Emirates Airline President Tim Clark remains a firm advocate of the Airbus A380, even though the European plane maker stopped production of the super-jumbo in 2019. Despite the lack of orders, Emirates still flies an impressive fleet of over 100 A380s, with plans to retire them gradually starting in 2032.
Clark likens the A380 to a Dyson vacuum cleaner, capable of absorbing transfer capacity in a way that no other jet can. He believes that the aircraft still has a lot of potential, given the current boom in travel demand and the positive feedback from passengers enjoying the experience aboard his A380s.
The Emirates president reveals that the A380 can carry as many passengers as two and a half flights of the smaller Boeing 787 on popular routes, thanks to its economies of scale. Additionally, the current scarcity of capacity and limited runway expansion in airports, such as London Heathrow, only increases the demand for larger aircraft that can accommodate more travelers.
Clark recognizes that the A380 hasn't been popular among other airlines, most of which bought it in much smaller numbers than Airbus had hoped. Operators like Air France have completely phased out the A380, while Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Qatar Airways have only brought it back in limited numbers. Instead, they have focused on more fuel-efficient, twin-aisle jets such as the Boeing 777X and the Airbus A350.
Clark had previously advocated fitting the A380 with new-generation engines to improve its fuel efficiency, but it didn't gain traction as engine makers couldn't justify the investment on a program with minimal appeal. He now believes that a lighter, double-decker plane that seats 500 passengers and is powered by more fuel-efficient engines, such as Rolls Royce Plc's still-in-development Ultrafan turbine, could be a solution for scarce airport slots, as travel demand is expected to grow.
Although some A380s have already been scrapped, Airbus could still bring back the plane with significant modifications. However, the future of the A380 looks bleak as Airbus has already converted its Toulouse assembly line for the jet into one that produces the A320 family jet, a more profitable and smaller model than the giant super-jumbo.
Despite all of this, Clark remains optimistic that there is still a future for the A380, and he concedes it's one of his all-time favorite commercial aircraft. He remains the biggest supporter of the large plane, even though Airbus has ceased production, with the last delivery heading to Emirates.