After Lufthansa, Air France said on Wednesday discontinue the operation of its nine aircraft, which was initially planned for the end of 2022.

It was in the air. The news came Wednesday, on the part of Air France. It was not profitable for airlines, the A380, the flagship of Airbus, including the end of production was announced in February 2019, has seen its end-of-life accelerated by the epidemic of Covid-19, and the collapse of the traffic.

ALSO READ >> VIDEO. The airlines suggests a risk of bankruptcy due to the policy of “the empty seat”

After the German company Lufthansa, which said in early April that it would remove its fleet of six A380s, it was the turn of Air France to announce on Wednesday that it would stop the exploitation of its nine aircraft, initially scheduled to end in 2022.

Your support is essential. Subscribe for $ 1 support Us

And if the most important operator of the “Super Jumbo” thought of as the successor to the legendary 747 of the rival american Boeing, Emirates has not indicated what she plans to do the 115 A380, its president Tim Clark said that with the pandemic, the A380 was “finished”.

The carrier franco-Dutch had already explained that to you in July 2019 for reasons of cost-effectiveness of the device, more expensive fuel and more polluting than past generations of long-haul aircraft, it would cease to fly the giant of the skies at the end of 2022.

Airbus had announced in February 2019 the stop of deliveries for 2021 from its giant plane to 251 copies ordered by 14 customers, recognizing that this flagship industrial appreciated by passengers for its comfort was a commercial failure.

445,6 million dollars at the price catalog, 2018

The aircraft, whose development costs have accounted for more than $ 18 billion, was sold to 445,6 million dollars at the price catalog 2018, the last published by Airbus.

larger than a 747, the quadriréacteur, who made his first flight he was just 15 years old and entered service two years later, can take away from 575 to 850 passengers, with 550 m2 of his booth.

But its size reduces its flexibility. The device can not arise anywhere: with its two bridges, it requires airport facilities that are specific for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.

READ ALSO >> cancelled Tickets : UFC-That Choose assign in justice 20 airlines

The A380 offers the best cost per seat on the market to condition for it to be filled to 100%, according to Sebastien Mayor, expert aerospace firm Kea & Partners. What was far from obvious on many routes, despite the congestion of airports such as London or Los Angeles.

In launching the project of the A380, Airbus has bet on the development of “hubs” of large cities, served by an aircraft of very large capacity, but that requires accommodations and requires a fill rate as high as possible to ensure the profitability of the lines.

Read our complete file

Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer european

Coronavirus and ventilation : should we be afraid to take the plane ? Lagardère father and son, the saga of a group of statutes in a very special VIDEO. The coronavirus could give the final blow to the A380

A bet late for the european company in a widebody market which was already excess capacity before the crisis. Airbus had not seen it coming, the turning of aircraft long haul medium capacity as the B787 “Dreamliner” Boeing focused on the development of the point-to-point, that is to say direct links. He has since successfully replicated with its A350.