CDG From France, joined Sep 2007, 48 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 7676 times:
Airbus A380 with new Air France livery revealed
Today, the Airbus A380 sporting the new Air France livery was revealed in Hamburg.
This aircraft will start operating a daily Paris-Charles de Gaulle - New York-JFK route in November 2009.
Air France is the first European airline to offer its customers the comfort of the Airbus A380, and the first airline to offer transatlantic flights between Europe and America on this new very wide-bodied aircraft.
On board the A380, there will be three cabin classes and a total of 538 passengers:
80 seats in the Affaires cabin and 106 in Voyageur (economy) on the upper deck;
9 in the Première cabin and 343 in Voyageur on the main deck.
Equipped with four GP7200 engines specially designed by Engine
Air France has 12 Airbus A380s on order, four of which will start operating in winter 2009 and spring 2010.
Alliance, the Air France A380 will carry 538 passagers over a maximum distance of 13,000 kms. Among the new-generation aircraft, the A380 has one of the lowest fuel consumption rates per passenger.
DocLightning From United States, joined Nov 2005, 7477 posts, RR: 50 Reply 3, posted (5 months 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 7594 times:
It is an ideal route for the A380. Paris-New York has so much traffic that you can't have too much capacity. The route is long enough that the A380 is economical to fly, but short enough that there is no danger of weight restrictions. I'm sure BA will also be using them, as well as LH.
Ual747 From United States, joined Dec 1999, 6539 posts, RR: 35 Reply 4, posted (5 months 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 7485 times:
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 3): The route is long enough that the A380 is economical to fly, but short enough that there is no danger of weight restrictions.
I doubt they'd put it on the route if it weren't economical. If they can fill it (particularly the front), it will be economical. Are they using the 300ER on this route and 744's? I just remember seeing the 772, but I'm most likely mistaken.
Also, odd time for it to be on the winter scheds, but hey, thank god we have A380 service back to the US again.
Hey, California was to be a country of it's own at one point or another. Anyway, I have seen that same contraption at LAX just the other day. I suppose many are not aware of that.
Alphaomega From United States, joined Aug 2005, 307 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 months 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 7268 times:
Quoting OA412 (Reply 5): Which of the 4 flights is supposed to get the A380?
Not sure of the flight numbers, but the first A380 will be for CDG-JFK, second was slated to be CDG-IAD but I think its going to be to Toronto and the 3rd will be CDG-IAD (original plan was for Toronto to be 3rd) and there was talk of the 4th on CDG-MIA or Asia? Anyone know more?
CityAirline From Sweden, joined Nov 2005, 457 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (5 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 7143 times:
Quoting Alphaomega (Reply 8): but I think its going to be to Toronto
Don't you mean YUL? Or does AF actually plan on putting it on YYZ?
I suppose NRT will be seeing the 5th/6th, and SIN is also rumoured to get the AF 380...
//Alex
Upcoming flights: GOT-HEL-HKG-MNL-HKG-HEL-GOT on AY & 5J =)
Flpuck6 From United States, joined Jun 1999, 2084 posts, RR: 42 Reply 10, posted (5 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 7131 times:
I think OA412 was referring to which of the four JFK flights is supposed to get the A380 ...
As in AF022/023 // AF006/007 // AF010/011 // AF008/009
I looked at the timetable on the AF website and so far none of the flights are indicating the A380 ...
I imagine it would have to be on a rotation that has enough ground time between flights :
AF022/023 = 6h15 ... but from CDG this is mostly an O/D departure // 023 provides connections in CDG though
AF006/007 = 3h25 ... lots of connections inboud to 006 and lots outbound 007
AF010/011 = 3h05 ... again lots of connections on both ends
AF008/009 = 2h10 ... also with connection possibilities but not as much as the two previous rotations
Soon7x7 From United States, joined May 2006, 1228 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (5 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 7107 times:
I'm not a big fan of the 380 but saw images of it in AF colors...so far I think she wears the AF colors better than the other operators so far...looking forward to seeing her descend over my house!...Why does it take so long to actually get it established in revenue service?...Training and ground logistics?...I would think that crews are already trained and that ground equipment/ gates and all that should be ready to receive her...no?
Alphaomega From United States, joined Aug 2005, 307 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 7086 times:
Quoting CityAirline (Reply 9):
Don't you mean YUL? Or does AF actually plan on putting it on YYZ?
Yea sorry I meant YYZ!
I know the CDG-IAD A380 will be starting with the 2010 summer schedule in March, but if the JFK A380 is starting in November, the 2nd 1 may squeeze in to YYZ before March - I could be wrong though.
Quoting Flpuck6 (Reply 10): I imagine it would have to be on a rotation that has enough ground time between flights :
AF022/023 = 6h15 ... but from CDG this is mostly an O/D departure // 023 provides connections in CDG though
AF006/007 = 3h25 ... lots of connections inboud to 006 and lots outbound 007
AF010/011 = 3h05 ... again lots of connections on both ends
AF008/009 = 2h10 ... also with connection possibilities but not as much as the two previous rotations
I'd bet on AF006/007 - thats about the minimum ground time and would provide good connections.
Definitely YUL and not YYZ. But nothing is really sure for YUL. We heard contradictory information from AF these last years. The 4th YUL frequency without A380 is more likely to be kept, rather than introducing the A380
Mindscape From Vietnam, joined Apr 2004, 276 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 6868 times:
Quoting CDG (Thread starter): On board the A380, there will be three cabin classes and a total of 538 passengers:
80 seats in the Affaires cabin and 106 in Voyageur (economy) on the upper deck;
9 in the Première cabin and 343 in Voyageur on the main deck.
These figures might not be accurate anymore since AF is in process to roll out this Autumn its new Premium Voyageur class. Most likely the upper deck Voyageur seats will be reduced in favor of Premium Voyageur, but this is pure speculation and AF might end up putting its premium economy on the main deck.
Anyhow, I find kinda odd to have 9 P seats; curious to see how the seating config would be with an odd number.
VirginFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2000, 4287 posts, RR: 54 Reply 15, posted (5 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 6626 times:
Quoting Mindscape (Reply 14): These figures might not be accurate anymore since AF is in process to roll out this Autumn its new Premium Voyageur class. Most likely the upper deck Voyageur seats will be reduced in favor of Premium Voyageur, but this is pure speculation and AF might end up putting its premium economy on the main deck.
According to Air Transport World, it isn't a mistake, the A380 will not be fitted with premium economy, at least not at first. Seems slightly bizarre, but by the sound of it they are trying to up the seat count in view of the current economy, rather than provide too much in the way of premium seating.
Quote: Air France's A380 will not be fitted with its new long-haul premium economy class, which is set to debut on the CDG-JFK route on Oct. 25, although a spokesperson confirmed to ATWOnline that a retrofit would be possible at a later stage. All of AF's 777s, A340s and A330s will have the new cabin by the autumn of 2010 (ATWOnline, March 23).
"The A380, particularly well-suited to the current economic context, will enable Air France to offer its customers an even better quality of service whilst at the same time limiting costs," CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said. In a recent conversation in Paris, He told this website that AF's A380s would not be equipped with special luxury features specifically designed for the double-deck aircraft like spas or spacious premium suites. "It's an aircraft, an aircraft offering high-density seating and thus offering lower unit costs," he said. "We will use it as such."
On the main deck? That promises to be roomy! Can't wait to see it.
Quoting DocLightning (Reply 3): but short enough that there is no danger of weight restrictions.
Indeed, at about 5500 Km, CDG-JFK is far from even starting to make a dent in the max payload capacity of the aircraft. Even CDG-LAX would easily allow for a full payload to be carried.
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit posting...
Profcalvin From United States, joined Jun 2008, 57 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 4403 times:
Quoting VirginFlyer (Reply 15): "The A380, particularly well-suited to the current economic context, will enable Air France to offer its customers an even better quality of service whilst at the same time limiting costs," CEO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said. In a recent conversation in Paris, He told this website that AF's A380s would not be equipped with special luxury features specifically designed for the double-deck aircraft like spas or spacious premium suites. "It's an aircraft, an aircraft offering high-density seating and thus offering lower unit costs," he said. "We will use it as such."
Aw, bummer. So basically he is saying that there will be no special awesumn exclusive AF first class suite or am I misunderstanding. I always am interested in cabin interiors and it is a shame that they are not using this opertunity to do something special like most other (well 3: EK, SQ, and QF) did, although I understand that they are using this opertunity in another way because of the "economical situation"... To cram more passengers in. Oh well, it is still great to see another A380 operator come to birth.
YULWinterSkies From Canada, joined Jun 2005, 1485 posts, RR: 7 Reply 22, posted (5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2764 times:
Quoting Francoflier (Reply 16): Indeed, at about 5500 Km, CDG-JFK is far from even starting to make a dent in the max payload capacity of the aircraft. Even CDG-LAX would easily allow for a full payload to be carried.
And probably even CDG-SIN (well, in fact, ask SQ about it!). Of course CDG-JFK can be flown with virtually all modern widebody jetliners with no payload restrictions! It barely counts as long-haul, really.
Quoting FlySSC (Reply 21): Quoting Goldorak (Reply 13):
DXB is also one of the very first destination planned by AF
checkmark
Correct. But just for a few days/weeks for Crew training
Then, I'm surprised BEY is not getting it instead. AF sends a daily 77W to BEY, which probably means there is both high loads and high yields on this route, which is exactly what the A380 is aimed for.
But has BEY been upgraded to accept the A380? After the bombing of the airport in 2006 I wouldn't be surprised if upgrading to A380 standards was the least of their worries
Goldorak From France, joined Sep 2006, 1100 posts, RR: 2 Reply 27, posted (5 months 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2424 times:
Quoting AT (Reply 26): I'm surprised that LAX and SFO are not on the horizon for AF's A380s. Both are high yield destinations, and perfectly within the range of the 380
SFO is not a high yield destination for AF, so unlikely to see an AF A380 there
DAL763ER From Romania, joined Oct 2008, 220 posts, RR: 0 Reply 29, posted (5 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1854 times:
Quoting FlySSC (Reply 21): Ryanair will serve free hot meals on all its flights before AF will send its A380 to MIA ...
Why wouldn't AF send the 380 to MIA? It would be a good change from the old 744's with no IFE and such. I'd love to have the A380 for MIA next year when I go down to Florida.
Where aviation is not the side show, it's the main show!!!
WCS From Canada, joined Apr 2007, 242 posts, RR: 23 Reply 30, posted (5 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1765 times:
Quoting DAL763ER (Reply 29): Why wouldn't AF send the 380 to MIA? It would be a good change from the old 744's with no IFE and such. I'd love to have the A380 for MIA next year when I go down to Florida
Because MIA is a mostly leisure/low yields destination in the current AF network. Every destination currently served by 744 is low yielded. (MIA, SFO, ...)
By putting an A380 in substitution, AF would pour a large quantity of premium seats (Business & First). These seats would not be filled, or bad filled as far as yields are concerned.
LY777 From France, joined Nov 2005, 1647 posts, RR: 3 Reply 31, posted (5 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1722 times:
Quoting DAL763ER (Reply 29): Why wouldn't AF send the 380 to MIA? It would be a good change from the old 744's with no IFE and such. I'd love to have the A380 for MIA next year when I go down to Florida.
The CDG-MIA route will be operated with 77Ws, but not before 2011/2012, from what I heard
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