Airbus putting more Y seats on A380

[hazel]

Airbus are working on Emirates to buy 11 abreast A380
Airbus to raise floor on A380 to create 11-abreast | Runway GirlRunway Girl

 

[TomVexille]

Unfortunately this was always going to happen eventually.

 

[zainman]

one can count on EK to squeeze seats into their planes.. 11 abreast! Has that ever been done on any previous aircraft? 747 or 777?

 

[harvyk]

A 3-5-3 layout would almost be bearable, since the person in the middle seat of the 5 is still only 2 seats away from the aisle, much like window seats are now (or any of the 2-5-2 777 configs), but a 4-3-4 layout would make window seats pretty unattractive, since 3 ppl would need to be disturbed for aisle access, plus there is no way an FA could stretch across 3 other seats to give the person in the window seat meals / drinks / other items...

 

[TomVexille]

A 3-5-3 layout would almost be bearable, since the person in the middle seat of the 5 is still only 2 seats away from the aisle, much like window seats are now (or any of the 2-5-2 777 configs), but a 4-3-4 layout would make window seats pretty unattractive, since 3 ppl would need to be disturbed for aisle access, plus there is no way an FA could stretch across 3 other seats to give the person in the window seat meals / drinks / other items...

I don't think 4-3-4 would be allowed in the USA as I think the FAA stipulates that all seats must be a maximum of 2 away from the aisle for evac reasons or something like that.

 

[Standby]

I heard Tim Clark being interviewed on the EK inflight channel in Jan & he was discussing 10 across in Y also, he put it down to the economics required to make money as costs invariably go up

 

[drewbles]

A 3-5-3 layout would almost be bearable, since the person in the middle seat of the 5 is still only 2 seats away from the aisle, much like window seats are now (or any of the 2-5-2 777 configs), but a 4-3-4 layout would make window seats pretty unattractive, since 3 ppl would need to be disturbed for aisle access, plus there is no way an FA could stretch across 3 other seats to give the person in the window seat meals / drinks / other items...

Whilst numbers wise you're right, I would certainly rather be in a window purely because no one is next to me.

Either way, theres no way i'd be flying a 3-5-3 config on any airline!

 

[zainman]

I heard Tim Clark being interviewed on the EK inflight channel in Jan & he was discussing 10 across in Y also, he put it down to the economics required to make money as costs invariably go up

You mean 11 across? These A380's will probably be 2 class anyway and are headed to India after they lifted the ban..

 

[BAM1748]

I don't think 4-3-4 would be allowed in the USA as I think the FAA stipulates that all seats must be a maximum of 2 away from the aisle for evac reasons or something like that.

I can't see how they get everyone out now in the required time (90sec?).

Matt

 

[TomVexille]

You mean 11 across? These A380's will probably be 2 class anyway and are headed to India after they lifted the ban..

And MNL

I can't see how they get everyone out now in the required time (90sec?).

Matt

That's another good point.

 

[harvyk]

I can't see how they get everyone out now in the required time (90sec?).

Matt

The A380 has been tested with evacuating 853 pax, 16 cabin crew and 2 pilots, and they did it in 78 seconds. Plus not all doors where serviceable (just as what could happen during a real emergency) during the test.

Airbus A380 evacuation trial full report: everyone off in time - 4/6/2006 - Flight Global

The one thing that might end the idea of 11 abreast seating, there is a limit of the number of pax that can sit between two doors. Whilst the test plane was 853 pax, that was in an all Y config, thus the pax where distributed around the plane evening.

An airline like EK will have Y, J and most likely F, meaning that whilst there is certainly no problems with pax numbers between doors in J and F, in Y the number of pax per door may exceed the limits. So in other words, there may be too many pax down the back.

 

[samh004]

I can't see how they get everyone out now in the required time (90sec?).

Matt

I think the thing you have to remember is it's not a real world test. Everyone knows what's going to happen and that they aren't going to die, but need to pass the certification, while in the real world it'd be every man, woman and child for themselves: panic!

 

[JohnK]

I thought that would only be possible with Ryanair and Jetstar.

I heard Tim Clark being interviewed on the EK inflight channel in Jan & he was discussing 10 across in Y also, he put it down to the economics required to make money as costs invariably go up

Stop paying obscene salaries to executives and senior management and costs won't be going up.

 

[Barks]

Either way, theres no way i'd be flying a 3-5-3 config on any airline!

Me either! Wouldn't EK be better off introducing Y+ than cramming more pax into Y?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The one thing that might end the idea of 11 abreast seating, there is a limit of the number of pax that can sit between two doors.

I didn't know that! where do i find more information?

 

[TomVexille]

The A380 has been tested with evacuating 853 pax, 16 cabin crew and 2 pilots, and they did it in 78 seconds. Plus not all doors where serviceable (just as what could happen during a real emergency) during the test.

Airbus A380 evacuation trial full report: everyone off in time - 4/6/2006 - Flight Global

The one thing that might end the idea of 11 abreast seating, there is a limit of the number of pax that can sit between two doors. Whilst the test plane was 853 pax, that was in an all Y config, thus the pax where distributed around the plane evening.

An airline like EK will have Y, J and most likely F, meaning that whilst there is certainly no problems with pax numbers between doors in J and F, in Y the number of pax per door may exceed the limits. So in other words, there may be too many pax down the back.

I do believe EK are planning on several 2-class A380's for destinations they believe don't warrant an F cabin

 

[harvyk]

I didn't know that! where do i find more information?

I should prob rephrase that a little. It's not so much the number of pax in any one zone as it is the number of pax who may need to use said door during an evac. It's the reason why a B733 only has one overwing exit on each side but the B734 had two, the B734 just couldn't get the required number of ppl through the one door.

I'll see if I can dig up an actual article about it.

 

[Standby]

I thought that would only be possible with Ryanair and Jetstar.



Stop paying obscene salaries to executives and senior management and costs won't be going up.

I don't argue that exec wages can seem excessive, however ,I have no idea what Tim Clark earns (remember in DXB he can be paid 30% less than the equiv wage in Aust and be better off with the benefit of the different tax regime).
With a couple of new widebodies arriving every month they need to make significant profit just to pay off the new toys.
My comments are based on 2 undeniable and significant costs #1 Fuel ,which isn't going to get cheaper, which 4 engine planes use a lot of & wages for the 10's of thousands of staff which also reasonably go up over time.
Against the customer expectation that fares never move.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I should prob rephrase that a little. It's not so much the number of pax in any one zone as it is the number of pax who may need to use said door during an evac. It's the reason why a B733 only has one overwing exit on each side but the B734 had two, the B734 just couldn't get the required number of ppl through the one door.

I'll see if I can dig up an actual article about it.

I found the FAA requirements which mandate a certain number of doors (and door types) per pax. Each plane of course has a max passenger load for any given door arrangement. I know B747-200s are certified for 8 doors on the main deck (removal of overwings) - which creates a huge cabin between doors 2LR and 4LR.

 

[harvyk]

I found the FAA requirements which mandate a certain number of doors (and door types) per pax. Each plane of course has a max passenger load for any given door arrangement. I know B747-200s are certified for 8 doors on the main deck (removal of overwings) - which creates a huge cabin between doors 2LR and 4LR.

If that is the case, they may just get away with it...

In either case, the idea of 11 abreast seating doesn't sit well with me, and is one I'd actively avoid if at all possible (much like 10 abreast on 777's)...