As airlines plan their future after a tough year, there is one aircraft type going missing: the Airbus A380. Several carriers have announced the superjumbos retirement in recent months, leaving its future in jeopardy. So what airlines are left operating the A380? Are they currently in service? Let’s find out.
Emirates
Starting with the airline with the most bullish outlook on the A380, Emirates already has several of its A380s back in service. The airline operates a fleet of 117 of the superjumbos, the most by a long measure, and has five more on delivery. While other carriers have said goodbye to their superjumbos, Emirates has signaled that the A380 has a long future in the airline’s fleet.
China Southern
China’s only operator of the superjumbo, China Southern kept its A380 fleet in action through last year’s crisis. Once international flights resumed, the airline deployed the aircraft on popular destinations such as Seoul, Paris, and London, helping rebuild its network.
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ANA
The youngest A380 operator globally, ANA grounded its flagship Tokyo-Honolulu A380 flights in March. Since then, it has taken the delivery of its third and final superjumbo but is yet to fly it to its new home. Until traffic on the Hawaii route returns, the A380 has been flying sightseeing “flights to nowhere” for the airline.
Korean Air
Korean Air resumed services with the A380 in October, flying some cargo missions to hubs like Guangzhou (one of…