Officially launched by Airbus in December 2000, the Airbus A380 will have had the shortest life of any of the European aircraft manufacturer's models. Production lasted just 19 years between the manufacture of the first wing boxes in 2002 and the last aircraft delivered to Emirates in 2021. And only 14 years, if we take into account the first aircraft delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2007.
All in all, Airbus has delivered 251 aircraft whereas the aircraft manufacturer was initially counting on 1,400 units for the very large aircraft market. The operating cost, more expensive than a twin-engine jet, fuel consumption and a change in traffic paradigms with more direct intercontinental routes (rather than via hubs) have affected the trajectory of the A380. Air France stopped operating its 10 A380s from 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.
Ten airlines are still using the A380
And yet, three years after the end of Covid, the Airbus A380 returns. And this time for reasons that have to do with the breaks in air capacity since the pandemic. Firstly, production delays on the assembly lines for the new aircraft. And demand far outstripping supply. For the airlines that still own Airbus A380s, the device can in fact compensate for this dichotomy between supply and demand.
In 2023, ten airlines will still be flying the Airbus A380, with companies such as British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines having decided to reinstate their mega-jumbos in their fleets.
Emirates alone operates nearly 70% of all the A380 routes, with 88 aircraft in service.. That's 2.4 million seats in October. Next in terms of A380 seat capacity British Airways and Singapore Airlines. The former offered 240,000 seats in October, the latter 233,000. SIA will also be offering a daily flight by A380 from Frankfurt in spring 2024.
Lufthansa is also reinstating all its A380s by 2025 - a total of eight aircraft. The summer of 2023 has seen the German airline as well as Etihad Airways reactivate some of their aircraft.
Other airlines using the A380 include All Nippon Airways, Asiana, Korean Air, Qantas and Qatar Airways.
Emirates gives its A380s a facelift
Better still, it seems that the A380 now has a bright future ahead of it. Emirates announced at the Dubai International Air Show intends to double its investment to maintain and improve operational efficiencyWe are also working to maximise the performance and reliability of our aircraft fleet over the next decade.
The airline has signed agreements worth more than 1.5 billion dollars with its suppliers and partners to improve the performance of its A380s. The airline will be working with Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Safran and Lufthansa Technik, among others, to optimise the lifespan of its A380 fleet and achieve further gains in operational efficiency. The on-board experience for passengers will also be enhanced.
For Tim ClarkChairman of Emirates, " the A380 has been and will continue to be an integral part of Emirates' history. Its size and capacity have enabled Emirates to accelerate growth at some of the world's busiest airports and open up new opportunities for travellers. Our confidence in the A380 is the reason why we invest heavily in keeping the fleet in top shape and pristine condition. The A380 will remain at the heart of our network and our offer for the next ten years" .
