Frankfurt The rumor alone is causing a stir in the aviation industry: is the giant jumbo Airbus A380 coming back to Lufthansa? There has been speculation for months, but now it’s not just specialist portals like Aero.de at the beginning of the week that are writing about corresponding considerations at “Hansa”. There are also reports from the company’s pilot circles that the topic is being discussed at management level.
Lufthansa does not make an official statement and refers to statements made by CEO Carsten Spohr a few weeks ago. Spohr had explained that if demand was very strong, Lufthansa could consider bringing back some A380s. But he added: “I wouldn’t count on that option.”
One thing is certain, however: Contrary to what was announced during the pandemic, the return of the double-decker can no longer be completely ruled out. In fact, there is a lot to be said for this idea, but there are also some hurdles.
The current run on flight tickets speaks in favor of reactivation. In the Lufthansa configuration, the A380 can carry up to 519 passengers. This would make the giant aircraft ideal for those routes that are in particularly high demand. For example, Lufthansa used a Boeing 747 on flights to Mallorca at Easter to meet demand. Certain routes to the USA are also currently being booked very well.
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In addition, the A380 may not be a success story. At the end of last year, Airbus delivered the last one – to Emirates. Since no new jets have been ordered in recent years, production has since ceased. But the double-decker is not “dead” because of this. Emirates continues to rely on him. He will also remain in service with British Airways. The major airports still have the necessary infrastructure, such as double-decker passenger bridges.
The super jumbo is far from history
However, the argument with the greatest weight is the fleet structure of the “Hansa”. During the pandemic, Lufthansa management decided to greatly reduce the number of so-called four-engine jets. The A380 should be taken out, but the Boeing 747-8 should remain.
Instead, the group wants to use twin-engine aircraft on long-haul routes, which are considered more efficient. In addition, they can be utilized more optimally because they are somewhat smaller. It is easier to continuously find a sufficient number of passengers for them. That is why the airline group opted for the Boeing 787 (Dreamliner) and the Boeing 777-X in addition to the A350.
The problem: The US aviation group cannot deliver. With the Dreamliner, the US aviation authority FAA wants to accept every single aircraft. The background to this are major failures by Boeing in the terrible crash of two Boeing 737 Max. The 777-X, in turn, was supposed to be delivered with a delay in 2023, but it is now clear that it will take even longer.
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Lufthansa has two options for filling these gaps. For one thing, management can access aircraft that other airlines no longer accept. For example, Boeings 777-300ERs are under discussion here. The aircraft manufacturer could thus alleviate the frustration of the customer Lufthansa for the time being. Used aircraft are also an option.
Or you can use your own planes that shouldn’t fly anymore. This includes CEO Spohr above all the Airbus 340-300 and the Airbus 340-600. “That’s our own buffer,” says Spohr. It cannot be ruled out that the A380 will soon join them. Although Lufthansa has already returned six superjumbos to Airbus, the group still has access to eight.
A reactivation would be a great effort
However, there are major hurdles. For one thing, the A380 would do little to solve, in the short term, the major aviation problems caused by staff shortages. Even if the double-decker can transport more than 500 people in one go, they would have to be processed. But this is where the problem is at the moment.
In any case, it would take a long time before an A380 could fly again in regular operation. The jets are “permanently parked”. All measures are designed for long-term preservation of the aircraft. It would probably take up to twelve weeks to get the A380 operational again. The costs are correspondingly high. Lufthansa does not come out with an exact number. The pilots would also have to be trained again first, the A380 has not been in use at “Hansa” for months.
When it comes to bringing the double-decker back into the fleet, it is more likely to be used in the coming year. Nobody knows what air traffic will look like then. The current travel boom will be partly a catch-up effect. How long it lasts is unclear. So the effort involved in “unparking” the A380 needs to be carefully considered.
Should the fat ship nevertheless experience a rebirth at Lufthansa, it would be a celebration for many aviation enthusiasts. CEO Spohr also says about himself that he “would be the happiest man” should that happen. The double-decker is considered to be extremely comfortable, offers space even in the Eco class and is extremely quiet on the road. And it is the last great innovation in commercial aviation.
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