A380 - A few questions...

[NickN]

Are operators of the A380 already using GTL fuel or do they intend on using GTL fuels? Or are they currently still filled with liquid Jet fuel?

Secondly, have any carriers made orders for the all-economy version of the A380 which will carry 853 passengers?

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

I believe emirates have gone for all Y class config, for routes to India and other nearby destinations :)

[Andrew McLaughlin]

I believe emirates have gone for all Y class config, for routes to India and other nearby destinations :)

No one has an all Economy A380 ordered yet. EK will have ~650 seaters for their regional runs with an Economy and Business mix.

No one is using GTL fuels in regular pax service. There is still much work to be done for certification.

[Matthew Green]

pardon my ignorance, but what is GTL fuel?:confused:

Matthew

[Philip Argy]

An A380 can apparently use GTL without modification, so the issue is likely to be availability and certification. See this February 2008 Planet Ark article:

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/46757/story.htm

[Erik H. Bakke]

pardon my ignorance, but what is GTL fuel?:confused:

Matthew

Gas To Liquid.
Put simply, it is a synthetic fuel generated from natural gas, rather than distilled from crude oil.

[NickN]

Thats what I thought, availability will be the biggest issue I would say. Being certified is one thing, but then having the infrastructure at the airports will be the largest hurdle.

[Erik H. Bakke]

Infrastructure at the airports should not be a problem.

Once certified, the synthetic fuel can be used interchangeably with normal fuel. The goal of the certification process is to make sure that the two types of fuel behave similarly enough that they can be used interchangeably.

Then the aircraft would take GTF fuel where this makes sense and normal fuel when that makes more sense.

[NickN]

Anybody have any ideas on the costing of GTL fuels vs. liquid fuels?

We all know the airline industry has been savaged by world oil prices, is there any chance of big savings by switching over to GTL?