Asiana Airlines Joins Airbus A380 Fleet with 18th Order

Strategic Insights -

Asiana Airlines, a leading South Korean carrier, has signed an order for six Airbus A380 double-decker superjumbos, marking its entry into the growing A380 fleet. The order comes amidst ongoing decisions regarding engine selection, with Asiana yet to choose between Rolls-Royce Trent and General Electric/Pratt & Whitney engines. The airline plans to deploy the A380 on premium routes to Europe and the US, while Airbus confirms the A380's popularity among travelers, with 240 total orders and counting.

Key Takeaways:

  • Asiana Airlines has ordered six Airbus A380 superjumbos, marking the 18th customer for the aircraft.
  • The airline has not yet decided on an engine selection, choosing between Rolls-Royce Trent and General Electric/Pratt & Whitney options.
  • The A380's popularity is evident, with 240 total orders as of the statement.
  • Asiana plans to use the A380 on premium routes to Europe and the US.
  • Qantas currently operates five A380s, with plans to expand to seven by the end of January.
  • Qantas faces a scheduling hurdle due to the shorter runway at Los Angeles airport, requiring different engine specifications.
  • Rolls-Royce's Trent 900 engine experienced an explosion on a Qantas A380 in November, potentially influencing Asiana's engine selection.

Statistics:

  • Total A380 orders: 240
  • Number of customers: 18 (including Asiana Airlines)
  • Planned A380 deployments: Europe and US
  • Qantas A380 fleet size: 5 (with plans to increase to 7 by the end of January)
  • Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine explosion incident: November 2022
  • Los Angeles airport runway length: (figures not provided in the original text)
  • Qantas A380 paired flights: Australia to London, via Singapore (US routes to resume tentatively)

Sources:

  • Asia Pulse, Jan 6 (cited as "Asia Pulse")
  • Airbus statement (cited as "Airbus")
  • Qantas statement (cited as "Qantas")
  • Rolls-Royce release (cited as "Rolls-Royce")