Is the Airbus A380 on the verge of a comeback at Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA)? New comments made by the airline group’s chief executive suggest we may be seeing the superjumbo taking off from Germany again in 2023.
Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) was adamant in 2021 that its A380s would not be coming back into service. Its fleet of 14 A380s have been put into storage over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, Carsten Spohr was cited by various journalists as saying during a briefing at the IATA AGM on June 20, 2022, that he has had to soften his stance on ruling out the A380.
Delivery problems with the Boeing 777X “mean that we may have to bring back some of the A380s or find an alternative solution,” AeroTelegraph quoted Spohr as saying. Another alternative is to bring in 777-300ERs, he said.
If Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) wants to operate the aircraft in summer 2023, it will have to make a decision soon, Spohr said, because it would take around nine months to bring the A380 back. A decision is therefore likely by July 2022, or before the chief executive goes on vacation himself, AeroTelegraph reported.
Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) also has only 14 pilots who are still current on the A380, but A350 pilots could also get type ratings for the superjumbo, Spohr said.
Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) has already ordered more aircraft amid the delays with the 777X.