Why U.S. Airlines Don't Fly the Airbus A380

TheStreet.com ^

[AfricanChristian]

ATLANTA (TheStreet) -- Three U.S. carriers are also the world's three biggest airlines -- United(UAL_), Delta(DAL_) and American(AMR_) -- but little indication exists that any of them have any particular desire to fly the world's biggest passenger airplane.

Four years after the introduction of the Airbus A380, which can carry up to 600 passengers, 49 aircraft are flying for six international airlines, and orders have been placed by a total of 18 airlines.

None are based in the U.S.

Moreover, no U.S. carrier seems close to purchasing the A380, although Airbus spokesman Clay McConnell said that "eventually you will see some U.S. airlines order it."

[Paladin2]

I think you need a thick runway to land one on.

[Da Coyote]

In an Airbus, the pilot is only a voting member. As an old test type, I prefer dying due to my mistakes, not the computer’s.

[Talisker]

Why U.S. Airlines Don't Fly the Airbus A380

Because the schedule would never work - it would take the TSA a week to sexually molest all of the passengers it holds.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

And a thick brain to buy one.

[Rome2000]

600 passengers??????

Probably take longer to board and deplane than the actual flight.

[umgud]

It takes 600 pair of white nuckles (gripping the seat arms) just to raise this puppy off the ground.

[Don W]

As the article said (after an interminable wait for the second page to load) (North) Americans prefer frequent smaller flights.

Man, that site is quite the “hit-whore”, though: the second article that interested me there would have needed 5 more clicks after the initial one to read the whole thing. I'll pass, thanks.

[rockvillem]

Isn’t Occam’s Razor applicable here - the infrastructure at virtually all US airports isn’t current configured to handle a double-decker jumbo jet that can deplane 600 people at once.

[Olog-hai]

I kinda miss the Boeing 707. That plane really said "USA" just as much as the big 747 . . .

[magellan]

U.S. Airlines are more interested in point to point flights to foreign destinations. European and Asian carriers see themselves as global airlines which use their regional hubs as a way to connect American and European countries to other countries. Cathay Pacific connects many European and American cities to dozens of Asian countries. After all, there is only one city in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Lufthansa connects North and South American cities to many European, African, and Asian countries. After all, there are only a half a dozen domestic German destinations, and most of those are available from via nonstop flights.

If tomorrow, American Airlines decided one of its primary missions was to connect European travelers to South America, it might see a need for an airplane like the A380.

[arthurus]

knuckles

[meatloaf]

Good one!

[1rudeboy]

In an Airbus, the pilot is only a voting member. As an old test type, I prefer dying due to my mistakes, not the computer’s.

Continue flying that cropduster, then. Because you sure ain't flying Boeing.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

A380 already uses many us airports, JFK, Chicago, Atlanta, SFO, LAX... others certified to accept the A380 are Salt Lake City, Boston, Washington IAD, Miami, Denver and Dallas...

[magellan]

"Probably take longer to board and deplane than the actual flight."

You are right. The last time I was flying from Sydney Australia back to the states (on a 300 passenger Boeing 777-200LR), there was a Singapore Airlines A380 boarding at the next gate. The passengers literally overflowed three adjacent gates. It must have taken over an hour and a half to board the passengers through three airbridges.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Three U.S. carriers are also the world's three biggest airlines -- United(UAL_), Delta(DAL_) and American(AMR_) -- but little indication exists that any of them have any particular desire to fly the world's biggest passenger airplane.

That's OK, I don't have any particular desire to fly United, Delta or American on any routes that an A380 would take. Many foreign airlines are just flat out better - newer planes, nicer interiors and seats, and much better flight attendant attitudes.

[Feckless]

If it ain’t Boeing.... I ain’t going.

[tet68]

Actually, the problem is that the fire and rescue
services aren’t equiped to handle that many casualties
at one time.

[xp38]

Yes both have served as Air Force 1.