Poor sales force Airbus to remove its famous trait
Published on: March, 17, 2017
Airbus is going to modify its impressive staircase on A380 aircraft. The staircase modification together with additional element - wingtips was purposed to decrease the costs and improve fuel efficiency, Reuters reported.
The intended modification seeks to increase passenger capacity adding 40-50 seats, making the double decker capable to load more than 600 people. Those features has are also expected to make flights cheaper to passengers. Therefore, instead of its double staircase and the spiral one at the back, Airbus has to put something more compact.
One of the reasons for the jumbo’s modification is the growing competition from more cost and fuel-efficient smaller narrow jets, powered by two engines. However, there are chances to improve the situation. An industry source told Reuters that mounting of the vertical wingtips could reduce fuel expanses and decrease drag. Some estimates conclude that it is possible to boost efficiency by 2%. What is more, airplane modification could bring additional three tones of the lift load, including payload and larger fuel capacity.
European plane maker Airbus has recently announced that the 12 A380 superjumbo jets – the biggest of its kind – ordered by Emirates will see a delay in delivery. The tardiness is reportedly related to the new agreement Emirates has signed with engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce. The delivery of two batches each measuring six aircraft originally scheduled for 2017 and 2018 has been moved one year to the future.
Airbus has recently delayed plans to modernize the airplane because of cost and decided to product just one aircraft a month as sales were low. But the adjustment programs are only a part of the story, Airbus needs to lower the costs to be able to keep its output rates at 12 a year. At the same moment, company hopes to meet the growth in air trips.
According to Boeing, the era of large jets, such as A380 is to be over soon. Another problem is the expiring license for five A380s which Singapore Airlines are getting rid of, what hasten company to find customers as soon as possible. That is not going to be an easy task given the high cost to rebuild interiors to adjust them for the needs of a new customer.
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