Europe-based global aerospace major group Airbus has announced that production of its flagship four-engined A380 Superjumbo airliner would end in 2021. This is because the main customer for the aircraft, Emirates, had decided to cut its order for the airliner by 39 units, and because there is no order backlog for the type from other airlines.

Instead, Emirates has ordered more twin-engined widebody A330 and A350 airliners from Airbus. The airline will take 40 new engine option (neo) A330-900s and 30 new-generation A350-900s (which are largely constructed from composites). Emirates still have 14 A380s on order, which will be delivered over the next two years, and which will take the airline’s total A380 fleet to 123 aircraft.

“The A380 is Emirates’ flagship and has contributed to the airline’s success for more than ten years,” highlighted Airbus Commercial Aircraft president and future Airbus group CEO Guillaume Faury. “As much as we regret the airline’s position, selecting the A330 neo and the A350 for its future growth is a great endorsement of our very competitive widebody aircraft family. Going forward, we are fully committed to deliver on the long-standing confidence Emirates is placing in Airbus.”

“The consequences of this decision are largely embedded in our 2018 full year results,” said current Airbus group CEO Tom Enders. “The A380 is not only an outstanding engineering and industrial achievement. Passengers all over the world love to fly on this great aircraft. Hence, today’s announcement is painful for us and the A380 communities worldwide. But keep in mind that A380s will still roam the skies for many years to come, and Airbus will, of course, continue to fully support the A380 operators.”

Emirates made its decision after reviewing its operations and considering the advances in aircraft and engine technologies. Airbus will soon start talks with its “social partners” regarding the 3 000 to 3 500 jobs that could be affected by this decision. However, given the continuing ramp-up of production of the A320 single-aisle airliner family, it is likely that many of the A380 workers could be transferred to the A320 programme.

According to the Airbus website, the A380 “has flown over 500 000 revenue flights, carrying over 190-million passengers – this includes more than 300 commercial flights per day, which take off or land around the world every two minutes”. When it first entered service it was “[g]reener, cleaner, quieter and smarter, . . . setting a new standard for the global aviation industry with its superior efficiency, profitability and operational effectiveness”. It also raised “the bar for environmental standards with its low fuel consumption and noise levels – as well as reduced carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions.”

But airliner airframe manufacturing technology and turbofan engine technology have both made impressive advances in the 12 years since the A380 first entered service in 2007. For example, while nearly 25% of the A380’s structural weight is made up of composite materials, this now compares poorly with the Boeing 787’s 50% and the Airbus A350XWB’s 52%. And Boeing’s new-generation version of its 777 family, the 777X, pushes its composites content from the about 12% in the previous-generation 777s to some 30%, thanks to its totally new, composite wings. And the A380 needs four engines, while all other widebody airliners now in production, including the A350-1000 and Boeing’s new 777X, require only two each.

The A380 made its first flight in 2005. Respected British aerospace journal Flight International has estimated that total production of the A380 will amount to about 251 aircraft. Of these, 234 had been delivered by the end of January. In addition to the 14 still on order by Emirates, three more will go to All Nippon Airways.