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BA’s fleet of 12 Airbus A380 aircraft is a minnow compared to Emirates’ fleet of 101 aircraft.
They may also not have the on board bars and showers of Emirates. However, BA is the only operator of the Airbus A380 direct from London across to North America. It is by far the best aircraft to fly across the Atlantic, compared to the quartet of Boeing 747, 767, 777, and 787 widebodies that ply across the Atlantic daily.
So here’s our guide to where you can fly the BA Airbus A380 throughout 2018 and into early 2019.
Please note that schedules are subject to change due to operational requirements. Aircraft can also be substituted at very short notice due to unexpected maintenance requirements. Flights are now on sale at ba.com
Update January 2019: An updated guide for 2019 has now been published.
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Boston
One of BA’s four daily flights from London Heathrow and Boston, flights BA213 & BA212, will be operated with the A380 between Sunday 25 March 2018 and Friday 26 October 2018 on Monday, Friday and Sunday.
The A380 will then operate daily on flights BA213 & BA212 for the entirety of the summer 2019 season from Sunday 31 March 2019 to Saturday 27 October 2019.
Chicago O’Hare
The BA A380 will fly to Chicago O’Hare for the first time from Friday 4 May 2018. Flight BA297 & BA296 will be operated with the A380 daily until Saturday 27 October 2018.
The A380 will then resume daily on flights BA213 & BA212 for the entirety of the summer 2019 season from Sunday 31 March 2019 to Saturday 27 October 2019.
Hong Kong
BA now flies the Airbus A380 on one of its two daily flights between London Heathrow and Hong Kong, flights BA31 & BA32. The remaining flight, BA27 & BA28, is operated with a Boeing 777-300 aircraft.
These flights will swap aircraft from Sunday 28 October 2018 with BA27 & BA28 operated with the Airbus A380.
Johannesburg
BA operates the Airbus A380 on both of its twice daily services from London Heathrow to Johannesburg until Saturday 24 March 2018.
From Sunday 25 March 2018, flights BA55 & BA56 continue to be operated with the Airbus A380. Flights BA57 & BA54 will be operated with a Boeing 747.
From Sunday 28 October 2018, the two daily flights BA55 & BA56 / BA57 & BA58 will be operated with the Airbus A380. BA will also introduce a third daily flight, BA51 & BA52, operated with a Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
Los Angeles
BA operates the Airbus A380 on one of its three daily services from London Heathrow to Los Angeles year round, flights BA269 & BA268.
Flights BA283 & BA282 operate with the Airbus A380 until Saturday 27 October 2018, when it switches to a Boeing 747.
From Sunday 31 March 2019, flights BA269 & BA268 will operate with the Airbus A380 on Monday, Friday and Sunday only,
Miami
BA operates one of two daily flights to Miami, flights BA208 & BA209, with the Airbus A380 in the winter season until Monday 30 April 2018.
The route operates with a Boeing 747 twice daily until Saturday 27 October 2018. The A380 then returns to flight BA208 and BA209 from Sunday 28 October 2018 until Sunday 14 April 2019.
BA will also introduce a second daily Boeing 747 service, flights BA210 & BA211, from Sunday 28 October 2018, replacing an American Airlines flight. This will take BA operated services to Miami to three flights a day.
San Francisco
BA flies the Airbus A380 from London Heathrow to San Francisco on one its daily flights, BA286 & BA287, on Monday, Thursday, Saturday until Saturday 24 March 2018.
The Airbus A380 operates daily from Sunday 25 March 2018 to Saturday 27 October 2018.
From Sunday 28 October 2018, BA286 & BA287 will be operated with the Airbus A380 on Monday, Thursday, Saturday until Saturday 30 March 2019. It then resumes a daily service from Sunday 31 March 2019 to Sunday 27 October 2019.
Singapore
BA now flies the Airbus A380 on one of its two daily flights between London Heathrow and Singapore, flights BA11 & BA12.
The remaining flight, BA15 & BA16, which continues from Singapore to Sydney is operated with a Boeing 777-300 aircraft.
Vancouver
The Airbus A380 operates on this route daily from Tuesday 1 May 2018 to Sunday 30 September 2018. The route then returns to a Boeing 747.
The A380 will then resume from Sunday 5 May 2019 to Monday 30 September 2019.
Will BA order more Airbus A380s?
This decision rests with BA’s parent company, International Airlines Group. It has options for a further 7 aircraft, which it has not yet exercised. IAG has expressed an interest in leasing second hand Airbus A380s, but nothing has come of this. The main benefit of this would be to give IAG the flexibility to return aircraft to lessors in a downturn.
The A380 is clearly performing well for BA and there is scope to add more frequencies to existing A380 routes and add new routes such as Cape Town, Dubai and many other gateways in North America. Ultimately, it comes down to whether IAG can secure a price it considers reasonable.
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Regarding Chicago – I think you mean BA 294/295 will be the A380. 296/297 will continue to be a 777.
BA seem to be using the Boeing 777 on the SFO-LHR route the most during the winter, with the 747 on occasions. 747s have been reburbished and are still wonderful planes.
The 777 feel and look old, BA need to use A380s and or invest in the new 747s for such a long and busy route. Two flights a day and they are full.
Maybe its time to look at cheaper airlines if I am to suffer lower grade aircraft.