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https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... superjumbo
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47231504
https://theaircurrent.com/dispatches/ai ... ucf1aV6bGg
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airb ... SKCN1Q30GW
http://www.traveller.com.au/airbus-set- ... and-h1b8nxAirbus said on Thursday the last A380 would be delivered in 2021.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airb ... SKCN1Q30K4
...and the Airbus announcement itself:Airbus A380: from European dream to white elephant
TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - Loved by passengers, feared by accountants,
the world’s largest airliner has run out of runway
after Airbus decided to close A380 production after 12 years in service due to weak sales.
The decision to halt production of the A380 superjumbo
is the final act
in one of Europe’s greatest industrial adventures and reflects
a dearth of orders by airline bosses unwilling
to back Airbus’s vision of huge jets to combat airport congestion.
Air traffic is growing at a near-record pace but
this has mainly generated demand for twin-engined jets nimble enough to fly directly
to where people want to travel,
rather than bulky four-engined jets forcing passengers to change at hub airports.
And while loyal supporters like top customer Emirates say
the popular 544-seat jet makes money when full,
each unsold seat potentially burns a hole in airline finances because
of the fuel needed to keep the huge double-decker structure aloft.
“It’s an aircraft that frightens airline CFOs;
the risk of failing to sell so many seats is just too high,”
said a senior aerospace industry source familiar with the program.
https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-r ... rders.html
Emirates to reduce its A380 orderbook by 39 aircraft
Orders 40 A330neo and 30 A350s
Last delivery of A380 scheduled for 2021
Following a review of its operations, and in light of developments in aircraft and engine technologies, Emirates is reducing its A380 orderbook from 162 to 123 aircraft. Emirates will take delivery of 14 further A380s over the next two years. As a consequence and given the lack of order backlog with other airlines, Airbus will cease deliveries of the A380 in 2021.
Emirates has also decided to continue growing with Airbus’ newest generation, flexible widebody aircraft, ordering 40 A330-900 and 30 A350-900 aircraft.
“As a result of this decision we have no substantial A380 backlog and hence no basis to sustain production, despite all our sales efforts with other airlines in recent years. This leads to the end of A380 deliveries in 2021,” said Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders. “The consequences of this decision are largely embedded in our 2018 full year results”.
“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,” Tom Enders added.
“The A380 is Emirates’ flagship and has contributed to the airline’s success for more than ten years. As much as we regret the airline’s position, selecting the A330neo and A350 for its future growth is a great endorsement of our very competitive widebody aircraft family,” said Guillaume Faury, President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft and future Airbus CEO. “Going forward, we are fully committed to deliver on the longstanding confidence Emirates is placing in Airbus.”
Airbus will start discussions with its social partners in the next few weeks regarding the 3,000 to 3,500 positions potentially impacted over the next three years. However, the ongoing A320 ramp-up and the new widebody order from Emirates Airline will offer a significant number of internal mobility opportunities.