Todos
← Back to Squawk list
Hi Fly to acquire two used A380
Lisbon - The Portuguese carrier Hi Fly specialized in wet lease operations will acquire two used Airbus A380, formerly operated by Singapore Airlines. (airlinerwatch.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I may be a little inexperienced in these matters but isn’t 10 years not very long to be operating very expensive aircraft?
Singapore didn’t own these aircraft, they were leased. They weren’t operating them at full capacity and decided to not extend the lease and return them to the owner.
After leasing the initial airframes, Singapore have taken further A380 airframes recently - having proven the concept with the early ten-year lease deals.
I recall that one of the Japanese airlines proved a high-density configuration, decades ago, with the Boeing 747. Hajj traffic, and other short-term high-density requirements for passenger capacity, should provide a steady business stream for these early A380 airframes.
I recall that one of the Japanese airlines proved a high-density configuration, decades ago, with the Boeing 747. Hajj traffic, and other short-term high-density requirements for passenger capacity, should provide a steady business stream for these early A380 airframes.
Also, these are very early production examples and Singapore Airlines has been saying for a few years that they did not intend to keep them. The question was whether they would buy or lease brand-new A380s to replace them.
I suspect that these two airplanes are destined to operate Haji charters. Many years ago, used passenger airplanes were converted to freighters after a season or two of Haji charters.
Hajj charters that is!