As many already know, the A380 never gained the popularity among airlines that Airbus
was hoping for. As more airlines make plans to retire the superjumbo, which carrier will
fly the last A380?
While 2020 has struck a debilitating blow to the type, the program has been struggling
for years. The superjumbo’s last order came in 2016 when ANA purchased three to fly its
prized Tokyo-Honolulu route.
The last A380 rolled off the production line in late September, marking the end of the
plane’s production just 15 years after it began.
In terms of future sales, a second-hand market for the A380 seems unlikely to spring up.
To date, only one airline has purchased a second-hand A380. Portuguese wet lease carrier
Hi Fly, bought a former Singapore Airlines aircraft.
Before we jump into the last operator of the A380, it’s important to note which airlines
still fly the aircraft, especially considering the spate of retirements this year. This list
includes planes currently in storage and whose status is yet to be confirmed since they are
yet to be formally retired. Here is the list of operators according to Planespotters.net:
Emirates – 115 aircraft ( with 8 pending, for delivery)
Singapore Airlines – 19 aircraft British Airways – 12 aircraft
Qantas – 12 aircraft Etihad – 10 aircraft
Korean Air – 10 aircraft Qatar Airways – 10 aircraft
Lufthansa – 7 aircraft Asiana – 6 aircraft
Malaysia Airlines – 6 aircraft Thai Airways – 6 aircraft
China Southern – 5 aircraft ANA – 2 aircraft ( with 1 pending, for delivery)
Hi Fly – 1 aircraft As is clear from the figures, Emirates is
the largest operator of the jet by a long shot. When all is said and done, Emirates
will operate 123 of the 251 A380s ever built. The plane has become synonymous with Emirates
as the airline has invested heavily in building its infrastructure around the superjumbo.
Singapore Airlines is the 2nd largest operator of the A380 with 19 planes. It also happens
to be the launch customer of the plane, taking its first delivery in 2007. Numbers quickly
drop off from there, with British Airways and Qantas each having 12, and Qatar, Etihad
and Korean with 10 each. So which airline will hold onto the plane
for the longest? When it comes to the question of who will
fly the last A380, things are a bit murky. No airline has laid out a specific timeline
for their A380s, with most plans up in the air due to the pandemic.
Emirates, the most likely contender, has said its plans to have the A380 in its fleet into
the 2030s, adding another decade to its passenger-service life.
Malaysia Airlines uses its A380s to fly a special pilgrimage service for Umrah and Hajj.
These routes need high capacity aircraft to fly between Malaysia and Jeddah and Medina
in Saudi Arabia, which means the A380 will fit the bill for years to come.
Malaysia Airlines also deploys its A380 on lucrative charter operations when they arise.
One notable event came after the collapse of Thomas Cook, when Malaysia’s A380 flew
between Manchester and Mallorca to repatriate stranded Britons.
Another possible candidate for the last A380 operator is Hi Fly. The wet lease provider
has seen strong demand for its superjumbo and has even considered purchasing another.
Wet-lease operators tend to hold onto their planes for a long time and they can quickly
be leased due to operational changes or special missions.
ANA is currently the youngest A380 operator, having only taken delivery of two A380s in
the last year. With one aircraft yet to be delivered, ANA could well be the last A380
operator simply due to its fleet’s age.
Regardless of who operates the last A380, it is sad to see so many airlines plan to
retire the type. The A380 gave airlines the chance to try out new luxury products, such
spacious bars, massive suites, and even showers. The end of the A380 means a return to single-deck
planes for the foreseeable future.
There is no definitive answer as to which airline will continue to fly the A380. Unlike
the 747, which will live on for decades as a cargo aircraft, the superjumbo has no such
future. For now, we should all try and catch a flight on the superjumbo as soon as the
pandemic is over and enjoy this technological marvel before it leaves the skies.
Which airline do you think will be the last A380 user? Give us your best guess in
the comments.