The world’s largest passenger plane, also known as the “Superjumbo,” is making a rapid comeback after production was halted in 2021.
During Covid-19, many A380s were put into storage worldwide. Industry experts predicted that the planes would be scrapped in the coming years.
But with Boeing’s 737 Max production halted, Heathrow recording its highest passenger numbers ever and the industry booming in developing countries, airlines are restoring their reliable stock of A380s, much to the delight of the aviation industry.
“The A380 is an iconic aircraft in the aviation industry, unique in its kind, thanks to its ‘double-decker’ passenger decks,” said Kata Cserep, Global Head of Aviation, PA Consulting. “It offers ample space for luxury amenities such as in-flight lounges, bars and even showers on some airlines. And its rarity makes it a favorite among plane spotters.”
“The additional space on board also allows full-service airlines such as Emirates, British Airways or Etihad to innovate, surprising and delighting their passengers with luxurious onboard facilities, which is attractive for the revival of the high-priced leisure market.”
An A380 can accommodate a total of 519 passengers, with 14 seats in First Class, 76 in Business Class and 429 seats in Economy Class. According to Airbus, this is the largest and most spacious passenger aircraft in the world, having flown more than 800,000 flights carrying more than 300 million passengers since it entered service.
But to build an aircraft of this size, amid rising global fuel prices and with luxury at the forefront of the A380’s design, had cost $25 billion (£19.7 billion) to develop by 2014.
Although it aimed to challenge the Boeing 747’s dominance in the long-haul market, it failed to achieve a similar level of popularity, with only around 250 A380s built, compared to more than 1,500 of the 747s. Meanwhile, rising fuel costs worldwide made the cost of flying jumbo jets prohibitive, leading airlines to opt for smaller, more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft that could serve long-haul routes more economically, experts say.
But since the pandemic, the aviation industry has been booming. According to Stitssta, global air passenger demand grew by more than 64 percent in 2022 compared to the previous year, when passenger demand increased by almost 22 percent. This figure is expected to increase further, reaching 9.8 percent by the end of 2024.
Ms Cserep said: “The recovery in air travel after the pandemic has led to significant increases in passenger numbers, especially on high-density routes such as London to Dubai, London to Los Angeles, Dubai to Sydney, London to Singapore; making the A380’s large capacity advantageous.
“The A380s still have a long service life and while they may not be as fuel efficient as the latest generation options, an aircraft that is flying and full of passengers is better than one that is grounded or not yet built.”
It comes after Etihad Airlines resumed flights with the Airbus A380 in 2023, transporting the double-decker from its long-term storage facility in Spain to its home port in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The plane now flies from Abu Dhabi International Airport to London Heathrow, while they have also flown to New York. Flight schedule data shows that the airline has scheduled more weekly flights in the second half of 2024 and into 2025.
Meanwhile, Global Airlines says it has received approval for an A380 flight on April 26. “There were times when I thought the plane wouldn’t leave America,” said Global founder James Asquith. But he said the plane’s arrival at Prestwick – the first landing for the type at the Scottish airport – means the company is “in a position and a place where we can take further steps forward.”
British Airways (BA) currently operates twelve A380s, which serve major U.S. cities including Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco. The aircraft also fly to Vancouver, Singapore, Johannesburg and Hong Kong.
BA is in talks with Airbus about the possible purchase of new A380-800s, according to sources reported by Bloomberg News. Last year, BA’s parent company, IAG International Airlines Group, considered buying six or seven used A380s, but has shifted its focus to purchasing new aircraft due to the high costs associated with the used planes.
But BA’s interest in the A380s is still driven by the need to maximise the limited slots at London Heathrow for high-demand flights. With slots at Heathrow becoming increasingly scarce, BA is unable to increase flight frequencies to certain destinations and is instead switching to larger aircraft to carry more passengers.
For Airbus, a new order from IAG would help support demand for the A380, while Emirates, the largest operator of A380s, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for twenty new A380-800s, with an option for a further sixteen, aiming to support of the aircraft. future.
Chris Goater of the IATA told it i: “We expect demand for air travel to continue to grow globally, but particularly in markets such as India, China, Latin America and Africa. To meet this demand, airport capacity will need to be expanded. In markets where airport expansion is limited, the potential for deploying larger aircraft can help alleviate some of the capacity pressure.”
Mr Lavelle said: “Passenger traffic has picked up again after the pandemic, along with more stable fuel prices, meaning that flying the A380 makes economic sense again.”