Airbus is presenting a development study for an enhanced A380, the “A380plus”. The study includes aerodynamic improvements, including new winglets and other wing refinements that allow for up to 4% fuel burn savings.

Added to an optimised A380 maintenance programme and the enhanced cabin features first shown at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in April, the overall benefit is a 13% cost per seat reduction versus today’s A380.

The new winglets – designed to improve aerodynamics and reduce drag – measure approximately 4.7m in height (an uplet of 3.5m, and a downlet of 1,2m).

The optimised cabin layout based on the ‘cabin enablers’ presented at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), allows up to 80 additional seats thanks to redesigned stairs, a combined crew-rest compartment, sidewall stowage removal, a new 9-abreast seat configuration in premium economy and 11-abreast in economy.

The A380plus will have an increased maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 578t providing the flexibility of carrying up to 80 more passengers over today’s range (8,200nm), or flying 300nm further.

The A380plus features longer maintenance check intervals, a reduced six-year check downtime, and systems improvements, which will reduce maintenance costs and increase aircraft availability.

The key capacity boosters are:

• New Forward Stairs – 20 more passengers (Business, Premium Economy & Economy Classes),
• Combined Crew-Rest Compartment (CCRC) – three more passengers (Premium Economy),
• 11-abreast 3-5-3 economy layout on the main-deck – 23 more passengers (Economy Class)
• New Aft-Galley Stair Module (AGSM) – 14 more passengers + two food trolleys
• Upper-deck sidewall stowage removal – 10 more passengers (Business Class)
• Nine-abreast Premium Economy on the main deck – 11 more passengers (Premium Economy)