Airbus Says The Return Of The A380's Production Is Not Ruled Out

Summary

The head of Airbus’ civil aircraft division does not completely rule out the possibility of A380 production returning.
The A380 aircraft has faced issues with its excessive capacity, limited routes, and high fuel consumption.
UK-based airline, Global Airlines, plans to use second-hand A380s, signaling confidence in the aircraft.

Airbus has not entirely dismissed the possibility of resuming production of the Airbus A380 double-decker, the head of Airbus’ civil aircraft division told Hamburger Ambendblatt publication. Nevertheless, the chances of this happening are low.

“The door is closed, but it is not locked”

The Airbus A380 quadjet has been a great aircraft despite challenges, with 251 orders and a significant impact on the aviation industry. Launched at a ceremony in Toulouse in 2005, the A380 conducted its maiden flight in April 2005 and achieved certification in December 2006.

Photo: British Airways, Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

Production has now ended, and the last aircraft was delivered to Emirates in December 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous retirements and operational challenges led to the belief that the Airbus A380 would not return. However, as passenger traffic rebounded post-pandemic, some airlines indicated a demand for higher-capacity aircraft. For example, both Lufthansa and Etihad Airways have reintroduced their Airbus A380 widebody aircraft.

Another Etihad Airways Airbus A380 Returns To Service

This will be Etihad Airways’ fifth active Airbus A380 once the double-decker returns from heavy maintenance.

Emirates, on the other hand, the largest operator of the type, has consistently held out hope for a potential new edition, the Airbus A380neo. Discussing the possibility of restarting production of the world’s largest passenger aircraft with Hamburger Abendblatt, Christian Scherer stated that,

“The door is closed, but it is not locked. In industry, nothing is ever ruled out.”

Scherer also pointed out that the market is currently strongly oriented towards twin-engine jets. Therefore, he views the chances of a comeback for the four-engine Airbus A380 aircraft as extremely slim, according to a report by aeroTELEGRAPH. Presently, a total of 145 Airbus A380s are in active service across ten airlines, as per ch-aviation data.

What were the issues with the Airbus A380?

There were certain issues as to why the European aircraft manufacturer ended the A380 production. The key issues with the Airbus A380 for airlines included its excessive capacity, limited route suitability, and heavy weight requiring high fuel consumption.

An Emirates Airbus A380 sporting a new livery.

Could The Airbus A380 Be Redesigned To Make It Profitable?

10 of the 14 initial operators of the type have the A380s in service today.

One of the challenges was finding a second-hand market for the Airbus A380, mainly because of its age and the specialized design requirements at airports. Flag carriers prefer new planes and become apprehensive about aircraft over ten years old. They aim to replace older aircraft with new ones, posing a question: what to do with the aging A380s?

Photo: vaalaa | Shutterstock

A new UK-based airline, Global Airlines, plans to revolutionize air travel with its fleet exclusively composed of second-hand Airbus A380s. This move signifies a vote of confidence in the A380, despite Airbus halting its production in 2021 due to insufficient orders to sustain the program.

Global Airlines originally intended to commence its Airbus A380 flights in either the spring or summer of 2024. However, the airline has now rescheduled its inaugural flight for 2025.