BBCCopyright: BBC
The era of the superjumbo is drawing to a close. When Airbus’s A380 made its first flight 13 years ago it was hailed as a technological marvel that would meet airlines’ needs for a new large aircraft to connect the world’s crowded airport hubs – London, New York, Dubai, Tokyo.
Airbus confidently predicted it would make about 1,500 of the giant planes. After today’s decision to end production, the end tally will be just over 250, with the exact number depending on final negotiations with customers.
How did Airbus get it so wrong? In hindsight, airlines were already turning their back on very large aircraft when the A380 made its debut. Advances in engine technology meant planes no longer needed four engines to fly long distances – and carriers were able to use a new generation of light, fuel-efficient, twin-engined aircraft to link secondary cities, bypassing the crowded hubs altogether.
The A380 was also complicated and expensive to build, with final assembly and finishing split between Toulouse and Hamburg - a product of the political wrangling that used to run underneath every big decision at Airbus.
Even though Airbus was aware of the threat posed by these new types of plane, they pressed ahead. There was a bigger game afoot – Airbus needed to negate Boeing’s 747, believing that the profits the American company made on 747 sales were helping it cross-subsidise other, smaller planes.
The A380 succeeded in that – the last passenger 747 was built two years ago – but Boeing will have a kind-of last laugh. Freighter versions of the 747 will be built past 2021, meaning the venerable jumbo jet will outlive the plane sent to kill it.
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