Airbus says it has “closed” the door on A380 production, but “it is not locked”

Airbus has apparently not fully ruled out the idea of returning to A380 production. The OEM’s commercial aircraft division CEO Christian Scherer told the Hamburger Ambendblatt: ""The door is closed, but it is not locked. In industry, nothing is ever ruled out."" The A380 – launched in 2005 and achieved certification the next year – was coined the superjumbo aircraft, with its double-decker configuration, both with full-length widebody dimensions, and equipped with quad-jets. Airbus described the iconic jet – typically seating over 500 passengers – as a solution for traffic growth and to stave off airport congestion as the industry emerges from the pandemic. Though, the chances are extremely slim as the market appears to veer more predominantly towards twin engine aircraft, in particular as the industry strives to meet ESG targets. Speaking to Airline Economics, an Airbus spokesperson confirmed this: “There are no plans to revive A380 production. The trend is clearly towards two engine aircraft, and that’s what we are currently focussing on. We're already using many of the former A380 hangars for A320 family production.” These former hangars have been used for A320 structure assembly or the A321XLR and will support the OEM’s production ramp up. “These repurposed hangars will support the ramp up.” The spokesperson added: “Our customer’s A380s will continue to fly well into the 2030s and we are proud to see so many of them as an efficient (and comfortable lever) to meet the surge in post-Covid demand.” Emirates, the largest operator of the A380 aircraft with 116 in its fleet and nearly 90 in service as of January this year, recently began its A380 retrofit programme, refreshing its interiors with new premium economy cabins and new luxury seats. Its A380s have become synonymous with luxury, featuring private suits and shower spas in first class, as well as an onboard lounge.