventually, an ice age will roll around and the giants will rise again.

[@SuperKashiman]

There’s one huge reason you missed: trains. In the US we don’t have another viable option to go cross country besides planes. In Europe, pretty much any person traveling a distance that would be equivalent to most US domestic flights would use a train. So the demand for shorter regional flights simply is not there as compared to the US. And in the US, since there is so much demand for shorter regional flights, it doesn’t make sense to operate a plane that is almost solely focused on long haul travel. Great video, though!

[@seanthe100]

This really has nothing to do with the A380 though

[@SuperKashiman]

@@seanthe100 It has to do wth why American carriers didn’t purchase it

[@cherrymaedarlinecirunay5816]

It’s a considered process but still for higher costs imposible

[@DiamondAviator4]

Emirates has over 100 of these planes. Some airlines are retiring some or all of their planes. AirFrance and Thai retired theirs and I think Singapore airlines have retired a few.

[@jeffreymcfadden9403]

WHY? COSTS. cost to train maintenance, reconfigure hangars, beef up runways, etc. just not worth it. just too big. Boeing warned them,,,saying the 380 was just too big.(for NA market)

[@williamerazo3921]

But the 747 was not

[@dynasty0019]

@@williamerazo3921 The 747, when it was being designed, was specifically made to fit existing airport infrastructure of the 70's. There wasn't a need for taxiway expansions, runway strengthening, new hangars, etc. because the 747 can fit in anything made for a 707 or DC-8. At the time of the 747's inception, airports were already modernizing anyway so it's not like they're spending money just to accommodate one type of aircraft. The A380 did not considered put in consideration for airports and their limits.

[@TroysMilitaryHistory]

You must have dropped this around midnight! My first video for the day - hail Nick!

[@robertnorth631]

Well, I've never had so much flying as on Southwest . The flight attendance personnel actually seem to enjoy their jobs. Also, kudos to American Airlines for the same reason. From DFW I can go wherever I want (as long as the money holds out)

[@coyotelong4349]

Imagine a Southwest A380 haha

[@mikeplayz6980]

@@coyotelong4349 first all economy a-380 😂

[@evogsr4807]

I can speak from experience that Southwest takes great care of their employees. At least pilots and mechanics. The other positions i can't speak for

[@Interesting_Banana]

In my opinion, I believe they are avoiding giant jets after learning from the fall of TWA and Pan Am

[@jaso5114]

It showed up way too late to the market. Although it's an amazing machine, it will go down as one of the biggest flops in history

[@kfl16]

Pun intended?

[@thomasaquinas5262]

The A380 had to get airlines to make a multi-year investment in new big planes. Considering the pandemic, it was really fortunate they didn't. More to the point, the inventory of 747's, from almost new to archaic, really kept the demand down...

[@riliryrimaddyvia9630]

Imagine if in the future there will be twin engined 747 due to future innovations

[@FoundAndExplained]

We could do it today with the GE9X, Boeing looked at it for the Japan market.

[@TypicalJoseph]

Lol

[@MaxSupercars]

I think that will happen. 747 has a great advantage in it's design for freight. Last version 747-8 is the whole new plane in comparison with older ones. It got new designed wings from composite as well like other parts like rudder etc... We will see... 🙂

[@aarondewindt]

@@MaxSupercars Not really, at least not with the current GE9X. A twin GE9X 747 would have enough trust fly, albeit with low performance, but the one engine out requirement during takeoff makes it difficult for the design to be approved. You would need to fly with a smaller 747 which will probably near the capacity of the larger 777's.

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

The 777 has nearly the same capacity as the 74. If you consider the amount of effort it would take it's not worth it.

[@justtheflagguy727]

Why is the background music of this so calming

[@TysonIke]

A few years ago I saw Ann article with a rumor that United could get it to replace there 747s and increase capacity from 777 on some routes. Some of the 747 routes were sfo-nrt sfo-hnl sfo-hkg sfo-lhr sfo-fra sfo-pvg sfo-pek sfo-sin ewr-lhr ewr-nrt ewr-fra ewr-hkg ord-lhr ord-nrt. Instead United chose the 777-300er and 787 wich is a good choice.

[@johniii8147]

That’s all it was was a rumor. UA never had any serious interest in the A38O. . They just let Airbus pitch it for an adjustment of the 350 order

[@TysonIke]

I know it was only a rumor but an a380 in the new United paint could look cool and only about 5 of the listed routes make sense with the a380

[@johniii8147]

@@TysonIke They will probably eventual get some get a few 777x but that’s some years down the road

[@TysonIke]

John Iii yeah I agree. I think they would get 777x and 787 instead of a350 as there 777-200 and 767-400 replacement.

[@johniii8147]

@@TysonIke They still have those 350s on order order to keep getting pushed back so we’ll have to see what happens with that they ordered them actually almost like 10 years ago now

[@graysonrobbins2753]

As the grandson, son, of pilots, and former pilot myself? My first thought was: If there is a catastrophic incident, euphemism for a crash, if they drop one, they're going to kill 600 people.

[@mihastih]

They can grab the two ones Thai is selling for preety cheap and use them between JFK and LHR

[@markg6860]

Much better to offer multiple flights per day on smaller aircraft.

[@mihastih]

@@markg6860 yeah but why not, used a380s are sooo cheap to get. And they are more profitable if they only fly them on for example 6h flights than 10h (exponential fuel ussage)

[@markg6860]

@@mihastih But it comes down to achievable load factors and fuel cost (all it takes is another oil price spike).

[@matthewgaines10]

They don't want them.

[@bhawkpilot4714]

I miss seeing the Qantas at D16 daily at DFW. Now it is a Speedbird Super.

[@alexc1926]

Not related to the a380.. But it's funny how airline companies are running at a cheaper cut by flying two engine planes, cutting on services like food and luggage but yet prices still keep going up 🙄

[@moover123]

prices have dropped like crazy in the last decades

[@kikastra]

If there was still a Pan-Am style airline in the US, then they probably would have bought them, but it seems that the American airline industry's bread and butter is domestic, and the A380 doesn't fit that bill.

[@Susy5solo]

Greta shame as even in economy it’s comfier than the 777 when comparing both from the same carrier. I will be sad to see it go and be replaced by hordes of single isle jets p2p.....I actually appreciate the hub, being able to get off and stretch my legs after 8-9 hours in the air...

[@luccacerminaro8003]

I think they look wonderful in each fleet

[@hittrewweuy7595]

The A380 was already obsolete when it came out

[@justinsullivan5063]

I love your maps in particular - beautiful. Well done.

[@benjaminpengzhang7243]

Hi! I'm the reporter who wrote the Business Insider articles you cited in your video, which I enjoyed very much. I just wanted to point that a Vasu Raja from American America was referencing both Emirates and their partners at British Airways in his comment about funneling traffic into a single hub. At the time of the interview in Spring 2019, BA operated a fleet of 12 A380s along with more 40 Boeing 747-400 jumbo jets. Also, your segment about the operating costs of 2 Boeing 787s being cheaper than a single A380 is 100% accurate. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told me that it was much cheaper for the airline to fly 2 of their 787-9s with a total of 472 seats nose to tail than it was to fly a single A380 with 485 seats.

[@michaeldunne338]

Airbus' own site seems to say only 15 airlines used the A380: Singapore Airlines , Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Air, China Southern Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways International, British Airways, Asiana Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Hi Fly, All Nippon Airways ... Now I have enjoyed flying Emirates from JFK to Dubai, but doesn't seem like many used the A380s in significant numbers. Actually, aside from Emirates and Singapore, and maybe Lufthansa, seems the numbers used in the other airlines were quite modest - like from 3 to 12 planes. Hence only 251 or so of the A380s ordered in the plane's history.

[@EthanRawlins]

Been binge watching these for hours now haha