The Airbus A380 enabled the Dubai-based Emirates to put other established airline companies under pressure. However, after the Arab airline Emirates reduced its order, there was no basis for continued production, as Airbus announced in February 2019. Woefully, Airbus scheduled the final delivery of an A380 for December 2021.
Boeing 747 sat for a long time on the grand throne of the largest passenger aircraft in the modern world. Hence, Boeing and Airbus talked eagerly for three years about powerfully building a joint successor. However, therein common was no mutual agreement due to various legitimate reasons. Therefore, the responsible Airbus engineers started in 1996 to develop a superjumbo under the official name A3XX.
Airbus carefully examined various versions of a superjumbo. Ultimately, they wisely decided on a unique plane with two main floors. Furthermore, Airbus promptly published this gigantic bird with the name Airbus A380. At the end of 1999, France, Germany, Spain and Great Britain gave the green light for the impressive building of this Superjumbo. Instantly following that, the ambitious project got presented to various potential buyers. In brief, Emirates and Air France represent the first airlines to buy this new Superjumbo. Even before the successful production of the primary components promptly began in 2002. Besides, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa also opted for the A380.
Airbus A380 - launched
The first effective delivery took place in October 2007, ordered by Singapore Airlines. The plane fitted 471 seats in three classes in their A380, using the upper deck for business class passengers. After that, the following three A380s were also delivered to Singapore Airlines. After that, Emirates enthusiastically received its first Superjumbo in July 2008.
In September of the same year, the Australian Qantas followed as the third leading operator. In 2013, the 100th A380 went to Malaysia Airlines.
While the Superjumbo mainly flies considerable distances, there are also ultra-short flights. Emirates has been operating efficiently from Dubai to Muscat since July 2019, flying 340 kilometres with a flight time of 1:10 hours.
The currently most extended flight with an A380 is on top set by the same airline, from Dubai to Auckland. This flight comes with a considerable distance of 14,193 kilometres and a flying time of 16:05 hours, respectively.
That is close to the longest scheduled flight with an Airbus A350-900ULR, 16,700 kilometres. Hence, the stunning 18:45 flight time between Singapore and New York Newark by Singapore Airlines.
Giant airplanes not anymore in demand
2013 was the last year with a healthy order balance for the Superjumbo, with buyers ordering 42 A380s. In the following year, there were only 13, and in 2015, only two direct orders. In 2016 there were hopelessly no orders at all. In 2017 the negative balance was admittedly minus two, and in 2018, four due to cancellations. 2019 scarcely began with the further removal of eight A380S by Qantas.
Hence, the dying days of giant aeroplanes in the passenger business seem to be over. Also, the previous Superjumbo, the Boeing 747, is mainly built as a freight version. Airbus had also planned a cargo version, the A380 F, but never implemented it.
To date, Airbus has promptly delivered 234 A380s. Forty on top of that are to follow. Irrespective of the recent unfavourable news and controversial figures, the A380 undoubtedly possesses an excellent record.
Too big, too heavy, unprofitable: the Airbus A380’s destructive path from prestige aircraft to discontinued model was already mapped out. The Corona crisis radically anticipates the demise of the world’s largest passenger aircraft – and almost forces modern planes to the graveyard.
Emirates and the Airbus A380
To a great degree, for the leading airline Emirates, the business model genuinely seems to base firmly on the Airbus A380 due to airport capacity issues. Probably now even more since Dubai halts the Mega-Airport Project “Al Maktoum International” as Gulf economies stumble.
Despite this, various local news channels lately reported that Emirates, with a total order of 123 Airbus A380s soon, will phase out the more outdated models and that the number should stabilise at 115. However, this considerable number will be progressively reduced to 90 to 100 from 2025 onwards, although Emirates prominently mentioned that A380s would be extensively used in 2035.
The Airbus A380 remains our favourite aircraft. We often explicitly choose longer routes with the A380 in service. It’s a majestic way to land and roll to the dock, and the gentle path back to the sky is unattainable.
In addition, the space on board is unsurpassable. Moreover, the plane is extremely quiet outside and inside and allows you to sleep without any problems, but unfortunately, you can hear the snoring of your seat neighbours.
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36 Responses
As a business traveller with Goldman Sachs, I recently had the opportunity to fly on the Airbus A380 in first class with Qantas from Sydney to New York. It was an incredible experience from start to finish. The first-class cabin was spacious, luxurious and incredibly comfortable. The seat was broad, with ample legroom, and the in-flight entertainment system was top-notch. Thanks to the stable wifi connection, I could work on my laptop and conduct conference calls. The service provided by the flight attendants was exceptional as well; they were always attentive to my needs and went above and beyond to ensure my flight was comfortable.
I also had the opportunity to fly on the Airbus A380 in economy class with Air France from Paris to New York with my three kids. I was a bit apprehensive about how the flight would go with the kids, but I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable and enjoyable the flight was. The cabin was spacious, and the kids had plenty of room to move around. The in-flight entertainment system kept them entertained for hours and the meals were delicious and kid-friendly. The flight attendants were also incredibly patient and kind with my kids, helping to make the flight a stress-free experience. Overall, the Airbus A380 exceeded my expectations and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable and enjoyable flight experience.
As a celebrity, I recently had the opportunity to fly on the Airbus A380 in first class from Singapore to Switzerland. It was an experience like no other. The moment I stepped into the first-class cabin, I knew I was in for a treat. The cabin was luxurious and spacious, with plush seats that were fully reclinable and offered plenty of legroom. The in-flight entertainment system was state-of-the-art, with a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and music to keep me entertained throughout the flight.
The service provided by the flight attendants was exceptional as well. They were always attentive to my needs and went above and beyond to ensure my flight was comfortable. They even went out of their way to provide me with a special meal request, which was delicious. I could work on my laptop and conduct business easily thanks to the stable wifi connection, and the privacy of the first-class cabin allowed me to relax in peace.
The flight on the Airbus A380 was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The level of luxury, comfort and service provided by the airline exceeded my expectations, making it the perfect choice for a high-profile traveller like myself. I highly recommend the Airbus A380 to anyone looking for a first-class travel experience.
I recently took a business class flight from Dubai to Los Angeles with Emirates Airlines, and I have to say, it was a truly luxurious experience. From the moment I boarded the plane, I was impressed by the level of comfort and service provided by the airline. The seats were spacious and plush, with ample legroom and storage space for my carry-on items.
One of the highlights of the flight was the dining experience. The food was delicious, and the menu offered various options. I particularly enjoyed the steak and the seafood, which were perfectly cooked. The accompanying wines were also high quality and paired perfectly with the food. The flight attendants were attentive and ensured that my dining experience was enjoyable.
The service provided by the flight attendants was top-notch. They were friendly, professional and always willing to assist with any needs. They went above and beyond to ensure that every passenger was comfortable and had a pleasant flight experience.
Sleeping on the flight was also a delight. The seats reclined fully and had comfortable mattress pads and blankets. The cabin lighting and noise levels were also well-adjusted, providing a peaceful and serene atmosphere for rest.
Overall, the business class experience on this flight was genuinely luxurious. The comfort, service, food, and wine were all top-notch, and I highly recommend this airline to anyone looking for a comfortable and luxurious travel experience.
I completely agree with you about the Airbus A380. The luxury and comfort in business class is unparalleled, and the food and wine selection is top-notch. The entertainment system is also fantastic, with a wide variety of options to choose from. I also loved the bar in the back of the upper deck on the plane. It’s a great place to relax and socialize with other passengers. The A380 truly takes flying to the next level and makes long-haul flights much more enjoyable. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a truly luxurious travel experience.
For me, the favourite plan, especially their business class. That is how travelling should be – calm and spacious.
When you think of the Airbus A380, you automatically think of Emirates: the Dubai-based airline is the largest fleet of the Airbus double-decker, with over 100 of them. With this fleet, Emirates flies around the world in its extensive route network from Dubai and offers practical connecting flights from Europe – especially to Asia. So I always take a diversion.
Unique. The interior offers much more space than other machines, even in Eco. The sound insulation is phenomenal, and it is very relaxing to travel.
I have already flown from Germany to the west coast of the USA (and back) with Lufthansa and Air France.
– When you take off, you are not glued to your seat. It feels like a huge ocean liner taking off.
– Much more space in the common areas to walk around and relax during the 7h30 flight.
– The individual screens with films, TV series, documentaries, music, games, …
– The USB socket next to the screen allows you to charge your smartphone, tablet, or camera, …
– Cameras that allow you to see the plane
British Airways are a rather average airline in terms of economy class. The staff are efficient and get the job done, but they tend to lack that extra quality found in rival airline Virgin Atlantic. The inflight entertainment was quite good, as was my very comfortable seat. I did not get to try out any of the meals offered because I was asleep when they were being served. As an aviation enthusiast, what brought the flight up immensely was the plane I was flying, the Airbus A380. It is an excellent, well-built, stable plane, soldiering on through the remnants of Storm Dennis as we came down to the runway at Heathrow. I strongly recommend any flight on this magnificent plane, which is incredibly quiet and an absolute beast (it is the largest commercial airliner in the world).
The A380 is sadly on its way out, with Airbus stopping production in the coming years and the current pandemic hastening its departure. It will be a shame to see this fantastic plane go.
Qantas is now very rarely seen in Europe. For some time now, Australia’s largest airline has been operating all its flights to Europe via Dubai in cooperation with Emirates. Qantas itself still operates only the flight to London Heathrow. On my last flight to Australia, I had the opportunity to extensively test the Qantas Business Class in the Airbus A380 on the way from Los Angeles to Sydney for 15 hours. I was thrilled with this giant bird.
I arrived yesterday from the US on Qantas flight 94 (Airbus A380 800) from LA. I was so impressed with my journey from start to finish. I arrived at the gate in LA just as they were about to board, as my flight was delayed from Las Vegas due to bad East Coast weather.
The staff were so helpful checking at the departure gate, making sure my luggage would make the flight, and my upgrade request to business class on points came through at the last minute.
The crew were outstanding. I have never seen a crew work so hard with a smile always. It was a great team effort to prepare meals in a confined galley. Everything about the flight was perfect.
I fly this route twice a year and have experienced all classes.
The Airbus A380-800 is madness anyway. And “having” to sit in Business on the return flight because of overbooking. You could get used to it. In Eco, the service and food were also excellent.
I really hope that one day, there will be a successor. I love the Airbus A380! <3
Simply wish to say your article is as astounding.
The duration of the flight is no issue on this Airbus A380. I am always sad when the pilot announces the descent.
I am so happy that the Airbus A380 is back after corona :).
There have been and still are many reports about the A380 – and rightly so. The new mega-jumbo already looks very impressive. As soon as I arrived at the gate, it was clear that this aircraft still exerts a particular fascination on the passengers despite being in service for several months now. It was not for nothing that some passengers were glued to the gate window and marvelled at the A380, which already looked very powerful.
With Lufthansa from Bremen to Frankfurt/Main, where we first enjoyed the rich breakfast buffet in the Lufthansa Business Class Lounge, we boarded the Airbus A380 for New York. Ample seat pitch, friendly service, and a vast selection of in-flight entertainment made the journey “fly by”.
Some time ago, we flew Thai Airways First Class from Paris to Bangkok. Especially since the Airbus A380 has an extraordinary appeal and Thai Airways makes award seats available very reliably with low fees, this is undoubtedly a good choice for travelling to Asia.
Since many customers ask us again and again, for understandable reasons, whether they can fly the whole or just part of their flight to Australia or New Zealand with the new A380, we would like to give you a brief overview of the airlines with which this is currently possible. The development of the A380 represents a milestone in aviation history. The first flight on the Singapore – Sydney route with Singapore Airlines was celebrated accordingly in the media.
We flew from Munich via Dubai to Sydney in June 2022. The flight in the A380 was extraordinary in several respects. Despite the long flight, there was never any boredom. There was great in-flight service, fine food and drinks and a great personal entertainment programme. So the time flew by.
And the A380 is really impressive – take-off/landing and the flight like in a coach. And the seat width and legroom are also very generous.
Check out all A380 flights
https://www.radarbox.com/data/aircraft/A388
I love that Airplane. Much better than any US-plane.
Best wine cellar in the air when you fly the A380 with Emirates.
There’s life in the old dog yet: the third life of the Airbus A380
Many regretted the retirement of the Airbus A380. But now the giant aircraft, pronounced dead several times, is making an unexpectedly strong comeback. I am very pleased.
The king of the air is back. Lufthansa has just put the A380 back into service.
I flew with an Emirates Airbus A380 in business class from London via Dubai to Singapore. The lounge alone almost blew me away. The selection of delicious food should be cautiously approached because don’t forget that it gets even more plentiful on the plane. Once on the plane, I received a warm and helpful welcome, and a glass of vintage champagne from Veuve Clicquot 2012 was already waiting for me. The in-flight meal and the Bordeaux served were heavenly. The plane itself gets top marks from me. Very quiet, with no turbulence and simply plenty of space. Even the toilets are giant, and the one I used even had a window. Crazy. I love the Airbus A380 and would take the Dubai stop-over.
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I flew the Airbus A380 for the first time (economy) and I was amazed at the space and how quiet this plane is.
I often see the plane flying over our home every time I stop. It’s crazy that such a thing can fly.
I got to fly on the Airbus A380 once and it was so strange. You can hardly hear the turbines.
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is genuinely amazing.
I often accept a slightly longer journey. Just for this innovative plane.
After two years of flying other airlines, I got involved with Emirates again. Two years ago, the A380s were already severely damaged, so I voluntarily “lost” my status, but on my last flight – just “wow”. Super plane, service and wine list like in a noble restaurant. I’m already looking forward to the next flight: with Emirates.
Airbus rushed the A-380 into design and production to beat Boeing with a new jumbo jet since the 747 was ageing and a replacement was needed. Unfortunately, it did not live up to the expectations of the airlines and was not a bestseller. The A-350, on the other hand, was a new design.