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In addition to becoming the jetliner of choice for an ever-wider number of leisure and business travellers, the A380 also is pleasing its airline operators by increasing passenger traffic, strengthening the load factors and improving their market share.

Since its entry into service, the A380 has drawn passengers even during downturns and captured new or existing traffic from competing aircraft flying the same routes – demonstrating the “A380 effect” in improving operating airlines’ market share.  In growing markets, the A380’s increase in capacity is magnified by a higher traffic increase, boosting load factors.

A380s are in service today with eight operators: Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Air, China Southern Airlines and Malaysia Airlines. A ninth carrier – Thai Airways International (THAI) – took delivery of its no. 1 A380 in September 2012. 

Each airline benefits from the A380’s passenger attraction in a wide range of route applications – with some introducing short- and medium-range operations in addition to long-haul service. Singapore Airlines took delivery of the first A380 in October 2007, and began operations with Singapore-Sydney service. This carrier also is successfully using its A380s on long-haul routes to destinations such as London, Paris and Zurich, as well as for the approximately 3 hour-plus Singapore-to-Hong Kong flight, and on the intra-Asia service linking Singapore with Tokyo.

Emirates – the largest single A380 customer with a total of 90 on order – has expanded its route network since inaugurating operations with the double-deck jetliner in July 2008.  In addition to service from Dubai to Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Seoul, Sydney/Auckland and Toronto, Emirates is now flying A380s on the shorter-haul, but high-density Dubai-Jeddah route. 

Another innovative use of the A380 by Emirates is on the Dubai- Manchester, England segment, marking the aircraft’s first scheduled service to a regional airport – as well as the introduction of this airline’s high-comfort First Class cabin on the route.

Service on the North Atlantic was introduced by Air France, which has operated its prestigious Paris-New York flight with the A380 since November 2009.  Air France replaced two mid-sized “classic” widebody aircraft with the A380 on this route, allowing the airline to offer the same capacity with much higher economic efficiency, at significantly lower fuel consumption, and with lower emissions.  The carrier also is using its A380s on flights from Paris to Tokyo and Johannesburg.

Qantas has been operating their A380s since September 2008 from two cities in its Australian home market – Sydney and Melbourne, providing with the jetliner’s first service to Los Angeles on the U.S. West Coast, along with routes to Singapore and London.  Lufthansa joined the ranks of A380 operators in May 2010 – deploying its growing fleet on routes from Frankfurt to Tokyo, Beijing and Johannesburg.

Korean Air, which has a long-standing relationship with Airbus that dates back to 1974, received its first A380 in May 2011 and has ordered a total of 10 aircraft to help expand its global route network. As Airbus’ sixth international operator, Korean Air flies the A380 from its Seoul hub to selected destinations in Asia, North America and Europe. The airline has an extra-spacious layout for its A380 fleet, with accommodation for 407 passengers in three classes. Special features on board include the world’s first-ever duty free showcase area and a stylish onboard bar and lounge on the upper deck for premium passengers.

The no. 1 A380 for China Southern Airlines entered revenue service in October 2011 with round-trip flights linking Beijing and Guangzhou. After this introductory domestic service, the airline will begin using its A380 on international routes.
In May 2012, Malaysia Airlines became the fifth airline in the Asia-Pacific region – and the eighth worldwide – to incorporate the double-deck A380 into its fleet with handover of the carrier’s no. 1 jetliner in Toulouse, France. The aircraft, which is the first of six on order for Malaysia Airlines, will be used in three-times-a-week operations from Kuala Lumpur to London.

THAI became the ninth airline worldwide to incorporate the A380 into its fleet in September 2012 when Airbus handed over the carrier’s no. 1 aircraft in Toulouse, France. This jetliner – which seats 507 passengers in a premium three-class layout – will provide service to Frankfurt, Tokyo and Paris after being used on Bangkok-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Singapore routes upon initial entry into service. 

The A380 has proven its ground compatibility, having landed at over 135 different airports to date.  

Designed for airport compatibility

These operations have demonstrated the A380 is a very easy aircraft to accommodate in the airport infrastructure, which results from Airbus’ extensive cooperation with airlines, airports and ground service providers from the very early phase of the A380’s design and development.

Up to 25 major cities are currently served by an Airbus A380, including non-stop flights by Korean Air from its hub in Seoul to North America and Europe. Overall, this network covers a majority of the world’s top 15 international airports, and encompasses such major hubs as London-Heathrow; Paris-Charles de Gaulle; Hong Kong; Frankfurt; Dubai; Singapore and Tokyo, along with destinations such as Manchester, Zurich, Toronto and other cities.