Singapore Airlines Airbus A380-800 departs from Zurich Airport Reuters
Singapore Airlines will fly the shortest Airbus A380 flight from Singapore to Malaysia.
British Airways will fly its A380s from London to Frankfurt or Madrid on November 8th.
These routes are short because of operational requirements to get crews trained on the aircraft.
Singapore Airlines will fly the shortest Airbus A380 flight between Singapore and Malaysia in just 60 minutes.
Singapore Airlines is operating the superjumbo in a different way than the A380 double-decker jet, which is intended for long-haul travel. According to CNN, the airline will launch the A380 on a route between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) in November 2021. This flight is the shortest A380 flight currently in service. The distance between these two cities is only 161 nautical mile (185 miles), and the flight takes just one hour. This means that the plane will spend more time cruising than taking off and landing.
CNN reports that the A380 will be operating on select flights between Singapore and Malaysia starting in November. The superjumbo will be flown four times weekly on the morning flight, which will take place from November 4th to December 2, and the afternoon flight from November 5th to December 3. According to the carrier's website, it will also use the Boeing 737 for other frequencies. CNN was informed by a spokesperson for Singapore that the route was being planned to meet "operational requirements."
A380 flights will be available daily between Singapore and London, according to the airline. Executive Traveler reports that the route will be part a company-wide "vaccinated travel lanes" program, which allows for travelers to enter Singapore without having to undergo quarantine.
The A380 is not only being flown by Singapore Airlines on short hops. Heads for Points reports that British Airways will fly its A380s to short-haul destinations from London to Frankfurt or Madrid in November 8th. These flights will be used for "crew familiarization", to allow pilots and flight attendants to get back in touch with the aircraft after 18 months.
The Singaporean reintroduction overnight of the A380 marks the beginning of the return to the iconic double-decker. Most superjumbos around the globe were grounded by the pandemic, and many went to the scrapyard. Only a few airlines chose to keep the jet in operation. Executive Traveler reports that Qatar Airways will be returning its A380 to Paris and London starting December 15th, while BA plans to target Los Angeles, Miami, Dubai and Los Angeles for its A380 long haul operation.
Business Insider has the original article.
