DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The retirement parade of four-engine airliners is in full swing, yet the world’s largest passenger jet refuses to exit quietly. For globetrotting aviation fans, the Airbus A380 remains a living legend, and—at least for now—a bookable reality on a handful of marquee routes. As of August 2025, ten carriers still deploy 189 of the double-decker giants, according to data compiled by Planespotters.net.
Ten Airlines Keep the Double-Decker Dream Alive
Only airlines with vast connecting hubs, deep pockets and high-yield routes can make the physics and math of a four-engine, million-pound aircraft work. Here are the stalwarts still betting on the A380 experience:
- Emirates (Dubai) – 116 aircraft, the largest single-type fleet in history.
- British Airways (United Kingdom) – 12 aircraft based at London Heathrow.
- Qatar Airways (Doha) – 10 aircraft, often on London and Sydney sectors.
- Singapore Airlines (Singapore) – 10 aircraft showcasing industry-leading suites.
- Qantas (Australia) – 10 aircraft serving the “Kangaroo Route.”
- Lufthansa (Germany) – 8 aircraft focused on U.S. gateways.
- Korean Air (South Korea) – 7 aircraft linking Seoul with Los Angeles and Paris.
- Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) – 7 aircraft recently returned from storage.
- Asiana Airlines (South Korea) – 6 aircraft on high-density Asian trunk lines.
- All Nippon Airways (Japan) – 3 Hawaiian-themed “Flying Honu” jets.
Tally the numbers and you arrive at 189 active frames—roughly three-quarters of the 251 produced before the final A380 rolled off Airbus’ Toulouse assembly line in 2021.
Why the A380 Is a Bucket-List Bird
Make no mistake: the A380 was built to dazzle. Its twin passenger decks stretch the aircraft’s full 239-foot length, making the upper level feel more like a wide-body lounge than a cramped tube. First-class flyers on Etihad can shower at 30,000 feet, while Qatar and Emirates operate cocktail bars that wouldn’t look out of place in a boutique hotel. Even economy travelers benefit from a whisper-quiet cabin and wide seats arranged 2-4-2 on the upper deck.
“It’s kind of amusing that Boeing and Airbus each built only two models of four-engine jet airplanes,” a Jalopnik reader wrote in a 2023 comments thread, highlighting the A380’s unique status amid shrinking quad-jet options.
The plane’s safety record also bolsters its cult following—there have been no hull-loss accidents since the A380’s 2007 commercial debut. For aviation enthusiasts, that sterling record adds an extra layer of comfort when ticking the aircraft off their must-fly lists.
The Economics Behind the Superjumbo’s Decline
For all its grandeur, the A380 is a thirsty beast. Four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance GP7200 powerplants burn Jet A at a rate modern twin-engine jets can match with half the hardware. Crew complements regularly top twenty, and not every airport can accept the aircraft’s 1.2-million-pound takeoff weight or provide dual-level jet bridges. In a post-pandemic world where airlines chase flexibility and point-to-point demand, a 500-plus-seat mega jet can feel like a solution in search of a problem.
Yet for carriers with fortress hubs—think Dubai, Doha or Singapore—the A380 still earns its keep. Slot-restricted airports reward capacity, and premium travelers continue to pay a premium for the novelty of an airborne apartment. In the words of aerospace analyst Daniel Roeska at Bernstein, “The economics are brutal on paper, but brand halo and slot constraints let a few operators defy gravity—both figuratively and literally.”
Where to Find the A380 in 2025
Schedules change faster than a runway wind-sock, but these headline routes consistently feature the superjumbo:
- Dubai–New York (JFK) on Emirates: Two daily rotations, one outfitted with a new-generation premium-economy cabin.
- London–Singapore on Singapore Airlines: The original A380 launch route, still a showcase for the carrier’s Suites class.
- Seoul–Los Angeles on Korean Air: A popular trans-Pacific choice for West Coast A380 hunters.
- Frankfurt–Bangkok on Lufthansa: Seasonal frequencies aimed at leisure crowds escaping the European winter.
- Tokyo–Honolulu on ANA: Family-friendly daytime flights with sky-blue sea-turtle liveries.
The best weapon in your arsenal is the aircraft type filter on any major booking engine. Plug in “Airbus A380-800” and watch the options shrink to a shortlist of brag-worthy segments.
Superjumbo Versus the 747: A Tale of Two Icons
Boeing’s 747 and Airbus’ A380 share four engines and two decks, but the comparison often ends there. The 747 came to market in 1970 and stayed in production for five decades; cargo variants will likely fly for many more. The A380, by contrast, spanned a comparatively brief 2005-2021 production run. Boeing’s queen of the skies found a second life hauling freight, something the A380’s cavernous belly wasn’t structurally optimized to do.
Still, if passenger experience is the metric, the A380 wins most head-to-head matchups. Quieter cabins, wider aisles and higher humidity levels make red-eyes less punishing—valuable intel for travelers who land and sprint to meetings.
What Travelers Should Know
- Book early for the novelty: A380 inventory is limited even on airlines that own dozens. Last-minute swaps to smaller jets do occur.
- Check seat maps: Upper-deck economy on Emirates, Korean Air and Qantas has a cozy 2-4-2 layout versus the 3-4-3 downstairs.
- Mind the hubs: Many A380 flights depart in late-night “bank” waves. Allow longer layovers if you plan to visit lounges or shower spas.
- Plan for jet bridges: Boarding can involve separate lanes for each deck. Families and travelers with reduced mobility should request assistance in advance.
- Collect the stamp: Some carriers distribute commemorative A380 certificates or amenity kits—small souvenirs for aviation geeks.
The Outlook: Fly Now, Thank Yourself Later
Airbus has shifted its production muscle to the single-aisle A321XLR and the long-range A350, effectively closing the chapter on new superjumbos. Retirement announcements could accelerate as carriers evaluate sustainability mandates and fuel-burn penalty fees. For travelers, that means the window to log an A380 flight is narrowing—not slamming shut, but inching down like a slow airplane shade.
If the aircraft is on your bucket list, 2025 offers a sweet spot: wide availability, restored frequencies and airports that have finally reinstated pre-pandemic amenities. Collect those upper-deck boarding passes while you can. As one aviation forum poster joked, “A is for ‘available—for now.’”
