how much to wet lease an A380?

[TVR1]

So, it is my Monday off as usual and I'm trying to look at flights to Oz(ref my post in Travel and Holidays)one way, as I will be migrating.

Having the confidence of the totally ignorant, how hard, really, would it be to wet lease an A380, configure for maximum 800 'ish seats, sell the seats for a minumum cost but with some services and maybe have the flight coming back the other way for Oz to Uk/Europe migrants? The aircraft, being leased, then just goes back to sitting where it was for the next customer.

Now having done a little research (and some red wine) I have found at least 1 A380 that is for sale/lease http://www.aviatorsale.com/aix6292/.....

My main aim is to get a free flight for me (with someone else to take the hassle of selling the other tickets) and a little project to keep me buisy for a few weeks!

I have already thought of a name, 'Air Migration'.......

Any help or suggestions gratefully accepted!

[Simpo Two]

Sometimes intelligent ignorance is a very good starting point.

[FourWheelDrift]

A Russian selling a new Airbus A380?.....I must send him my bank details immediately. I see he works for a company that provides crews to ships. How on earth would he have got a brand new A380, unless one of the staff walked off the ship with the crate under his Ushanka.

[john_p]

A 747-400 would be a better bet, more likely of being able to charter one. There are only 30-ish built A380s and they are probably all in constant use!

A full 744 will take about 450 people and to fly on max tanks to the far east leaves not very much for cargo, say 20kg per person, making the 'migration' angle slightly tricky!

Airlines go bust left right and centre and they do this sort of stuff every day

[FasterFreddy]

FourWheelDrift said:

A Russian selling a new Airbus A380?.....I must send him my bank details immediately. I see he works for a company that provides crews to ships. How on earth would he have got a brand new A380, unless one of the staff walked off the ship with the crate under his Ushanka.

He seems to have a Eurocopter and a rather big uncut diamond/piece of glass for sale as well...

http://www.aviatorsale.com/aircraft/View_image.asp...

[TVR1]

Simpo Two said:

Sometimes intelligent ignorance is a very good starting point.

You tease me, Yes?

I picked the A380 as both a number of UK and Asian airports can accept it.Sydney,Melbourne and Adelaide can too. Also, the cost per hour/number of PAX seems to stack up for the lowest average seat cost. I had considered 747-400/800 but range/capacity seems to be at a disadvantage....

My 'confidence of the ignorant' was more a question of 'why not?' rather than 'it is not possible'.

[TVR1]

john_p said:

A 747-400 would be a better bet, more likely of being able to charter one. There are only 30-ish built A380s and they are probably all in constant use!

A full 744 will take about 450 people and to fly on max tanks to the far east leaves not very much for cargo, say 20kg per person, making the 'migration' angle slightly tricky!

Airlines go bust left right and centre and they do this sort of stuff every day

However, when I go, all I intend to take is hand luggage, pretty much everything has already been shipped and the last bits will be going in October. leaves a bit of room for profitable cargo too, yes?

[Simpo Two]

TVR1 said:

My 'confidence of the ignorant' was more a question of 'why not?' rather than 'it is not possible'.

I should perhaps have added a . The general concept is that coming to a situation with fresh eyes, you can often see better/faster ways of doing things than deadheads who've been staring at it for 20 years and bouncing off the same walls saying it can't be done.

However I presume you have not run an airline before!

[TVR1]

Simpo Two said:

TVR1 said:

My 'confidence of the ignorant' was more a question of 'why not?' rather than 'it is not possible'.

I should perhaps have added a . The general concept is that coming to a situation with fresh eyes, you can often see better/faster ways of doing things than deadheads who've been staring at it for 20 years and bouncing off the same walls saying it can't be done.

However I presume you have not run an airline before!

Cheers Simpo I did indeed read your reply in the wrong way. You have very eloquently stated what I was trying to think/express.

No, I havn't run an airline before but in the dim and distant past I night controlled a very buisy west London mini cab office (try that for logistical nightmares) in the recent past, I had to look after a (nameless) British sports car manufacturer, whilst the directors where away on 'business.' And more recently, I was able to stop bailiff enforcement action from Camden Council/Lords/Marsdens/Mckenzie Hall 'bailiffs' over a disputed parking ticket....try that for making the impossible happen! This I consider my greatest success of all!

[Elroy Blue]

There's a an A340 going cheap in Asia. Been parked and untouched for going on three years. For sale 'as is/where is' (which is aviation terms for 'its fooked')

[Mojocvh]

FourWheelDrift said:

A Russian selling a new Airbus A380?.....I must send him my bank details immediately. I see he works for a company that provides crews to ships. How on earth would he have got a brand new A380, unless one of the staff walked off the ship with the crate under his Ushanka.

I would be laughing too but his pullout cost me and a lot of connies our jobs, cest la vie!

[TVR1]

Mojocvh said:

FourWheelDrift said:

A Russian selling a new Airbus A380?.....I must send him my bank details immediately. I see he works for a company that provides crews to ships. How on earth would he have got a brand new A380, unless one of the staff walked off the ship with the crate under his Ushanka.

I would be laughing too but his pullout cost me and a lot of connies our jobs, cest la vie!

It's always the Russkies, isn't it?

deja Vu......

Edited by TVR1 on Monday 27th September 17:50

[Simpo Two]

TVR1 said:

in the dim and distant past I night controlled a very buisy west London mini cab office

Well, airliners are just very big flying taxis... just tack a few zeros onto the mileage, add a third dimension ('up'), and bish-bash-bosh you're on your way!

www.ruskin-air-services.co.uk

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 27th September 18:35

[shakotan]

FourWheelDrift said:

A Russian selling a new Airbus A380?.....I must send him my bank details immediately. I see he works for a company that provides crews to ships. How on earth would he have got a brand new A380, unless one of the staff walked off the ship with the crate under his Ushanka.

No A380s have been sold into non-airline hands, yet.

[TVR1]

Simpo Two said:

TVR1 said:

in the dim and distant past I night controlled a very buisy west London mini cab office

Well, airliners are just very big flying taxis... just tack a few zeros onto the mileage, add a third dimension ('up'), and bish-bash-bosh you're on your way!

www.ruskin-air-services.co.uk

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 27th September 18:35

FIRST.CLASS.MUCH.RESPECT.

I like this very much!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca1Psf5ZlCI

Although, seriously, the idea is still there, bouncing around my head...

[TVR1]

Although, I feel I must call for YODA on this one......


ERIC MC where are you?......I need a bean too. Also, looking at alternative(London'ish)airports.

Would Farnborough take one? Obviously yes, Air show, 2400M etc....but a fully loaded one with maximum weight? Time of year, cold and damp-so maybe just right?

My other thought was RAF Northolt? Long'ish at 1700M....but assuming that an A380 wouldn't be using minimum braking distance of 1200M would Northolt offer a gentle stopping distance in 1700M? And,would Northolt actually accept a heavy civil aircraft?(as in non military rather than the private small jets that they accept now?)

ETA....I may very well be able to land and take off for the return leg OK. I have a friend who may be able to help at RAAF Edinburgh (length just under 3000M but quite warm and humid in December)

or am I just better off concentrating on a 747-800?

Edited by TVR1 on Monday 27th September 19:31

[LHRFlightman]

I don't think Farnborough's conditions of use would allow an A380 charter flight. Plus I doubt they have the ground infrastructure to handle that many pax in one go.

As for Northolt, too close to Heathrow. They'd go nuts if you tried that.

It's a neat idea though.

[TVR1]

shakotan said:

FourWheelDrift said:

A Russian selling a new Airbus A380?.....I must send him my bank details immediately. I see he works for a company that provides crews to ships. How on earth would he have got a brand new A380, unless one of the staff walked off the ship with the crate under his Ushanka.

No A380s have been sold into non-airline hands, yet.

Yes, but Air France was using a 'surplus to requirements one' for the ferry hop between london and Paris. they couldn't think of anything better to do with it at the time, so put it to use......maybe my idea is a better one?

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/13/34...

Edited by TVR1 on Monday 27th September 19:41

[john_p]

Hilarious venture but an A380 is a non-starter
I reckon you'll be able to get an older 747 charted from someone, it'll have to go into an airport geared up for passengers, forget RAF bases or Farnborough.
I think the costs will make it a total non-starter, you are doing everything the airlines do except as a one-off instead of multiple times per day!

[Private Pile]

I'm sure i'll be corrected, but isn't this how Richard Branson started his airline? I recall him having his flight cancelled, so he chartered a plane and "sold" the spare seats?

O.P., go for it, you'll be the new Freddie Laker!