In the end, double-deckers such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747 had a major issue: they had four engines. While having four engines and two decks allowed to carry more passengers in a single flight, it also led to higher costs.

The era of the "Superjumbo" double-decker aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747, has largely come to an end because the aviation industry has shifted toward a "point-to-point" travel model rather than the traditional "hub-and-spoke" system. Historically, double-decker planes were necessary to carry massive amounts of passengers between major hubs, but they were notoriously expensive to operate, requiring four engines that consumed vast amounts of fuel. Modern twin-engine jets, like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350, are significantly more fuel-efficient and can fly longer distances with fewer passengers, allowing airlines to offer direct flights between smaller cities. Additionally, double-decker planes required specialized airport infrastructure, such as double-level jet bridges, which limited where they could land. As of 2026, most airlines have retired their double-decker fleets in favor of these smaller, more versatile twin-engine planes that are easier to fill and more profitable to fly on a wider variety of global routes.