Everytime when Airbus delivers to carriers their first A380, a hope arises that I will see "my" A380's commercial service to YVR. The hopes never come true but I'm still waiting and my hope is still out there ...
2007, Singapore Airlines, first A380 delivery customer - oh wait, Singapore no longer flies to YVR. 2008, Emirates, with the largest A380 order - wait a second, Emirates is having a dispute with our government on flying rights to Canada. 2009, Air France, perhaps Air France KLM will decide to fly Air France's A380 for the regular KLM services to YVR? Nope, not going to happen - I'm thinking too much! 2010, Lufthansa, my glorious Lufthansa with regular daily FRA-YVR services. Oh wait another second, daily flights using A340-300, and A340-600 for high seasons - chances of using its 526 configurated A380 is pretty slim. 2011, China Southern and Korean Air, well one thing for sure is that we have lots of Asian flights. However, China Southern did commence services to YVR but only 3 times a week using the 772s. Again, not too wise to fly a 506 seats configurated A380 over. Korean Air, yes, regular daily flights! Right, 772s, once a day, probably won't be replacing the 250-ish seat 772s with the 407 seats configurated A380s. However, during summer, the Korean 744s do come once in a while. Well, I guess I can go on and on and there still won't be any chance of bringing over the A380 ...
But to keep my hope going, I figured that BA will be receiving its first A380 in 2013 (expected), and BA does daily flights to YVR using 744s. During summer season, BA flies twice daily flights using 744s from Tuesdays to Thursdays, and Saturdays to Sundays, in addition to the regular daily flights on all other days. The problem is, Virgin recently commenced the LHR-YVR route, and even though it flies only four times a week using A343s, BA's market share will somehow be affected.
Other potential hopes include Asiana and Skymark, where both will receive A380s in 2014 and both expressed interest in flying to YVR. The rapidly expanding Hong Kong Airlines will also be receiving A380s in 2015, which it could be possible to compete with CX's existing HKG-YVR twice daily services. Emirates, if the long dispute with our government will ever be resolved, could fly an A380 over. Virgin Atlantic will also be receiving A380s in 2015, but it depends on how much market share it can gain. Or perhaps, Virgin can consider adding other routes to YVR.
In terms of which carrier I wish to see, I will have to favour Lufthansa, Air France and Emirates, which I believe their liveries fit very well on the A380. Already with daily scheduled flights, Lufthansa could possibly bring the 748i over, which first entered commercial service (FRA-IAD) earlier this month as a launch customer. But, I still want my A380 ...
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| A380 First Flight to YVR - Route Proving Flight Test - 26 November 2006 (Photo by my friend Michael) |
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| A380 Second Flight to YVR - Flight Testing - 16 October 2007 |
Rex.
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow airplane spotter and photographer, I would love to see the A380 come to Vancouver. Unfortunately, it seems the only two candidates Virgin Atlantic and China Southern have opted not to choose YVR for their A380 route: China Southern opting to go for LAX. And Virgin Atlantic opting to go the Trans-Atlantic Route rather than Polar and head to YYZ.
I feel that YVR has put two albatrosses in (in the form of A380 gates) as the A380 routes seem to always pass us by in favor of LAX or San Francisco.
Yes, indeed, in favour of other hubs ... Well Virgin won't have it's A380s till 2015, so let's see if by then, any changes will happen if it continues operation to YVR.
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