Back in the big time? (updated)

Etihad today became the latest A380 operator to confirm its fleet will be making a comeback, with four returning for summer 2023. Meanwhile Qantas is preparing to add a sixth A380 to service while Lufthansa is starting the process to reactivate its first after 33 months of storage, so here's a quick take on the status of the expanding global fleet.

Data from Cirium ’s tracked utilisation tool highlights the ongoing consequences of the Covid-19 crisis on the A380 operational fleet. The number of flights tracked, which averaged around 340 a day pre-Covid, collapsed through mid-2020 before beginning a slow recovery into 2021. As it reached 100 flights a day, that positive trajectory faltered in at the start of this year amid the Omicron variant lockdowns.

By early December 2022 volumes were progressively closing on the 200 flights-a-day milestone. But at around 185 daily flights, the current tally is still 47% below pre-Covid levels.

In terms of fleet recovery, eight of the 15 pre-Covid A380 operators now have aircraft flying, according to Cirium data. There were around 234 aircraft in service at the end of 2019, compared with 130 now. The current largest operators after Emirates (85) are British Airways (12), Singapore Airlines (11) and Qatar Airways (8).

Lufthansa is set to reactivate some of its 14 A380s in 2023, although the total number planned is unclear. Qantas aims to have 10 back in service by the end of next year. And with around 36 of its A380s still parked, Emirates has scope to bring significantly more back.

Etihad, which had previously operated 10 A380s, said today it will have four back in service in Summer 2023 operating London services. Meanwhile, Thai Airways is reportedly considering reactivating some of its six aircraft. Although it is hard to see further returns to service beyond these, the active A380 fleet has certainly enjoyed a better comeback than many feared when the Covid crisis was at its peak.

Please consider voting for Ascend by Cirium as Appraiser of the Year in this year's Airline Economics Aviation 100, Global Leaders Award 2023. Vote here:?https://lnkd.in/gdxRmWMD?

#Airbus #A380 #Cirium #aviation?#airlineeconomics?#aviationfinance?