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ARCHIVED - Covid casualties; British Airways Airbus A380s overwintering in Spain
Some of these may never re-enter service due to the unprecedented fall in passenger traffic
The travel sector worldwide is undoubtedly one of the worst affected by the covid pandemic, and airlines are having to face the consequences of a brutal downturn in passenger traffic as world travel grinds to a virtual halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Airlines across the world have been finding ways to cut costs and trying to survive, and as the UK remains in lockdown with a ban on international travel, flagship carrier British Airways is taking a long-term view on the potential demand for the next few months and has taken the decision to move part of its Airbus A380 fleet to Spain to overwinter in storage in Madrid, Teruel, and on the island of Mallorca.
— 😷Controladores Aéreos 🇪🇸 (@controladores) November 12, 2020
The A380 Airbus has been the largest passenger aircraft used by most major airlines for years and is the workhorse of the long-haul route.
No official reason has been given, but it’s believed to be an economic decision; potentially maintenance may be cheaper through the IAG connection or simply that parking costs are cheaper in Spain!
Most of the A380s in the BA fleet have been parked at the Chateauroux Centre Marcel Dassault Airport in France, only flying back to the UK for maintenance and it is believed that as many as 60 to 70 of BA’s aircraft will be over-wintering in Spain. “World of Aviation” reports that most of the fleet stand little chance of reincorporation until at least early-to-mid 2021, although BA is currently denying that it plans to scrap any of the A380 fleet. Other planes may be scrapped; several A320s the most likely casualties in the months to come.
The A380s have already started to arrive in Madrid; G-XLEF was the first to arrive, with stablemate G-XLEG joining it soon afterwards. Potentially 60-70 aircrafted are heading to Spain to overwinter in Madrid, Teruel and Mallorca while the world waits for the first vaccines.
Images and video from Madrid Air Traffic Control