Emirates plans to bring back more Airbus A380s and keep flying them until 2041
November 12, 2025
In a move that defies industry trends, Emirates plans to bring even more of its Airbus A380s out of storage — aiming for a fleet of 110 active Superjumbos by the end of 2026. The Dubai-based carrier, already the world’s largest A380 operator, is doubling down on the aircraft while others rush to retire it.
Speaking with Aviation Week, Emirates President Sir Tim Clark said the airline will continue operating its A380s for another 16 years, with the final aircraft not expected to retire until 2041. Emirates currently flies around 95–96 A380s and wants to grow that number to 110 next year.
“By the end of next year, we will probably have about 110 [A380s] flying,” Clark said, adding that some aircraft require fixes before returning to service.
Emirates makes the A380 fit for the long haul
Emirates originally purchased 116 of the 251 A380s ever built and has recently been buying additional examples from its long-term lessors.
The airline has also begun reactivating stored aircraft and fitting them with refreshed interiors that include the carrier’s hugely popular premium economy cabins. Clark admitted demand for these seats “could be sold three times over” during the summer months.
The three-year retrofit programme will bring a consistent new look across the fleet, blending Emirates’ signature First and Business Class offerings with modernised cabin materials and layouts.
The ‘dreaded’ A380 supply chain
While Emirates intends to keep the A380 flying into the 2040s, Clark concedes that “the dreaded supply chain” could eventually limit how long the jet remains viable.
The aircraft was designed for an operational life of around 100,000 flight hours, or roughly 20 years, but pandemic groundings effectively paused that clock, giving Emirates a few extra years of life from many airframes.
But Emirates will struggle to keep the jet flying beyond 2041. Clark noted “to take an A380 up to 24-25 years is a big ask… Is it possible? I don’t know. Much will depend on the dreaded supply chain.”
The ‘dreaded’ supply chain is something that grows to haunt many out-of-production aircraft. The final A380 was delivered in 2021, and many subcontractors have moved on. This means it will become increasingly difficult to source the needed components to keep the aircraft flying.
Emirates is “flush” with long-life airframe parts from teardowns and is always shopping for spare engines and parts. It is also aided by manufacturing the new cabins itself, allowing Emirates to produce some of the parts in-house.
The best way to celebrate a milestone is with a new fit! Check out our brand new Emirates Skywards A380, celebrating the loyalty programme's 25th anniversary. 🥳 ✈️ pic.twitter.com/WI48yQAykv
— Emirates (@emirates) October 30, 2025
A handful of airlines (e.g., Air France, China Southern, and Malaysia Airlines) have already divested themselves of their Airbus A380s. Others, like Korean Air, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines, have significantly downsized their fleets.
Qatar Airways and Korean Air are desperate to rid themselves of the massive jet, but can’t until replacement widebody aircraft arrive. The Boeing 777X has been delayed again until 2027, and Airbus and Boeing are struggling to ramp up production of their respective A350s and 787s.
The next largest commercial aircraft is the 777X, but it is much smaller than the A380. There is simply no ultra-large successor to the A380 that could be used at congested hubs.
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An aircraft built for one airline
Emirates’ success with the Airbus A380 is exceptional. The carrier’s geographic advantage and single-hub strategy at Dubai International allow it to fill the 500-seat jet profitably, while its economies of scale make maintenance and crew training far more efficient than rivals operating only a handful of the type.
Even as Qatar Airways calls the A380 “the worst decision” it ever made, Emirates continues to champion it — reportedly even urging Airbus to reconsider an A380neo variant.
The airline’s affection for the aircraft is more than sentimental: in 2024, Emirates recorded the highest annual profit of any airline worldwide, much of it powered by its Superjumbo fleet.
2011 built Korean Air A380 HL7613 has been photographed being scrapped at Incheon Int'l Airport. Korean Air grounded this aircraft along with three other A380s due to the Pandemic.
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) May 5, 2024
📷 spotterice pic.twitter.com/AuIdkOgf9K
As competitors downsize and new widebodies like the Boeing 777X and Airbus A350 remain years from full availability, Emirates appears set to keep the A380 aloft longer than anyone imagined — perhaps turning it into an aircraft that, one day, belongs almost entirely to Emirates alone.
Featured Image: Emirates
