Why is the A380 being retired?


Why is the A380 being retired? That was one of the reasons Air France, the first European airline to fly the jet, decided to ditch A380 on August 5. The estimated cost of upgrading economy and business classes, at over $45 million (£37m), was just too much compared to investing into newer aircraft instead.


Did any American Airlines buy the A380?

No US-based airline ever ordered the Airbus A380. With production ending next year, none ever will. Why was it that the A380 never sold in America, and what does that tell us about the issues with the plane? Let's find out.


How many A380 are there in the world?

As of December 2022, there were 237 aircraft in service with 16 operators worldwide.


What happens to retired A380s?

The remaining nine aircraft were due to be phased out slowly, but when the pandemic hit, the airline took the plunge and retired the remaining nine almost immediately. Eight of the aircraft were placed into storage where, according to planespotters.net, they remain to this day.


Is A380 coming back?

Now that the pandemic seems under control, the great queens of the sky are making a comeback. Etihad, Emirates, Lufthansa, Qantas, British Airways and other airlines, including new start-up Global, are putting the A380 back to work.


Who still flies A380?

As of August 2023, ten airlines are still operating the Airbus A380:
  • Emirates.
  • British Airways.
  • Singapore Airlines.
  • Qatar Airways.
  • Qantas.
  • Lufthansa.
  • Korean Air.
  • Etihad Airways.


Which is more comfortable A380 or 777?

A380: Definitely more comfortable with better cabin pressure compared to others. I hated the extended take-off time as the plane is generally pushed to some gate far away at the airport. B777: I've flown with most B777 models and mostly flown with 300 ER which is a pretty good plane for long haul.


Which airport has the most A380s?

Regarding airports, it's hardly surprising that the world's largest operator, Emirates, with 119 A380s in its fleet, made Dubai International Airport (DXB) the busiest airport for A380 flights.


Who flies A380 to New York?

Lufthansa's A380 return to New York The giant jet returns just in time for the summer high season and will offer a welcome 80% boost in capacity compared to Lufthansa's Airbus A340s, which previously served this route.


Will there ever be a plane bigger than the A380?

For now, the upper limit for current and proposed aircraft seems to be around the 400-seat mark. Many current A380s are likely to be phased out over the next decade, if not sooner. As such, it seems very unlikely that we will see another aircraft of its size any time soon.


Why are A380s being phased out?

“While beloved by passengers for its spacious cabin, the A380 is more expensive to operate and maintain than newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.” As fuel prices skyrocketed, twin-engine planes that could service the same routes became seen as a more cost- and environmentally-friendly choice, Birdsong says.


What will replace the A380?

Currently, the world's biggest international airline has on order 50 A350-900s, 30 787-9s and 115 Boeing 777Xs. The airline operates 119 A380s, 123 Boeing 777-300ERs and 10 Boeing 777-200LRs. The 777X aircraft will replace the A380s, while the A350s and 787s will eventually replace the 777s.


Who bought the last A380?

On 16 December 2021, Emirates received its 123rd A380, which was the 251st and last delivered by Airbus. The A380's estimated $25 billion development cost was not recouped by the time Airbus ended production.


Is the Airbus A380 still being used?

The iconic A380 has flown over 800,000 flights carrying more than 300 million passengers since its entry into service. As production comes to a close, the A380 will keep flying for decades to come, and Airbus is continuing to fully support A380 operators and their fleets. This is a modal window.


Why do airlines not like A380?

The arrival of the A380 in 2007 was poorly timed. The price of jet fuel had begun to creep up, and by 2007 was floating at around $4 a gallon. This made airlines shy away from the expensive to operate four engine jets of the 80s and 90s, and to look instead to fuel efficiency as a major deciding factor.


What is the most advanced commercial plane in the world?

Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the world's most modern aircraft.


How many A380 are still flying?

A total of 251 Airbus A380s were built and delivered for civil aviation. How many A380s are still flying? As of May 2023, about 130 A380s are in service - but several airlines plan to reactivate more aircraft during the year.


Is A350 better than A380?

Range and flexibility. Surprisingly, for all its size, the A380 can't go as far as the A350. The A350-1000 can travel more than 1,000 km (540 NM) further than the A380. Singapore Airlines has a special 'ultra-long-range' (ULR) A350-900, which operates on the longest route in the world, from Singapore to New York JFK.


Is 777X bigger than A380?

For one, the Airbus A380 has almost double the space onboard compared to the Boeing 777 series, thanks to its second level. This means the airline can afford to be a little more abundant with its first class and business class offerings onboard the A380 compared to the Triple Seven.


What is the longest direct flight in the world?

Currently, the bragging rights for the longest flight in the world belong to Singapore Airlines' New York City to Singapore route. Its longest flight path, which connects Singapore's Changi Airport with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, 9,585 miles away, takes 18 hours and 40 minutes.