Air France says goodbye to its Airbus A380 with last flight

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The airline Air France say goodbye to your fleet Airbus A380 making a last flight with passengers over various points in France.

After learning of the airline's decision last May, Air France poses up to tan alone 11 years of operation of this emblematic aircraft, which was late to market as a competitor to Boeing 747, its operating costs were not adapted to the economic needs of the airlines and now in a much more complex context with the low demand generated by the pandemic of the COVID-19, makes its operation unsuitable for the cost-cutting needs of the major French airline and others as well.

so this 26 June 2020, the airline made the farewell flight of the Airbus A380 flying over several emblematic points of France, in its last official operation with passengers, although with the interesting peculiarity that these were employees of Air France.

History of the A380 at Air France

Intended to leave the Air France fleet during the 2022, although this process was accelerated by the dramatic drop in passengers worldwide, the world says goodbye to one more operator of the Airbus A380.

The short history of this aircraft in the airline's fleet began on 30 October 2009, when the plane with serial number MSN 33 and registration F-HPJA was delivered to the airline, later followed by the rest of the planes that at their peak reached 10 operational aircraft:

• F-HPJA
• F-HPJB
• F-HPJC
• F-HPJD
• F-HPJE
• F-HPJF
• F-HPJG
• F-HPJH
• F-HPJI
• F-HPJJ

Configured with a large capacity to transport up to 516 passengers in 4 classes that led to major infrastructure changes at the airports where this aircraft operated, given its two floors where passengers were massively accommodated.

The Air France fleet up to 26 June had an average age of just 9 years being the last aircraft received in June 2014 and historically on information collected by Routesonline, operated to the following destinations:

• The first commercial flight of the great A380 was between Paris and New York on 20 November 2009.

From that day, the airline operated the following destinations with its fleet of Airbus A380, where some were permanent and others temporary:

• Paris CDG – Abidjan
• Paris CDG – Atlanta
• Paris CDG – Cancun
• Paris CDG – Dubai
• Paris CDG – Hong Kong
• Paris CDG – Johannesburg
• Paris CDG – London Heathrow
• Paris CDG – The Angels
• Paris CDG – Mexico City
• Paris CDG – Miami
• Paris CDG – Montreal
• Paris CDG – New York JFK
• Paris CDG – Rio de Janeiro Galeao
• Paris CDG – San Francisco
• Paris CDG – Shanghai Pu Dong
• Paris CDG – Singapore
• Paris CDG – Tokyo Narita
• Paris CDG – Washington Dulles

The replacement, although by capacity it does not have a direct one, will be the most modern and efficient Airbus A350, along with the Boeing 787 that are already part of the French airline of which it already has 6 and 10 aircraft respectively.

Last flight

as we indicate, the last passenger flight of an Air France Airbus A380 was made from the main Paris Airport – Charles de Gaulle with airline staff, Here are some images that they shared on their social networks and you can follow the flight Live here:

https://www.flightradar24.com/AFR380/

Boarding for the flight in progress #AF380, to say goodbye to the A380, fleet icon. From my porthole, the Concord, our past. On the other side, our future with a more efficient A350. Between, the smiles of our colleagues. Quite a symbol ❤️✈️#AF380 #merciauxequipesA380 pic.twitter.com/KuKw3j284U

— Pauline Alessandra (@PaulineAle) June 26, 2020

the flight path:

🇫🇷 This special flight #AF380 will be provided by the F-HPJH & will take off from Paris CDG around 3:30 p.m. where it will return around 5:45 p.m..

Here is his flight plan ⤵️

via @perations_lfrs pic.twitter.com/IDoTnNG46P

— air plus news (@airplusnews) June 26, 2020

Boarding in progress for this 2h20 flight over France, fully compensated and in line with the Airfrance Foundation. Thanks to the teams for these 11 years of operation ✈️. #AF380 #airfrance #airbus #A380lovers pic.twitter.com/ZOugumut1L

— Romain (@RomainDaider) June 26, 2020

What will happen to these planes?

One of the main questions we ask ourselves, but there is not a single question, although the future is uncertain, These are the scenarios that are handled for these aircraft:

• Given its short flight time, these planes will be transferred to other airports where they will be put in a state of conservation, although some of 9 aircraft could go straight to dismantling.
• These aircraft are leased, so the respective owners will be able to market them in search of any other airline interested in operating them..
• Could be converted to freighters, but it will logically depend on the operating costs and if this process is feasible.

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