Summary

  • The Airbus A380 is a fan favorite among travelers globally despite its lack of commercial success among airlines.
  • Dubai International Airport has the most A380 operations globally, with 507 weekly departing flights.
  • Emirates is the largest operator of the A380, with a total of 119 examples.

The Airbus A380 is one of the most iconic aircraft of this century, if not the most iconic. Despite its lack of commercial success among airlines, the European double-decker is a favorite among travelers worldwide.

According to data from ch-aviation, 142 A380s operated by ten carriers are currently active. A total of 58 airports receive flights operated by this aircraft as of August 2023. There are over 1,576 weekly round-trip flights worldwide. So, which are the 12 best hubs for spotting the A380? Let’s find out.

12. Milan Malpensa

Milan Malpensa has, on average, 21 weekly Airbus A380 flights. These are all operated by one single carrier, the type’s largest operator, Emirates. The Dubai-based company operates at least 14 weekly flights to Milan, of which seven continue on their way to New York John F. Kennedy.

11. Paris Charles de Gaulle

The French central hub has 25 weekly A380 flights operated by Emirates and Qatar Airways. The former of these runs three daily services from Dubai to Charles de Gaulle. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways flies four times a week from Doha, employing its double-decker fleet on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

10. Los Angeles

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) only receives 28 weekly A380 flights, operated by Emirates, Korean Air Lines, Asiana Airlines, and Qantas. Nonetheless, it may very well be the best airport globally for plainspotting in general.

An Emirates landing at LAX Airport.
Photo: David_Harpe/Shutterstock.

As many readers will know, the famous In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda Boulevard outside the airport attracts many just to see all types of planes approaching LAX. Each of the airlines operating the A380 to LAX fly daily. Emirates flies from Dubai, Korean and Asiana from Seoul, and Qantas from Sydney.

9. Munich

The German city has 28 weekly A380 flights. Emirates flies twice daily from Dubai, while Lufthansa operates daily flights to Boston and New York.

A Lufthansa Boeing 747 can be seen in the front parked while a Lufthansa Airbus A380 is departing in the back.
Photo: Markus Mainka/Shutterstock.

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8. New York JFK

About 35 weekly flights to New York John F. Kennedy with the Airbus A380 can be found. Emirates operates 21 of these, two daily from Dubai and one daily from Milan Malpensa. Korean Air operates one daily from Seoul Incheon and Lufthansa, one daily from Munich.

7. Doha

Doha International Airport (DOH) may be the only airport on this top 12 where you will find no Emirates A380s. Qatar Airways runs all Airbus superjumbo flights operated from this hub. With 46 weekly A380 flights, the flag carrier flies to Bangkok (14), Paris (four), London Heathrow (14), Perth (seven), and Syndey (seven).

6. Seoul Incheon

Korea’s main international airport has about 46 weekly A380 flights, according to data from Cirium. Emirates operates one daily from Dubai. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines operate the remaining flights.

A Korean Air Airbus A380 flying in the sky.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

Korean Air flies daily to JFK, Los Angeles, and Taipei, while Asiana serves Bangkok, Los Angeles, and Sydney.

5. Bangkok

Before the pandemic, Bangkok was the home base of an airline flying the A380. Thai Airways used to employ the double-decker but has since moved on from the type. As of August 2023, Bangkok has 56 weekly A380 flights served by Emirates, Asiana, and Qatar Airways. Emirates flies four times a week from Dubai and continues once daily to Hong Kong. Asiana flies daily from Seoul, and Qatar Airways serves Thailand’s capital twice from Doha.

4. Sydney

Australia’s largest airport has 63 weekly A380 flights. Emirates flies twice daily from Dubai and continues once daily to Christchurch in New Zealand.

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 flying near Hong Kong Airport.
Photo: The Global Guy/Shutterstock.

Asiana Airlines flies thrice a week from Seoul; Qantas operates once daily to Los Angeles and 11 weekly flights to Singapore. Qatar Airways flies daily from Doha, and Singapore Airlines flies twice daily from Singapore.

3. Singapore

We enter the top three. Singapore Changi International Airport has 90 weekly A380 flights. Emirates flies twice daily from Dubai. Qantas flies 11 times a week from Sydney, with eight of these continuing to London Heathrow. Finally, Singapore Airlines operates the remaining services, flying from its hub to Delhi (seven), Hong Kong (seven), London Heathrow (14), Melbourne (seven), Shanghai (seven), and Sydney (14).

2. London Heathrow

London Heathrow is where you can see the largest number of different A380 operators. Six airlines fly the double-decker to and from this hub. British Airways, which we haven’t talked about until now, operates flights from here to Boston (seven), Dallas Fort Worth (seven), Dubai (three), Washington (seven), Johannesburg (14), Miami (seven), Chicago O’Hare (seven), and San Francisco (seven).

An Emirates Airbus A380 in Dubai Expo 2020 Mobility Livery flying in the sky.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

Emirates flies from Dubai six times daily (or 42 weekly flights!). Etihad Airways flies 13 times a week from Abu Dhabi; Qantas flies eight times a week on the Sydney-Singapore-London route; Qatar Airways flies twice daily from Doha, and Singapore Airlines flies twice daily from Singapore.

1. Dubai

Dubai International Airport is by far the airport with the most A380 flights globally, mostly due to Emirates having its base here. As of August 2023, there are 507 weekly A380 departing flights from Dubai. Emirates operates 504 of them, with British Airways taking the other three. The primary destinations served by Emirates from Dubai onboard the A380 are London Heathrow, Bangkok, London Gatwick, Jeddah, and Paris Charles de Gaulle.

Who operates the A380?

As mentioned earlier, Emirates is the largest operator of the A380. According to ch-aviation, Emirates has a total of 119 A380s (88 active and 31 inactive). Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines have 14 each, followed by British Airways with 12. Four carriers have ten double-deckers. These are Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Qantas, and Qatar Airways. Asiana Airlines has six, All Nippon Airways has three, and the new Global Airlines has one. While the plane may not be produced any longer, it is still widely used worldwide, and there are plenty of opportunities to watch it live or even fly onboard yourself.

Which airport is your favorite to spot the Airbus A380? With which airlines have you been onboard an A380? Let us know in the comments below.

  • rsz_airbus_50th_years_anniversary_formation_flight_-_air_to_air
    Airbus
    Stock Code:
    AIR
    Date Founded:
    1970-12-18
    CEO:
    Guillaume Faury
    Headquarters Location:
    Toulouse, France
    Key Product Lines:
    Airbus A220, Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350, Airbus A380
    Business Type:
    Planemaker