The A380 superjumbo: an update

The first Airbus A380 aircraft was delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2007, and there have been 14 customers for the double decker superjumbo.

Emirates is by far the biggest operator, having taken delivery of just under half (123) of the total 251 superjumbos built.

In February 2019 Airbus confirmed plans 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 into storage or retire them completely, but as demand for flights rebounds the remaining fleets are gradually coming back into service.

Here is our round-up of 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…

• How many A380s did Air France order? Ten.
• How many have been delivered? Ten. The first A380 entered service on October 30, 2009 and made its maiden passenger flight in November with a flight from Paris to New York.
• Is the airline currently operating the A380? No. In 2019 Air France announced plans to gradually retire its A380 fleet. This process was accelerated by the Covid-19 crisis, with the carrier confirming in May 2020 that its superjumbos would not return to service.
• How many of the A380 fleet are flying? None.
• Configuration: See our layout information for the Air France A380 here.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? Three.
• Configuration: You can read about the four class seating on the ANA A380 here.
• Interesting fact: The livery of ANA’s A380 depicts the sea turtle, or “Honu” – considered a symbol of good luck and prosperity in Hawaii where the majority of the carrier’s superjumbo flights operate to.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? Three.
• Where are they flying to? Los Angeles and Bangkok.
• Configuration: You can see Asiana’s A380 seat plan here.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? 11.
• Where are they flying to? Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Washington DC
• Configuration: Four classes carrying 469 people. You can read more about the configuration here.
• Review: Business Traveller reviewed Club World on BA’s A380 in 2013, and World Traveller Plus in 2015.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? None – China Southern has retired its A380 fleet.
• Configuration: For information on layout and previous routes click here.

• How many A380s did Emirates order? In total the carrier order 162 superjumbo aircraft, although 39 of these were cancelled as part of Airbus’ decision to cease production of the aircraft.
• How many have been delivered? 123. The first Emirates A380 entered service on August 1, 2008, with the final superjumbo being delivered to the carrier in December 2021.
• Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes.
• How many of the fleet are flying? Around 90.
• Where are they flying to? Routes across the carrier’s network.
• Configuration: Emirates has a total of seven different configurations across its A380 fleet. The carrier is in the process of retrofitting 67 of its superjumbos with premium economy, as part of what it says is the “largest known fleet retrofit” project.
• Review: Business Traveller has reviewed Emirates’s A380 aircraft on numerous occasions – to browse our reviews click here.
• Interesting fact: In 2021 Emirates announced plans to upcycle and recycle its first retired A380 superjumbo, with the aircraft’s onboard bar being transformed into a piece of bespoke furniture.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? None.
• 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.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? Five.
• Where are they flying to? Bangkok and New York JFK.
• Configuration: A total of 407 seats across three classes – 12 Kosmo Suites, 94 Prestige business class seats and 301 economy seats.

• 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. However in June 2022 the carrier announced plans to return an undecided number of its superjumbos into service in summer 2023.
• How many of the fleet are flying? None.
• 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.

• How many A380s did Malaysia Airlines order? Six.
• How many have been delivered? Six. The carrier’s superjumbo first operated in May 2012 and its flagship route was Kuala Lumpur to London.
• Is the airline currently operating the A380? No. Malaysia Airlines announced plans to retire its A380 fleet in 2021.
• How many of the fleet are flying? None.
• Configuration: You can read about the class configuration and layout of Malaysia Airlines A380s here.
• Review: Business Traveller last reviewed the carrier’s A380 business class service in 2018.

• How many A380s did Qantas order? 12
• How many have been delivered? 12, with the first being delivered in September 2008. Two have since been retired.
• Is the airline currently operating the A380? Yes.
• How many of the fleet are flying? Qantas recently brought its sixth A380 out of storage.
• Where are they flying to? Singapore, London Heathrow and Los Angeles.
• Configuration: Qantas recently refurbished its A380 aircraft, which now offer 485 seats – 70 in business class, 60 in premium economy and 341 in economy.
• Review: Business Traveller was on the delivery flight of Qantas’ first A380 back in 2008, and more recently we reviewed the first class product on the aircraft in 2019.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? Eight. 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.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? Ten.
• 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 suites, 78 business class seats, 44 premium economy seats and 343 economy seats.
• Review: Business Traveller has reviwed 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.

• 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.
• How many of the fleet are flying? None.
• Plans for the future? 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