MSGID: 2:292/854 123c2260   
   The dismantling of the two former Singapore Airlines Airbus A380s is   
   progressing steadily. The engines, the verticql stabilizers and some cargo   
   hatches have already been removed from the aircraft.   
       
   The A380s are the first two Superjumbo's to be demolished. The aircraft flew   
   for Singapore Airlines for ten years, but after the lease term expired, the   
   German leasing company can't find a new customer for them.   
       
   All valuable parts are now salvaged from the A380s by aircraft dismantler   
   Aerosave in Tarbes, France, and then resold. The company expects that a total   
   of around 92 percent of the weight can be reused.   
       
   Of the total of five Airbus A380s that Singapore Airlines replaced with newer   
   ones, only one has so far found a new user: charter company HiFly. Two others   
   are still waiting and are stored.   
       
   The five aircraft were among the first A380s that Airbus has built, and are   
   therefore slightly heavier than later ones, but the effort to find new users   
   does raise the question of how robust the second-hand market is.   
       
   Over the next five years, Lufthansa, Air France, Qatar Airways and Emirates,   
   among others, will be saying goodbye to (part of) their A380 fleet and dozens   
   of Superjumbo's will be offered for sale. So far, only British Airways has   
   shown clear interest.   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.99 SR41   
    * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)   
   SEEN-BY: 1/123 15/2 153/757 221/1 226/17 229/354 426 728 1014 240/5832   
   SEEN-BY: 249/317 400 261/38 280/464 292/854 8125 317/3 322/757 335/364   
   SEEN-BY: 342/200 393/68 396/45 633/280 801/188 3828/7   
   PATH: 292/854 229/426