Airbus Has Just 3 A380s Left To Deliver

Simple Flying

By Tom Boon

Published Jun 21, 2021

An Emirates Airlines Airbus A380 arrives at Los Angeles International Airport from New York on August 5, 2008. Emirates is bringing its A380 to major cities in the US for "familarization" visits. The A380 is the world's largest airliner with 49 percent more floor space and 35 percent more seating than the previous largest aircraft. AFP PHOTO/Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

Emirates took delivery of its 120th Airbus A380 aircraft on Friday. The aircraft's delivery means that we are one step closer to the end of the Airbus A380 program, with just three of the giant aircraft left to be delivered by the European aerospace firm.

While the Airbus A380 was already on its way out well before the aviation industry's crisis, the current situation has done no favors for the giant of the skies. For many airlines, it may have been a boon that no further A380 deliveries were scheduled. However, this is not the case for Emirates who is happy to take delivery of its remaining orders.

Only three deliveries left

On Friday, Emirates took delivery of its 120th Airbus A380 registered as A6-EVO. The jet, with the serial number 268, took its first flight on October 1st, 2020. According to data from ch-aviation.com, this makes the aircraft 0.72 years old.

Emirates President Sir Tim Clark previously revealed that two aircraft would be delivered this year, with the final three to come next year. As we've now seen the second delivery of 2021, it will be a wait before more aircraft arrive. According to ch-aviation.com, the following aircraft deliveries are to be expected,

A6-EVQ – MSN 270 – January 2022
A6-EVR – MSN 271 – March 2022
A6-EVS – MSN 272 – May 2022

A photo taken on May 12, 2015 shows an Airbus A380 aircraft of the Emirates airline company at the airport of the southwestern French city of Toulouse. AFP PHOTO / REMY GABALDA (Photo credit should read REMY GABALDA/AFP via Getty Images)

More premium economy for Emirates

Every Airbus A380 delivered this year has been accompanied by a bonus for the airline's passengers. Late last year, Emirates decided to launch a premium economy cabin, bridging the economy and business class gap.

So far, Emirates is yet to retrofit the new cabin to any of its existing double-decker giants. As such, we've had to wait for new aircraft deliveries to increase the likelihood of a passenger finding the new cabin. To date, three aircraft have the cabin, equating to 168 seats. With an average age of seven years, the airline's A380 fleet has a total capacity of roughly 62,000, according to ch-aviaion.com.

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How many Airbus A380s are Emirates flying?

According to ch-aviation.com, 22 aircraft are currently active in the Emirates fleet. This excludes the latest jet just delivered, which is yet to enter service. According to data from the aerospace analysts Cirium, the Dubai airline is scheduled to operate 654 A380 flights in June, with some 327,696 seats on offer. This is expected to increase to 1,089 flights next month, with 534,681 seats on offer.

Emirates, Airbus A380, Delivery — Emirates has 11 Airbus A380 routes planned for June. Photo: Cirium

Cairo should see 60 A380 flights this month, two per day. Despite the UAE's continuing red list status in the UK, London Heathrow will see more A380 flights than most, with 43 on the schedule. The airline's Manchester A380 plans didn't last long, with just four flights with the giant planned at the start of the month.

How do you feel about the impending end of the Airbus A380 program? Let us know what you think and why in the comments below.