(DailyExpertNews) — The last Airbus A380 ever made has been delivered to Emirates, marking the end of an era for the superjumbo that was once touted as the future of aviation until airlines put it aside for smaller planes.
The huge double-decker aircraft, call sign A6-EVS, arrived in London on Thursday and will soon enter commercial service.
Beloved by many pilots and travelers alike, the A380’s days are numbered since 2019 when Airbus announced plans to cease production in the face of sluggish demand for its flagship aircraft.
Still, the era of the superjumbo isn’t quite over – the last A380 is also the 123rd A380 to join Emirates, while other airlines, including British Airways and Singapore Airlines, also still have superjumbos in their fleets.
The appeal of the superjumbo
The A380 is the largest mass-produced passenger aircraft ever developed. Its hefty size — it can accommodate up to 853 passengers in a spacious environment — and the quiet onboard experience are some of the reasons it has become so popular with passengers.
However, the plane never became a hit with airlines as Airbus had hoped. The A380 is expensive to run and is usually only viable on long-haul routes. It is also less environmentally friendly than more modern, smaller aircraft models.
In 2020 and 2021, the impact of the pandemic on the aviation industry left most of the world’s A380 fleet grounded. Lufthansa’s decision to park its A380 led the German airline to retire the superjumbos for good, while AirFrance also retired its last A380.
The last A380 has been delivered to Dubai-based airline Emirates.
Christian Charisius/Photo Alliance/Getty Images
Still, airlines seem to recognize the A380’s continued popularity, and after a pandemic hiatus, it has been slowly being reintroduced to some airlines’ schedules.
And while Airbus will no longer make superjumbos, travelers should be able to enjoy the A380 experience for years to come.
On delivery of the new aircraft in London, Emirates president Tim Clark said in a statement that the A380 “will remain Emirates’ flagship for years to come”, calling the aircraft “an essential pillar of our network plans”.
