BA parent group IAG, which was already phasing out the iconic aircraft by 2024, said in a statement that the entire fleet had been retired ‘with immediate effect’ owing to ‘the downturn in travel caused by the Covid-19 global pandemic’. — Reuters pic
The airline will operate more flights on modern fuel-efficient aircraft such as Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, as it seeks to both slash costs and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. “We have committed to making our fleet more environmentally friendly as we look to reduce the size of our business to reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on aviation. As painful as it is, this is the most logical thing for us to propose.”
Production of the A380 superjumbo ceases next year — a decision taken by European planemaker Airbus before the pandemic struck. American Airlines has announced 45,000 job losses and Lufthansa — which received a €9 billion state bailout — has removed 22,000 posts.The pandemic is pushing the aviation sector to more quickly embrace modern fuel-efficient aircraft which help carriers save precious cash and survive, according to London-based aviation analyst Alex Macheras.