economie

Airlines are falling in love again with the Airbus A380. Here’s everywhere the world’s largest passenger jet is set to fly this winter.

October 19, 20240
A Lufthansa Airbus A380.

Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images

The German flag carrier is the second European operator of the A380. Lufthansa has eight A380s, six of which are active.

The airline appears to prefer the only other double-decker passenger jet. Lufthansa has 26 Boeing 747 jets — the most of any passenger airline, according to Ch-aviation data

Lufthansa initially retired all 14 of its A380s during the pandemic before changing its mind as travel demand bounced back. The other six were sold back to Airbus, Airways Magazine reported in 2023.

Lufthansa’s A380s go between Munich and Bangkok, Delhi, Los Angeles, and New York.

9. Asiana Airlines
A ceremony celebrated the delivery of ANA’s first A380 in 2019.

JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images

ANA is the newest customer of the Airbus A380, with its first delivered in 2019.

The Japanese airline has three, which are only used between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu.

ANA is another five-star airline, with an impressive business-class product. But you’ll need to fly on a Boeing 777 to experience “The Room” — or in first class, “The Suite,” which includes a 43-inch TV.

12. Global Airlines
Global Airlines hopes to start operating in 2025.

Global Airlines

Hi Fly Malta also has an A380, per Ch-aviation data. The charter airline is a subsidiary of the Portuguese airline Hi Fly and has been working with Global Airlines.

Global Airlines hopes to fly the superjumbo jet between London Gatwick and New York JFK, but its plans have been questioned due to the high cost of operating the A380.

The airline completed its first transatlantic flight in May — ferrying its A380 from California to Scotland via a stop in Montreal.

The 11-year-old jet, formerly owned by China Southern Airlines, had been sitting in a Mojave boneyard and is being refurbished.

Global Airlines plans to acquire another three A380s, with ambitions to start flights next year.