Pride of BA… gathering dust: £3billion worth of double-decker ‘superjumbo’ A380s languish on the tarmac at a French airport
- Eleven A380s – the world’s largest airliner, sit at Marcel Dassault airport in Chateauroux
- Various airlines stored aircraft there at a monthly cost of £4,500 per plane
- BA stored their planes here since April for about six months as spaces are cheap
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Their giant tails towering above a sunflower field, £3billion worth of double-decker BA superjumbo A380s languish on the tarmac at a French airport.
Eleven of the planes – the world’s largest passenger airliner – are grounded at Marcel Dassault airport in Chateauroux, 170 miles south of Paris.
They are among dozens of planes from various airlines being stored at the airport during the coronavirus outbreak at a monthly charge of up to £4,500 for each parking spot.
After starting to arrive in April, the BA planes are being stored there for about six months because parking spots are relatively cheap and plentiful. Clients also pay for landing fees and support teams, including security and maintenance.
There has been speculation about the future of BA’s A380s but a company source said ‘no further decisions have been made at present’. However, they added: ‘BA is currently operating 15 per cent of its normal schedule and continues to burn through £20million a day.’
Eleven of the planes – the world’s largest passenger airliner – are grounded at Marcel Dassault airport in Chateauroux, 170 miles south of Paris