Airbus calls it quits on A380 super-jumbo passenger jet program in 2021 amid dwindling orders
TOULOUSE, France – Airbus officials announced Feb. 14 they are terminating the Airbus A380 program in 2021, after Emirates cut back the last major order to just 14 A380s, instead of the 53 the airline had on firm order. Air Transport World reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
21 Feb. -- “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,” Airbus CEO Tom Enders said.
After years in crisis mode, the decision to stop production of the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft does not come as a surprise. But having to cancel the multi-billion project little over 18 years after it was launched in December 2000 shows how much Airbus was off in its demand forecast for very large aircraft. Instead of the around 1,500 orders for aircraft in the category that Airbus expected over 20 years, only a fraction materialized. Orders for the A380 stood at 313 aircraft at the end of January.
The full-length double-deck A380 super-jumbo jet has a typical seating capacity of 525, though it is certified for as many as 853 passengers. The Airbus A350, as well as the Boeing 777 and 787, were key reasons why demand for the large aircraft stayed way below initial expectations.
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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
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