Air Austral orders 2 all Y class A380

[Lee G]

Airline to fly 800-seat all-economy superjumbo

Air Austral, based in France's La Reunion, will become the first airline to fly planes carrying over 800 people after confirming an order for two Airbus A380 superjumbos earlier this week, industry sources said.

The sources said a provisional order for two of the European planes worth some US$650 million (A$695 million) at list prices, placed in January, would was expected to be firmed up at the Dubai event.

Airbus declined to comment.
Air Austral plans to fit out its A380 superjumbos with more than 800 economy class seats.

Air Austral plans to fit out its A380 superjumbos with more than 800 economy class seats. Photo: AP

Air Austral is the first airline to order a no-frills version of the world's largest airliner, which is capable of carrying 840 passengers when contains only economy seats.

The 200 aircraft sold so far have all been ordered in their standard configuration of 525 seats and airlines have in practice opted for fewer seats by making more room for premium passengers.

Reuters

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/airline-to-fly-800seat-alleconomy-superjumbo-20091117-ijfk.html

[Raymond Rowe]

It will only be a mater of time before most of the A380 operators go this way.

[NickN]

Ray, seriously, did you put any thought into that response?

Since when will "most" of the A380 operators opt to carry only economy passengers?

Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa, Singapore etc..... all-economy A380's?

You will never see it.

[Mike W]

You never know Nick, the ever increasing costs on the Legacys and the even more increasing competiton from the LCC's....? ;)

[NickN]

Still won't happen, there are still enough wealthy folk to have at least Economy, Premium Economy and Business.

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

Nick,

Just to confirm that Air Austral has gone for 2 all y class A380, Order was confirmed At dubai airshow where I just returned from.

[Gareth Forwood]

Just curious, what sort of impact does the change in configuration have on the aircraft's range?