Airlines around the world are facing difficulties with the super-sized aircraft A380, known as "the hotel in the sky." While it has the advantage of carrying many passengers at once, the aging airframe leads to frequent malfunctions, and since it is a super-sized aircraft, the compensation scale for delays is also significant.
According to Bloomberg News on the 29th (local time), the A380 aircraft of Australia’s Qantas was scheduled to depart from Singapore to Sydney on the 14th but was delayed for several days due to technical issues. This aircraft was also stranded in Singapore due to a fuel pump failure while operating the Sydney-London route on May 7.
British Airways' (BA) A380 aircraft has recently been stationed in Manila, Philippines, for over 100 days. This aircraft barely returned to Heathrow Airport in London in June, but only flew for 7 days in the following 30 days. The exact cause has not been revealed, but there is a strong possibility of structural defects.
The A380, featuring a two-deck structure with four engines and a complex structure comprising around 4 million parts, incurs higher maintenance expenses compared to other aircraft. In fact, due to its super-sized nature, if a delay occurs due to mechanical defects, airlines have to bear enormous costs during the compensation process.
Furthermore, due to the aging of the A380 model and the strengthening of safety regulations, the maintenance expenses incurred by airlines operating this aircraft are also increasing gradually. Since January 2020, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a total of 95 airworthiness directives related to the A380, which is double that of large Boeing aircraft during the same period.
EASA stated, "The A380 is a large composite aircraft that requires more meticulous maintenance compared to other aircraft," adding, "There should not be a negative perception towards issuing airworthiness guidelines for safety. Safety is the top priority."
The A380, manufactured by France's Airbus, is the largest passenger aircraft in the world, having commenced commercial operations in 2007. Its large size allows it to transport many passengers at once; however, its low fuel efficiency results in significant losses when seats are not fully occupied, leading airlines to push for its retirement since the pandemic. However, due to a lack of large aircraft to replace the A380, airlines have been operating this aircraft until recently reluctantly.
In fact, as the deliveries of large aircraft such as the Boeing 777X and A350 have been delayed, airlines have indicated that they will continue operating the A380 for the time being. British Airways plans to proceed with cabin upgrades for the A380, and Emirates Airlines is also expected to maintain A380 operations for the next 10 years. In the past, Tim Clark, president of Emirates Airlines, likened the A380 to a giant vacuum cleaner that can gather more passengers than any other aircraft.
Bloomberg News reported that "the A380 has witnessed an unexpected revival as global travel demand has recovered after the pandemic, transporting many passengers. However, safely operating this aging super-sized aircraft is becoming an increasing expense for airlines." It added, "In a situation where newer and more fuel-efficient aircraft are scarce, airlines that own the A380 have no choice but to continue operating this model."