A380 operators finding configuration sweet spot as value halo persists

When the latest A380 delivery to China Southern occurs at the beginning of March, there will be 70 Airbus A380s criss-crossing the globe. With close to 30 more expected to be delivered over the year, the in-service fleet will approach 100 by the end of 2012.

This year, two new operators - Thai Airways and Malaysian Airlines - will join the existing seven airlines family of A380 operators. Airlines are still finding the sweet spot in terms of A380 seating but more and more configurations are edging above 500 seats, after much experimentation.