Qantas to retire Airbus A380 fleet by 2028

Qantas, Australia’s national airline, has announced plans to retire its entire fleet of 10 Airbus A380 superjumbos starting in 2028. This timeline is four years earlier than previously anticipated.

The decision is driven by rising maintenance and fuel costs. The retirement of these aircraft reflects a broader trend in the aviation industry; Airbus ceased production of the A380 in 2021, and the global fleet has shrunk from a peak of over 230 aircraft in the late 2010s to approximately 171 currently in service.

Industry shifts toward smaller, more fuel-efficient aircraft for medium and long-haul routes, combined with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have contributed to the declining use of the double-decker model.