Features

The A380 superjumbo: an update

23 Mar 2023 by BusinessTraveller
Emirates A380

The A380 was initially conceived back in the 90s, when hub-to-hub travel looked to be gaining prominence. Able to carry up to 853 passengers if configured in all-economy, the plane offered attractive economics to airlines looking to maximise limited slots at busy airports. Roomy interiors and a novelty of engineering also made it particularly popular with passengers. 

The first A380 aircraft was delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2007, and there have been 14 customers for the double decker superjumbo. Emirates is the biggest operator, having taken delivery of just under half (123) of the 251 superjumbos built.

However, as the aircraft came to market, an industry shift towards lower-capacity, direct routes, coupled with the aircraft’s expensive running costs, meant it quickly fell out of favour. In February 2019, Airbus began to wind down production of the aircraft, and Emirates took delivery of the final A380 in December 2021.

The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent global travel slowdown led many A380 operators to either place their superjumbos in storage or retire them completely. It looked like that was it for the giant aircraft. 

However, as demand for flights rebounds after the pandemic at the same time as delivery delays of new aircraft, airlines are starting to take another look at the A380, and existing fleets are gradually coming back into service.

Here we round-up the latest situation regarding the A380 fleets across all 14 operators. We’ll try our best to keep it up to date, but please do leave a comment if you think we’ve got anything wrong…

Air France

Air France A380

ANA

ANA's A380 sea turtle livery
  • How many A380s did ANA order? Three.
  • How many have been delivered? Three between 2019 and 2021, with the first flight operating on May 2019 between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes. ANA is currently flying three A380s.
  • Where are they flying to? All to Honolulu.
  • Configuration: 520 seats across four classes – eight in first class, 56 in business class, 73 in premium economy and 383 in economy.
  • Interesting fact: The livery of ANA’s A380 depicts the sea turtle, or “Honu” – considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Hawaii.

Asiana

Asiana A380
  • How many A380s did Asiana order? Six.
  • How many have been delivered? Six, with the first flight taking off at the end of 2013 and operating on routes to Los Angeles and New York.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes, Asiana is currently flying three A380s.
  • Where are they flying to? Los Angeles and Bangkok.
  • Configuration: 495 seats across three classes – 12 in first class suites, 66 in business class and 417 in economy.

British Airways

British Airways A380
  • How many A380s did British Airways order? 12.
  • How many have been delivered? 12, with the first entering service in 2013.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes, BA is currently flying 11 of the A380s.
  • Where are they flying to? Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Washington DC
  • Configuration: 469 seats across four classes – 14 first class suites, 97 Club World (business class), 55 World Traveller Plus (premium economy), 303 World Traveller (economy).
  • Review: Business Traveller reviewed Club World on BA’s A380 in 2013, and World Traveller Plus in 2015.

China Southern

China Southern A380
  • How many A380s did China Southern order? Five. China Southern was the first Chinese carrier to take delivery of an A380 aircraft.
  • How many have been delivered? Five in the autumn of 2011. The aircraft made its maiden flight from the Toulouse Airbus base to Hamburg in March of that year.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? No. China Southern has retired its A380 fleet.
  • Configuration: For information on layout and previous routes click here.

Emirates

Emirates takes delivery of 123rd and final A380

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways A380
  • How many A380s did Etihad Airways order? Ten.
  • How many have been delivered? Ten. The first flight was in December 2014 on the Abu-Dhabi-London Heathrow route.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? No. Etihad’s fleet of A380s is currently grounded, but the carrier recently announced that it would bring four of its superjumbos back into service in summer 2023.
  • Configuration: one The Residence suite, nine first class suites, 70 business class seats and 417 economy seats.
  • Review: Business Traveller has reviewed Etihad’s A380 service in both economy and business class.

Korean Air

Korean Air A380 (istock.com/Jozsef Soos)
  • How many A380s did Korean Air order? Ten
  • How many have been delivered? Ten, with the first flight taking place in June 2011 on the Seoul Incheon-Tokyo Narita route.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes, Korean Air is flying five A380s.
  • Where are they flying to? Bangkok and New York.
  • Configuration: 407 seats across three classes – 12 in first class, 94 in Prestige Class (business class) and 301 in economy.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa airline
  • How many A380s did Lufthansa order? 14.
  • How many have been delivered? 14. The first A380 entered service in June 2010 with a maiden flight between Frankfurt and Tokyo.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? No. Lufthansa has sold six of its A380s, with the remaining eight currently in storage as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The carrier has plans to return up to six of its superjumbos into service by 2024, and recently announced that it will resume A380 services between Munich and Boston from June 1 this year followed by services to New York JFK from July 4.
  • Configuration: You can read more about the layout and configuration of Lufthansa’s A380 here.
  • Review: Our Tried and Tested review of the business class seat on Lufthansa’s A380 aircraft can be read here.

Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines A380

Qantas

Qantas A380 flies over Sydney

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways’ Airbus A380
  • How many A380s did Qatar Airways order? Ten.
  • How many have been delivered? Ten. The carrier’s superjumbo made its maiden flight from the Airbus base in Toulouse to Hamburg in September 2013.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes, Qatar Airways is flying eight A380s. The airline grounded its A380 fleet during the Covid-19 pandemic, but has gradually been bringing it superjumbo fleet back into service, both to cover for its grounded A350 aircraft, and to fulfill demand during the recent FIFA World Cup.
  • Where are they flying to? Bangkok, London, Perth and Sydney.
  • Configuration: 517 seats – eight in first class, 48 in business class and 461 in economy.
  • Review: You can read our business class review of Qatar Airways’ inaugural A380 flight here, and more recently we reviewed the carrier’s A380 business class service on a flight to Doha during the World Cup.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380
  • How many A380s did Singapore Airlines order? 24. Singapore Airlines was the launch customer of the Airbus A380, with the aircraft entering commercial service on October 25, 2007, flying from Singapore to Sydney.
  • How many have been delivered? 24, although 12 has since been retired, leaving 12 superjumbos in SIA’s fleet.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes, SIA is flying ten A380s.
  • Where are they flying to? Singapore Airlines’ A380 currently serves worldwide destinations on its network including London, Sydney, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Mumbai, New Delhi and New York.
  • Configuration: 471 seats – six first class suites, 78 in business class, 44 in premium economy and 343 in economy.
  • Review: Business Traveller has reviewed SIA’s A380 cabins on several occasions – to browse our reviews click here. We most recently reviewed the retofitted business class product on the aircraft in early 2022.

Thai Airways

Thai Airways A380
  • How many A380s did Thai Airways order? Six.
  • How many have been delivered? Six. Thai Airways’ first A380 entered service on September 26, 2012.
  • Is the airline currently operating the A380? No. Thai Airways’ A380s are inactive and as spokesperson for the airline told Business Traveller the aircraft “are currently under resumption studies”. It was announced in Thai media recently that two of the airline’s A380s are up for sale.
  • Configuration: For information on Thai Airways’ A380 layout and configuration click here.
  • Review: Business Traveller last reviewed the Royal Silk (business class) product on a Thai Airways A380 flight between Hong Kong and Bangkok in 2016.

Words: Felicity Cousins

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