In Simple Terms: Why the Airbus A380 Never Took Off

Image: unsplash.com/@tim_denn

This week, Airbus delivered their last ever A380 jet to Emirates, an airline known for their support of the superjumbo jet.

This delivery marked the end of an era in commercial aviation.

During the aircraft’s final test flight, the flight crew scribbled a heart shaped flight path into the skies.

Loved by passengers and aviators alike, in this article we answer the question:

Why did the A380 never take off?

The background of the A380

The A380 project was originally announced by Airbus in 1990, with an aim to challenge the Boeing 747’s dominance of the long haul airliner market.

Airbus and Boeing essentially hold a duopoly over the aircraft manufacturer market, placing them in direct competition with each other.

In January 2005 the first A380 prototype was revealed, and its first test flight took place later on that year.

By the end of 2006, the aircraft was certified by EU and US regulators EASA and the FAA, and sales of the aircraft peaked about 6 years later, between 2012 – 2015.

Who are the customer base?

Emirates are the biggest buyer of the A380, with the Middle Eastern airline owning over 120 of the superjumbos. British Airways, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines also possess large A380 fleets.

What made the A380 special?

In an era of aviation not well known for glamour and excitement, the A380 was an exception.

The A380 can accommodate up to 853 passengers on its two decks (although no airlines actually fit it up to this maximum capacity).

Its 500 square meters of floor space allowed airlines to really get creative with A380 interiors.

Emirates in particular are known for their luxurious A380 designs, decking out their upper deck with a premium bar.

…So what went wrong?

Everything sounds great so far, so what went wrong?

Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Many different commentators agree that the A380 simply entered the market at the wrong time.

One undeniable problem for the A380 is the sheer difficulty of filling its seats. This is partly due to a shift in passenger attitudes in the past two decades.

The Boeing 747 was so successful in its day as the norm in that era was for long haul routes to serve only major cities, and short haul flights would be used to connect passengers to these major routes.

For example, if you wanted to fly from Dublin to Dubai, you would need to fly from Dublin to London, to then board a long haul service from London to Dubai.

Nowadays, airports are far less comfortable, and travel is seen as more of a hassle than a luxury. As such, the A380 arrived in an era that’s hungry for direct, A to B flights.

Yet it’s incredibly difficult to sell enough tickets to fill an A380, given her sheer size, meaning she’s just not an efficient option to serve multiple regional routes.

So the combination of the hunger for direct flights, and the large passenger numbers required to make a journey on the A380 profitable, is a recipe for failure.

Image: unsplash.com/@philm1

Alternatives

Unfortunately, there are just too many smaller aircraft that can complete long haul journeys far more efficiently.

For example, the A321 long range aircraft serves several transatlantic routes, yet is twin engine operated and is far easier for airlines to fill with passengers.

Inefficiency

In a time where passengers are becoming more eco-conscious, there’s a push for more fuel efficient airliners. Twin engine airliners are just more economical to operate than a four engine multi deck jumbo jet.

Inconvenience

Due to its size, among other factors, the A380 can’t operate in as many airports as other long haul aircraft. It requires longer runways and airport facilities that can accommodate such a large wing span.

This is just another factor that makes the A380 inconvenient for airlines to operate.

Image: https://unsplash.com/@timovaknar

That’s a wrap

The final A380 delivery marked a sad day in aviation history, but at least she’ll be flying for many more years to come.

Airlines are increasingly bringing A380s back into service due to rising post-Covid passenger numbers, meaning we haven’t seen the back of her just yet.