A380s are at home in London and Sydney: here's who flies the superjumbo in 2023
It is always Dubai the airport where it is easier to see an A380 than any other aircraft model: the reason [...]
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Dubai is still the airport where you are most likely to see an A380 than any other model of airplane: the reason is that we are in the home of Emirates and this is where all of the Emirates company's double-decker planes depart from. But there is another interesting ranking and that is the ranking of airports Where you see the largest number of A380s In terms of companies. And here the ranking holds several surprises.
A380 numbers
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Sydney Airport is now ranked as the airport hosting the most diverse fleet of A380s. Superjumbos from five different carriers-Qantas, Singapore, Emirates, Korean and Asiana-fly into Australia's busiest airport.
London Heathrow is still ahead of Sydney in terms of the number of monthly touches: with 495 total flights operated by British Airways (247), Emirates (186) and Singapore Airlines (62). Sydney, in contrast, offers only 188 flights.
Europe's busiest airport is the second most popular airport for A380s after Dubai, with 588 flights. Numbers set to change as by summer London will once again welcome Etihad's giant and will see it rise to Three daily flights with A380 the connection with Singapore. Between 2016 and 2019, when many more A380s were still flying, as many as 9 companies operated the iconic double-decker planes at Sydney and Heathrow. Numbers that are unfortunately difficult to revise as many A380s ended up grounded for good.
Who still flies the A380 in 2023
There are 10 companies in total that still have A380s in their fleets and fully operational, while in chronological order China Southern was the last company to ground for good. His giants of the heavens.
All Nippon Airline
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All Nippon Airways (ANA) has a fleet of only three Airbus A380s. Known as Flying Honu Fleet, the Japanese airline operates exclusively on the Tokyo-Narita to Honolulu route. ANA became the 15th operator of the world's largest passenger aircraft when it took delivery of its first A380 in March 2019, while the last two were delivered just during the pandemic.
Asiana Airlines
Asiana Airlines has a fleet of six Airbus A380s, three of which are in active service with the Korean carrier. Currently, in addition to Sydney, A380s fly from Seoul to Bangkok and Los Angeles.
British Airways
BA is the world's second largest operator of A380s. The 11 examples in the fleet fly to Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Washington Dulles. While other operators have said goodbye to this model British plans to keep them in the air until at least 2027
Emirates
Emirates is not only the largest operator of A380s, but it has underway a monstrous investment in theupgrade of its double deckers by more than 4bn euros. At the end of this make-up, more than 80 A380s will be completely renovated with the installation of the new premium economy And they will fly into the 1930s if not beyond.
Korean Air
As with Asiana, Korea's national airline has reignited its A380 engines, hired new pilots, and decided to leverage part of its superjumbo fleet for at least another five years.
Qantas
When the covid broke out, all A380s ended up wintering in the desert. At the first signs of tourism restarting, the Australian company Was the first in the world to awaken them from hibernation and to bet heavily again on its fleet to respond to Australians' desire to return to travel after two years of enforced isolation.
Qatar
The CEO of Qatar Airways called the A380 the airline's biggest mistake. Despite this, A380s are back in service and eight A380s connect Doha with London Heathrow, Sydney, Perth, and Bangkok. It is not ruled out that the remaining 3, currently parked, will also return to flight in the coming months.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is currently flying 10 of its superjumbos. Although Changi-based carrier has withdrawn 12 of its 24. The good news is that all of those in service will remain in operation for years to come. In fact, they have been completely renovated and offer the new business class cabins and especially the first-class super suite.
These are the currently operational A380s, but there are other carriers that will resume flying in the coming months:
Etihad
The national airline of the United Arab Emirates has surprisingly announced the return of its A380s to the air, sparking the joy of all AVgeeks around the world since on board these planes is the most exclusive cabin ever conceived aboard an airplane, the three-room first class cabin.
Lufthansa
German company during 2022 announced the return, in summer 2023, of its A380 fleet. Large planes are needed to meet the needs of the market, and no plane in the world offers so many seats. So off we go, from the next few months from Frankfurt to the world will fly again aboard the German superjumbo.
In conclusion
There are 1o carriers that will fly A380s in 2023. Many more than could be expected at the height of the pandemic when all companies rushed to Getting rid of four-engine aircraft by retiring B747s and A380s. In hindsight there are certainly companies that are regretting that decision today.
