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Airbus by The End of 2020


Large models such as the Airbus A380, A340 and Boeing 747 are among the types that have suffered the biggest cuts from airlines.


There hasn't been a year like this for airlines in 2020, with so many types of planes flying for the last time.


In some cases, this is long overdue and the consequences of fleet renewal are long overdue. On the other hand, the fleets victims of the world crisis accelerated their departure.


Some enjoy the hubbub outside of the service. The others stole their last without realizing it. Others appear to have flown in their airline colors one last time, although an official decision is yet to come.


And when it comes to the guys whose futures are scrutinized, big is no better. Faced with less heavy burdens and poor prospects for a recovery in previous demand in the short and medium term - particularly in the long-distance market - older and larger organizations have already borne the weight of pensions.


The Airbus A380 is perhaps the most important type whose widespread decommissioning comes with the uncertain prospect of a return plane.


Air France has become the first airline to permanently recall the superjumbo, accelerating plans for the premature shutdown of 10 of its A380s by the end of 2022. Across the German border, Lufthansa has withdrawn all of its A380s of future planning.


Qatar Airways, meanwhile, does not expect its 10 stacks of A380s to return for at least two years, while another Middle Eastern operator, Etihad Airways, also with a strong fleet of 10, waits. " sufficient willingness to reassess the viability of [the A380] ".


Cirium's fleet data as of December 8 shows there are 22 A380s in service - and 219 in stock. Three people have retired. These figures exclude the three A380s that Airbus maintains as test aircraft.


The A380 program was already in difficulty before the crisis. In 2019, Airbus announced the end of production of the type after the airframe struggled for years to gain new business or even follow-up from airlines outside Emirates. The Dubai-based carrier has eight more orders and production will end in 2021.


Singapore Airlines, the second largest operator, has decided to put an end to seven of the 19 A380s put on hold due to the crisis.


Meanwhile, Qantas has said that while most of its long-range planes are expected to resume operations over time, there is "significant uncertainty" about when the flight altitude will support its 12 A380s.


Another type that has been hit hard by the crisis is the Airbus A340. Data from Cirium's fleet shows that as of December 8, the number of A340s in passenger or cargo service had halved, from 118 to 50 at the end of 2019. The number of A340s in stock fell from 70 to 120 and the number increased from 157 to 175.


In any discussion of existing large bodies, the Boeing 747 naturally occupies an important place. British Airways, once the largest operator of 747 passenger jets, had 31,747-400 in service as of March. Four months later, the airline announced that none would return to service. "It's a heartbreaking decision to make," said Alex Cruz, then director of BA.


In June, Qantas shut down half a dozen of the remaining 747 passenger planes six months ahead of schedule. Lufthansa has also stepped up its 747-400 retirement plans. Previously intending to operate the type until the end of the decade, the carrier extended the deadline to 2025.

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