Which airlines are planning to use the Airbus A380 when travel returns?

The Airbus A380 is an amazing aircraft from a passenger point of view. It’s quiet, spacious and usually features an airlines newest and best product on board.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is clear that certain airlines ordered the A380 for prestige more than anything else. They had problems profitably filling the seats year round and looked to get rid of the aircraft. The pandemic only accelerated this trend.

Airlines Retiring The A380

Several airlines have decided to remove the superjumbo from service entirely, with the latest being Malaysia Airlines. They have been trying to find something to do with their A380s for several years now (selling them, using them for Hajj charters – you name it, they’ve floated the idea), so it is no surprise at all that their CEO sees no future for the plane in their fleet.

Who else will jettison the plane from their fleet? It’s a list of some very high quality airlines – Air France, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Thai Airways have all indicated it’s curtains for the superjumbo.

Who Is Keeping The A380?

Emirates ordered almost exactly half of all A380s ever produced, with 123 of the 251 produced flying for the Dubai based carrier. They will, of course, be keeping the aircraft in service.

Others who have stated they have plans for the big jet include launch customer Singapore Airlines, who plan to keep 12 of their 19. Australia’s Qantas and British Airways also plan to return the A380 to service. No word yet on what will happen to Korean Air’s 10, Asiana’s six, China Southern’s five and ANA’s three (which were only delivered right before the pandemic).

Overall Thoughts

Devotees of the Airbus A380 will be seeing the aircraft in the sky for many years to come. Emirates will continue to have it as the backbone of their fleet through the rest of the decade.

Several years more service can be expected from Singapore Airlines, Qantas and British Airways as well. The A380 is dead, long live the A380!

Are you looking forward to flying on board the A380 again or are you happy to see it go? Thank you for reading and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.

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Featured image by TJDarmstadt on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons.
Lufthansa by Kiefer and Malaysia by Alex Beltyukov via Wikimedia Commons.