Air France retires first Airbus A380

Air France retires first Airbus A380

According Aerotime Air France retired its first Airbus A380, marking the beginning of the withdrawal process of its fleet of ten superjumbos. The aircraft should soon be returned to the lessor.

After carrying out a last flight between Johannesburg Airport (JNB) and its base of Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), the A380, registered F-HPJB, was sent to Malta on November 23, 2019. It was the first A380 that entered service with the French national carrier in February 2010. 

As per Airwaysmag Air France claims that the current competitive environment limits the markets in which the A380 can profitably operate. “With four engines, the A380 consumes 20-25% more fuel per seat than new generation long-haul aircraft and therefore emits more CO2,” says the airline.

“Increasing aircraft maintenance costs, as well as necessary cabin refurbishments to meet customer expectations reduce the economic attractiveness of Air France’s A380s even further. Keeping this aircraft in the fleet would involve significant costs, while the aircraft program was suspended by Airbus earlier in 2019.”

The comments were made as part of a wider plan and announcement by the airline, who with its partners KLM, have laid out a long term fleet regeneration program with the latest widebody aircraft the A350 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.