Airbus has announced it will stop building the A380 after the type’s largest customer, Emirates, cut its A380 order by 39 aircraft.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders stated in an announcement that the is “no basis to sustain production, despite all our sales efforts with other airlines in recent years,”
Airbus says it will deliver its final A380 to Emirates in 2021. The carrier will retire some A380s as it takes delivery of newer examples, and the type is expected to remain with Emirates well into the 2030s.
Airbus hoped that the A380 would beat the competing Boeing 747, whose design dates back to the 1960s. They planned to sell at least 1,200 A380s, but will cease production after 234 have been built. Ironically, the Boeing 747 will continue in low-rate production after the A380 production ends.
Airbus intended the A380 to be a luxury aircraft with many amenities to improve the passenger’s experience. Some airlines included showers, lounges, duty-free shops and bars on their A380s. The aircraft is certified to carry up to 868 passengers in all-economy layout – 538 on the main deck and 330 on the upper deck, but most airlines carry between 500-550 passengers in three class configuration.
Most airlines preferred smaller twin-engined aircraft which could bypass hub airports and fly direct between cities, so Airbus struggled to sell the $446 million aircraft, which is the largest and most expensive commercial passenger aircraft ever made.
Qantas has also finally cancelled a long-postponed order for an additional eight A380s and Virgin Atlantic cancelled its order in 2018. Qatar Airways is also to gradually withdraw their A380s as they reach 10 years of age – from 2024 onwards.
David Eyre 
