Do Virgin still fly jumbo jets?

Do Virgin still fly jumbo jets? For 36 years, Virgin Atlantic flew Boeing 747 aircraft around the world. Now, the planes have been retired in favour of newer, more sustainable aircraft such as the Airbus A350-1000 and the Boeing 787-9. If you miss the 747 as much as we do, here are five things you might not know about the Queen of the Skies…

Are A380s making a comeback?

Solidifying itself as a capacity-driven aircraft, the A380 in 2023. Airbus A380 flights for 2023 are growing year-on-year. However, they will always remain lower than in 2019. Its rebound, though, is to be applauded.

Will jets ever be electric?

Some companies are looking at jet aircraft powered by electricity. For example, Wright Electric is working on a 100-seat fully-electric regional jet that could take off starting in 2026. The Wright Spirit is a conversion of the BAe 146 regional jet, destined for one-hour flights.

Why did Lufthansa bring back A380?

In response to a question from Simple Flying yesterday, the airline group's CEO, Carsten Spohr, revealed that the decision had turned out to be more important than they realized when it was made a year ago. At the height of the pandemic, things were not looking good for Lufthansa's fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.

Are jumbo jets making a comeback?

747 jumbos, is mulling a return of the A380 in 2024. Qantas Airways, Etihad Airways, Korean Air Lines and Singapore Airlines, which grounded their A380s during the virus outbreak, have also brought them back.

Is the 777X bigger than the 747?

According to Boeing's data, the 777-9 has a total length of 251 feet 9 inches (76.72 meters). The 747-8 is just a bit smaller at 250 feet 2 inches (76.3 meters). The 777-9 is the longest commercial aircraft ever built.

Why is the 747 no longer popular?

Built in 1967 to produce the mammoth jet, it remains the world's largest manufacturing plant according to Boeing. But after five decades, customer demand for the 747 eroded as Boeing and Airbus (AIR.PA) developed more fuel efficient two-engine widebody planes.

Why did Lufthansa retire their A380s?

The four-engine A380 is only profitable with a high load factor, and only the world's largest airports have facilities to handle the aircraft. Such reasons led Lufthansa CEO to declare the craft “permanently decommissioned.”

Who still flies A380?

Why do airlines not like the A380?

The arrival of the A380 in 2007 was poorly timed. The price of jet fuel had begun to creep up, and by 2007 was floating at around $4 a gallon. This made airlines shy away from the expensive to operate four engine jets of the 80s and 90s, and to look instead to fuel efficiency as a major deciding factor.

Has a 747 ever crashed?

Lufthansa Flight 540 was the first fatal crash of a 747. On November 20, 1974, it stalled and crashed moments after taking off from Nairobi, with 59 deaths and 98 survivors.

How many A380s are still flying?

A total of 251 Airbus A380s were built and delivered for civil aviation. How many A380s are still flying? As of May 2023, about 130 A380s are in service - but several airlines plan to reactivate more aircraft during the year.