A converted Airbus A380 will become a hotel in Toulouse: Care to sleep in the cockpit?
Some people are saying “au revoir” to the Airbus A380, the world’s largest airplane. Others would prefer to say "bonjour.”
Frédéric Deleuze, a former Airbus engineer, is in the latter group. He plans to turn a retired A380 aircraft into a hotel in France, not far from the Toulouse airport (TLS). The hotel is expected open in early 2024.
Deleuze wants “to avoid scrapping such a structure that could be reused (and) to make a tribute to this wonderful aircraft, (which is) nearly a religion for all Airbus employees,” he told The Points Guy in an email.
Additionally, he said, “I love challenges and discovering new things continuously. Also, I always had in mind to create my own business.”
Asked whether he is targeting airplane geeks as patrons, Deleuze said, “I target both customer types, passionate or curious people, but also business (travelers) considering the location, in a great economic area, and the comfort proposed by the hotel.
“We hope to finalize the feasibility study (technical and economic) by the end of March,” Deleuze said. The planned site for the Envergure Hotel is north of the Toulouse-Blagnac airport (TLS), near the MEETT exhibition and convention center, which opened in 2020.
Deleuze declined to say what he paid for the aircraft.
The hotel will have 31 rooms including two suites, one in the cockpit and one in the aircraft’s upper level, accessible via the aircraft stairs. The suites are expected to cost around $350 a night. The standard rate for two people will range from around $125 to around $175.
Related: The best ways to redeem miles to fly on an A380
A 60-seat restaurant, attached to the aircraft, will be “integrated into a building using the metaphor of a control tower,” according to a press release, which described the hotel as “a place dedicated both to the curious, to enthusiasts, but also to tourists and professionals looking for marked originality and comfort.” The restaurant will offer “high-quality bistro cuisine,” and will seek to use local products, reduce waste and be staffed with well-treated employees, the press release said.
Airbus, which operates a plant in Toulouse, delivered its final A380 in December, after delivering 254 jets to airlines during 14 years of production. Emirates, by far the biggest customer, took about 123 aircraft. Airbus announced in 2019 that it would end production.
Pandemic speculation about the aircraft’s future has been inconsistent.
The A380, which can comfortably seat about 544 passengers in three classes, is instantly recognizable but financially unviable in many markets, because in general passengers prefer more frequent flights, which means smaller aircraft on each flight.
Related: Onboard the first British Airways post-pandemic A380 flight
In the early days of the pandemic, a time of reckoning for the industry, airlines parked their A380s, converted them to freighters or scrapped them. However, as the industry has recovered, about a third of the global fleet has started to fly again. According to Simple Flying, seven airlines led by Emirates have reactivated 79 aircraft from the Airbus A380 family.
Related: Airlines flying the A380
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.