Aviation

Three more A380 aircraft will be scrapped for parts to give new life to other A380s

The Airbus A380, one of the world’s largest widebody aircraft, is taking a step toward sustainability as three units are set to be dismantled and recycled to meet the growing demand for spare parts from remaining operators.

TARMAC Aerosave, a French-based aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) specialist, has announced its acquisition of these three A380s for the purpose of parting them out.

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This initiative comes at a time when the global A380 fleet is on the rise, with many airframes returning to service following the pandemic. TARMAC Aerosave has successfully returned several A380s to commercial airline operations over the past few years.

However, the three aircraft in this latest transaction will not be returning to the skies; instead, they will be stripped of useful components before the remaining airframes are scrapped or recycled.

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Dismantling operations will take place at TARMAC Aerosave’s facility in Tarbes, France, where essential spare parts will be generated for the global A380 fleet. The collaboration also involves AMS Aircraft Services Ltd., which will serve as EastMerchant’s technical consultant throughout the project, ensuring efficient operations.

The parts harvested from these three A380s are set to be sold in the secondary market, addressing the increasing demand from airlines that continue to operate the iconic double-decker aircraft.

This move is driven by EastMerchant’s commitment to developing innovative end-of-life solutions for widebody aircraft fleets, making it easier for investors and airline clients to manage their assets effectively.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.