INVESTIGATING THE AIRBUS A380: WAS IT A SUCCESS,

FAILURE, OR A COMBINATION?

by

CHRISTOPHER NELSON

A THESIS

Presented to the Department of Business Administration/Lundquist College of Business

and the Robert D. Clark Honors College
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Bachelor of Science

June 2020
 An Abstract of the Thesis of
Christopher Nelson for the degree of Bachelor of Science
in the Department of Business Administration/Lundquist College of Business to be
taken June 2020

Title: Investigating the Airbus A380: Was it a Success, Failure, or Combination/?

Approved: Dr. Joshua Beck

Primary Thesis Advisor

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the Airbus A380 and factors that lead to

its success and eventual decline. The Airbus A380 is the world’s largest passenger

airplane and has been a favorite for years. However, Airbus announced that it will be

shutting down production of the airplane in 2021. This project will investigate what led

Airbus to make this decision. This project looks in-depth at the business and

management strategies associated with all aspects of the A380. Furthermore, the

project closely examines the successful business practices of Emirates, the largest

airline operator of the A380. Through various research methods, this

project explores the combination of success and failures associated with the Airbus

A380 as well as recommendations the future of the airline.

ii
 Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my primary advisor, Dr. Joshua Beck, for helping me fully

examine the aviation industry. Dr. Beck’s marketing class was influential in shaping my

interest in aviation-related business strategy. I would like to express my sincerest

gratitude for having studied under such excellent professors. The class experiences that

guided me throughout this arduous but gratifying experience were invaluable.

I would like to thank Dr. Kate Zipay and David Frank for serving on my thesis

committee. Their help was vital to my studies. I would also like to thank all my

professors throughout my time in Lundquist College of Business and the Clark Honors

college for teaching me the skills needed to complete this thesis.

Lastly, I would like to thank my father for helping me get through my college

career as well as shaping my passion for traveling, and for the aviation industry.

iii
 Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part One: Product 3
Company 3
Timeline 4
Airbus A380: The Product 5
Design 5
Luxury 7
Part Two: Industry 8
Customers 8
2005 9
Biggest Competitor Boeing 9
United States Aviation Market 10
What Constitutes a Successful Airplane? 11
Part Three: Success 14
Airline Revenue Management 15
Emirates in Detail 16
Positive Performance Drivers 18
Part Four: Failures 21
Failing to Adhere to Customer Demands 21
Logistics 22
Negative Performance 23
Recommendations 24
List of Figures 25
Bibliography 29

iv
 List of Figures

Figure 1: Map showing where A380 parts come from around the globe 25
Figure 2: Shower suite on Emirates A380 26
Figure 3: Full service bar on Qatar A380 26
Figure 4: Airbus A380 vs. Boeing 747 comparison chart 27
Figure 5: Chart displaying point-to-point and hub-and-spoke model 28
Figure 6: Screenshots of iflya380.com website 28

v
 Introduction

Have you ever been stuck on a cramped flight for hours on a tiny plane with the

passenger behind you constantly kicking your seat? Have you ever been just begging

for a few more inches of leg room and wider seats? I know I have, but in reality,

comfort on most airplanes is not possible unless you are a business- or first class

passenger. In 2005, the multinational European aerospace corporation Airbus set out to

change this with the announcement of the Airbus A380. This superjumbo jet is the

world’s largest passenger airplane and can hold up to 868 in a one-cabin configuration.

This is nearly 35 percent more passengers than its nearest competitor, the Boeing 747.

To get a grasp of just how big this airplane is, 17 full size cars could fit side by side on

the plane’s wings. The plane is nearly as long as an NFL field. As for its height, the full,

two-story cabin lets carriers have creative freedom and offers innovative features that

cannot be found on any other aircraft. Throughout the years, this airplane has become a

passenger favorite due to its increased space and comfort.

This pioneering marvel of engineering was just one of three passenger airplanes

to hit the skies that featured four engines. The other two were the Airbus A340 and the

Boeing 747, which Airbus was created to directly compete with. The Airbus A380 was

the world’s first and only full double decker airplane, possessing a complete second

floor deck, unlike its rival the Boeing 747 which only has a half second floor deck. At

the time it was announced, this plane had cutting edge technology. Despite 15 years

having passed since its inception, the A380 still has the quietest engines of any plane on

the market, including those just recently released. Some carriers have installed on board
showers, full service bars and lounges, and even apartments with a separate seat and

bed.

Despite being a passenger favorite, the A380 did not take off with buyers.

Currently only 15 airlines operate this aircraft type--primarily Gulf carriers--and no US-

based carriers. There are over 800 commercial airlines in the world, yet only fifteen of

them operate this aircraft type. There are currently 239 A380s in service with a majority

of them being operated by the Gulf powerhouse carrier, Emirates. This aircraft has a

steep list price of $445.6 million, almost $100 million more than its rival, Boeing 747.

The rise and fall of this aircraft is one very interesting.

2
 Part One: Product

Company

Airbus is a multinational conglomerate that started out named Economic Interest

Group on December 18, 1970. It was a government initiative between France, UK, and

Germany. Talks began in 1965 between France and Germany to work together to build

better aircraft. The European consortium was formed to fill a niche market for short-

and medium-range airplanes.1 The first airplane the consortium developed was the A300

which was meant to fill the void that the three countries sought. 2 Airbus has contracts

and cooperative agreements with countries all over the world.

Currently Airbus has more than 50,000 employees, and is currently

headquartered in Toulouse, France. 3 The company has manufacturing plants in

countries around the world including: South Africa, China, India, Japan, Italy, Spain,

Romania, and the United States of America. Airbus’s direct competitor is the aerospace

company Boeing. Airbus makes and sells a variety of aircraft ranging from short- to

long-range haul planes. These planes can seat from 107 to 868 passengers, depending

on the model and variant.

1
Stanley I. Weiss and Amir R. Amir, “Airbus Industrie,” Encyclopedia Britannica
(Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., February 21, 2019),
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Airbus-Industrie. Web.
2
ibid
3
ibid
3
Timeline

Below are some the most important and pivotal event in the consortium’s history

1970: Airbus is Founded

1973: Airbus shows off Airbus A300 on a 6-week sales mission across
North and South America

1974: Inaugural commercial flight of A300 for Air France

1982: First flight of the A310

1987: Historic A320, the direct competitor to the Boeing 737, is

launched

1991: A340 is developed

1992: First flight of A330

1996: Airbus creates the large aircraft division which would

eventually set up the A380

2020: Airbus conducts global market forecast and estimates that

demand for large aircraft with more than 400 seats would be over
1,200 within the next two decades

2005: Airbus A380, the world largest passenger plane, is unveiled to

the public

2007: Airbus A380 takes inaugural commercial flight with Singapore

Airlines from Singapore to Sydney

2019: Airbus announces A380 production facility will be shut down in

20214

*5 All from same source

4
“Flashback: Flying The Inaugural A380 With Singapore Airlines (2007),” Airways Magazine, February
15, 2019, https://airwaysmag.com/special-flights/onboard-a380-inaugural-flight-2007/.
5
https://www.airbus.com/company/history.html#1970s

4
Airbus A380: The Product

The Airbus A380 is a superjumbo quad engine passenger airplane, and is the

largest plane with some of the longest flights operating in the world today. It can seat up

to 868 people. It was the first airplane to feature two floors, each with full cabins. 6 The

A380’s biggest competitor, the Boeing 747, featured two stories as well, but the upstairs

cabin was not a full one. The plane cost a whopping 25 billion dollars to develop, the

biggest investment Airbus has spent on an airplane to date. The airplane can fly up to

8,200 nautical miles, and currently flies on some of the longest routes in the world such

as Dallas-to-Sydney and Dubai-to-Auckland. An Airbus A380 takes off or lands every

seven minutes.

Design

The A380 is a marvel of modern engineering. This behemoth of an airplane is

79 feet tall, equivalent to about 7 and a half stories. The wingspan is 261 feet, or about

the length of 70 sedans. It is 238 ft. long, nearly the size of a standard American football

field.

In order to build such a massive plane, a great deal of material was needed.

Innovative materials were used in order to reduce weight. The main material used was a

mixture of aluminum and fiberglass called glare. Glare was essential because of its

resistant to fatigue. The aluminum of Glare prevents the propagation of cracks. It is

6
“Airbus A380 Superjumbo Airliner,” Aerospace Technology,
https://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/a380/
5
substantially lighter than normal materials and represents a weight saving of about half

a ton. Thermoplastics that are resistant to impact are used to manufacture the wings.
7
The aircraft has 16 wing spoilers.

The A380 incorporates two Eaton Corporation hydraulic systems, with increased

hydraulic pressure of 5,000 pounds per square inch instead of a standard 3,000 psi. 8

The 8 LCD and heads up display used in the flight deck are produced by Thales

Avionics. The US company Honeywell supplies the innovative flight management

system, as well as the satellite communication system. 9 Tire manufacturer Goodrich

supplies air data systems. Rolls Royce and Pratt & Whitney provide the 4 Trent 900

engines. The airplane’s 22 tires are supplied by Michelin and Goodrich. 10 The Airbus

A380 has over 4 million parts that come from 1,500 companies across 30 countries. 11

From this standpoint alone, the Airbus A380 could be considered one of the greatest

feats of portfolio, program, and project management ever. 12 (Figure 1)

The double deck layout of the A380 allows for 49% more floor space and an

increase of 35% seating capacity. Each a380 has two sets of stairs connecting the two

floors. The airplane has ten fuel tanks which can hold up to 131,000 liters of fuel. 13

7
ibid
8
ibid
9
ibid
10
Eric Adams, “Airplane Tires Don't Explode on Landing Because They Are Pumped!,” Wired (Conde
Nast, June 3, 2017), https://www.wired.com/2016/08/airplane-tires/.
11
Admin, “The A380: The Greatest Feat of Portfolio, Program, & Project Management Coming Together,
Anywhere?,” PMO Advisory, https://www.pmoadvisory.com/blog/a380-greatest-feat-portfolio-program-
project-management-coming-together-anywhere/.
12
ibid
13
Airbus A380 Superjumbo Airliner,” Aerospace Technology,
https://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/a380/
6
Luxury

The Airbus A380 is the epitome of luxury in the sky. Flying in a premium cabin

on this plane is about the closest experience you can get to flying privately. Carriers

who operate the plane around the world are in a race to come up with the most

innovative and premium cabin products. The more luxury that carriers can create on

their A380s, the more profits they will generate. The luxurious experience does not start

in the air. It starts on the ground, from private check-in to incredible lounges with

private rooms and massages and to chauffeur service on the A380 tarmac. Etihad

Airways based in Abu Dhabi, was the first carrier to introduce onboard showers on their

A380. Emirates, based in Dubai, then followed suit. (See Figure 2) Multiple carriers

introduced on-board full-service bars and lounges on their A380s. (See figure 3) The

carriers synonymous with luxurious A380 products are: Etihad Airways, Emirates,

Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Korean Air, and Qatar Airlines. Other airlines may

offer premium products, but the airlines listed above offer the cream of the crop.

7
 Part Two: Industry

The aviation industry is one of the toughest industries in which to be successful

and to gain a competitive advantage. Boeing and Airbus make up 91% of the global

aviation market share. In 2020, Airbus finally surpassed Boeing as the largest

commercial aircraft maker. 14 Airlines look to gain a competitive advantage every day

and utilize many tools and strategies.

Customers

The Airbus A380 is operated by just 15 carriers around the world; amazing

when one considers that there are over 800 commercial airlines in the world. The

airlines that operate the Airbus A380 are: Air France, All Nippon Airways, Asiana

Airlines, British Airways, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Hi Fly,

Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines,

and Thai Airways. 15 The striking fact about these carriers is that none of them are based

in the United States and are primarily based in the Middle East or Asia. The airlines that

operate the A380 are cash rich and can generally avoid the high operating costs

associated with the plane.

14
Trefis Team, “How Airbus Has Grown Over The Years To Dethrone Boeing As The Largest
Commercial Aircraft Maker,” Forbes (Forbes Magazine, January 6, 2020), https://www.forbes.com/sites/
greatspeculations/2020/01/06/how-airbus-has-grown-over-the-years-to-dethrone-boeing-as-the-largest-
commercial-aircraft-maker/#39b2e65b3a59.
15
“Discover All A380 Airlines,” iFlyA380, https://www.iflya380.com/a380-airlines.html.

8
2005

In 2005, the global aviation industry was still reeling from the effects of the

events of September 11. Many airlines in the United States were on the brink of

bankruptcy. Pilots and flight attendants faced the highest unemployment rate in a

decade. The introduction of low cost carriers shook the industry, and many big legacy

carriers in multiple countries were feeling the effects. 16 Despite these effects, there was

still a large demand to transport passengers on high-density long-haul flights. Over 2.1

million people globally boarded a plane this year. This seemed like an odd time for

Airbus to introduce the world’s largest passenger airplane, with the aviation industry in

such a tentative state. However, Airbus acknowledged that it wanted the title of the

world’s largest airplane and to be a direct competitor to the Boeing 747.

Biggest Competitor Boeing

Boeing is by far Airbus’s biggest competitor. This competitive rivalry dates

back to 1958. Boeing has been leading Airbus for years, but Airbus recently overtook

Boeing as the market share leader. Airbus’s spike in market share has now reached over

65% and this is likely due to a reduction in the number of planes Boeing can produce.

This rivalry is very intense because if one manufacturer errors, airlines simply switch

their order to other manufacturer’s plane. 17An example of this is with the current

Boeing 737 Max crisis after the two planes had crashed based on faulty software that

16
“Bumpy Ride Expected for Airline Industry in 2005,” CNN (Cable News Network),
https://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/ADVISOR/12/10/airline.forecast/index.html.
17
Deutsche Welle, “Airbus Topples Boeing as Biggest Plane Maker: DW: 02.01.2020,” DW.COM,
https://www.dw.com/en/airbus-topples-boeing-as-biggest-plane-maker/a-49536539.
9
led to the deaths of over 300 people. After this, many airlines cancelled orders with

Boeing and decided to order the rival counterpart from Airbus.

Whenever one manufacturer introduces an innovative new plane, the other

manufacturer tries to top it. This was exactly the case with the Airbus A380. The

Boeing 747 was the first plane to feature two separate floors, but the top floor was not a

full cabin. (Figure 4) The 747 also had the title of the world’s largest plane. Airbus

decided it wanted this title and that it would create a competitive advantage by being

more fuel-efficient. This rivalry has existed for decades and will continue well into the

future.

United States Aviation Market

The United States has the biggest domestic aviation market of any country.

However, in the near future, China is expected to surpass the United States. The US

market relies on two systems referred to as the hub and spoke, and the point to point

models. The hub and spoke model refers to carriers such as United, Delta, and

American. These airlines have hubs (airports) in large cities where smaller planes where

smaller planes make connections. (Figure 5) An example of this would be a passenger

traveling from Eugene, Oregon to San Diego, California with a stop in San Francisco.

San Francisco represents the hub where passengers will connect. Often times, the hub

cities have multiple daily flights to these smaller cities, for the convenience of the

passengers trying to reach their final destination. The advantage of the point to point

model is that it can create economies of scale. 18 The point to point model is where two

18
“Point-to-Point versus Hub-and-Spoke Networks,” The Geography of Transport Systems, March 11,
2020, https://transportgeography.org/?page_id=653.
10
smaller cities have direct service to each other. Southwest Airlines was one of the

earlier pioneers of this model. An example of this is a flight from Reno, Nevada to

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Neither of these cities are hubs; they are merely points.

However, with this model, service is not offered between the cities as compared to

service from a hub to a spoke. 19

The United States aviation market is not necessarily geared toward Airbus

A380, but rather toward transporting a large number of passengers from one large

popular destination to another. The US market focuses on connecting many smaller

cities that the A380 simply could not support. American Airlines CEO, Vasu Raju

stated, “the A380 is too big for the airline’s route network.” 20 It is true that the A380

flies on some high profile routes originating in major US destinations such as Los

Angeles and New York to many destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and

Australia. However, none of these flights are operated by US carriers.

What Constitutes a Successful Airplane?

There are many factors regarding what constitutes a successful airplane, among

them: the number sold, the cost, its popularity, how well it accommodates passenger

preferences, and the product life cycle of the plane.

The number of A380s sold is staggering low compared to a very popular plane

such as the Boeing 737. Airbus has only received a total of 251 orders for the A380. In

19
ibid
20
Benjamin Zhang, “An American Airlines VP Reveals Why the Airbus A380 Doesn't Work for the
World's Biggest Airline,” Business Insider (Business Insider, April 24, 2019),
https://www.businessinsider.com/american-airlines-exec-reveals-why-company-doesnt-use-airbus-a380-
2019-4.
11
contrast, over 7,000 Boeing 737s have been sold. However, looking at this in context,

the Boeing 737 is a much more flexible plane and can be used on routes that the A380

simply cannot. The A380 is a long-haul airplane and must be compared in context with

other long haul planes. The A380’s direct competitor, the Boeing 747, sold more than

1,500 planes. Furthermore, the plane began service back in 1968. The 747 has been

around four times longer than the A380.

The cost of an airplane is a critical factor in determining success. Airlines face

extreme costs and very low profit margins, so when deciding to purchase planes, cost is

usually the number one determinant. The Airbus A380 has a list price of 445.6 million

dollars before any purchasing discounts. 21 This is a very steep price to pay for a single

aircraft. Most carriers that operate the A380 can afford the cost and use the plane on

routes where the break-even load factor is high enough to generate a steady profit. The

break-even load factor is the number of seats that need to be sold on each flight on

which the A380 operates in order to turn a profit.

The popularity of an airplane is a factor in determining its’ success. The

A380 is a passenger favorite. Passengers absolutely adore the airplane because of its

ample space and increased amenities that cannot be found on any other plane. Many

carriers which operate the plane, operate it strictly because passengers love to fly on it.

Many frequent fliers will even take routes that require a layover, just to fly on the plane.

A colleague of mine once was flying from San Francisco to Sydney and instead of

taking the direct flight, he chose to take a flight with a layover in Dubai. His trip lasted
21
David Slotnick, “The End Is near for the Airbus A380 Superjumbo Jet, Which Made Its First Flight Just
15 Years Ago. Here's How It Went from Airline Status Symbol to Reject in Just 10 Years,” Business
Insider (Business Insider, April 27, 2020), https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-a380-superjumbo-
history-boeing-747-emirates-2017-11.

12
an additional 20 hours, but they chose to endure this simply to experience flying on an

Airbus A380.

Alignment with passenger preferences is key in determining whether an

airplane is successful. The A380 is synonymous with luxury. Carriers are able to offer

luxurious premium cabin products that generate massive profits for the carriers. On

select Emirates A380 flights, they offer three-room, first class apartments for fliers with

deep pockets and a taste for the finest in flight experiences. Premium cabins often times

generate up to eight times the profit than its economy counterpart. The A380 even

aligns well with economy fliers’ preferences. The two things economy fliers are looking

for are leg room and space. The A380 can offer economy fliers the most leg room while

carrying the most passengers due to its sheer size.

The product life cycle is an essential factor that must be considered when

examining the success of an airplane. This cycles refers to the time from purchase to

retirement with various phases representing repairs, enhancements, and reductions. The

average life span of a plane is around 30 years. The life span allows the carrier a lengthy

period to recoup their investment of the cost of the airplane. An alarming statistic is that

some A380s are being retired before even reaching 10 years into their product life

cycle. Most of the A380s in operation today are not projected to reach the typical life

cycle for airplanes as they are not financially viable for the carriers operating the

A380s. These factors that contributed to the success of the Airbus A380.

13
 Part Three: Success

Despite Airbus announcing the shutdown of the production facilities for the

A380 in 2021, the airplane can still be considered a success to some extent. The

airplane is a passenger favorite and should continue to soar for many decades to come,

even after production ceases. Airbus can attribute some success of the A380 to the

airline group Emirates, as it is by the far the largest operator of the airplane type and has

based its business model around the airplane. Even though only 251 units were sold,

price of one sale could equal 2 to 3 sales of another airplane that Airbus sells, such as

the A330. Some of the strategic business and marketing approaches also helped

contribute to the success of the A380.

Success of the Design

Being the quietest plane in the sky, passengers often want to fly on this simply

to relax. 22 With today’s society being ever more cautious about harmful emissions, the

A380 has set the standard for reduced CO2 and NOx emissions. With the global

aviation market passenger demand expected to double in the next twenty years, the

A380 is capable of meeting this growing demand. Many of the most popular mega city

routes have limited availability. With only a certain number of landing slots at every

airport, the A380 can offer up to 60% more capacity per slot. 23 Many A380 routes show

superior yield, meaning these routes attract passengers with higher incomes willing to

22
“Benefits to Airlines,” Airbus, accessed May 4, 2020, https://www.airbus.com/aircraft/passenger-
aircraft/a380/benefits-to-airlines.html.
23
ibid
14
spend more on premium cabins and comfort. These routes usually include routes going

between cities that have strong economies, such as Dubai to London.

The size of the A380 allows it to offer passengers a 15% lower cost per seat than

other rival long-haul airplanes. 24 The extreme comfort allows airlines to charge higher

ticket prices which passengers are more than willing to pay.

Airline Revenue Management

The goal of airline revenue management is meant to help prioritize passengers

based on the fares paid and award seats to the highest fare. 25 It is a tactical strategy, but

an essential tool in many markets. 26 The A380 increases network productivity by

maximizing the efficiency of arrival and departure waves, which allows reduced

transfer times, more connections and a fully optimized hub--something that no other

airplane can deliver. 27 The extra capacity offered by the A380 on the “strongest” flight

of the day, draws more traffic and captures higher yields. A single A380 operation

allows the retention of the same number of high-revenue-generating seats in the

premium-class cabins while releasing an unused slot for other destinations. Airlines can

gain a revenue boost approximately equivalent to a 50% reduction in fuel burn through

applying this market-matched cabin segmentation and the latest cabin innovations.

Boosting capacity on key trunk routes has wide-reaching beneficial network

effects by unblocking direct and connecting traffic. Many airlines serve strategic routes

24
ibid
25
Tom Bacon, “Airline Revenue Management Strategy 101: It's All About Alignment,” accelya,, https://
w3.accelya.com/blog/airline-revenue-management-strategy-101-its-all-about-alignment.
26
ibid
27
“Benefits to Airlines,” Airbus, accessed May 4, 2020, https://www.airbus.com/aircraft/passenger-
aircraft/a380/benefits-to-airlines.html.
15
to maintain a presence in key markets.28 Many of the carriers that operate the A380

employ this strategy by offering daily flights to heavily dense markets. Carriers who

operate the A380 were able to find the perfect strategies to pair with airline revenue

management to generate a hefty profit and satisfy customers, creating loyalty and

lasting frequent fliers.

Emirates in Detail

Emirates is the world’s fourth largest airline, and is based in Dubai, United Arab

Emirates. It is the world’s largest international airline, as it offers service to over 158

cities. 29 The airline operates on a giant hub and spoke model. About 90% of flights

connect in Dubai and then resume flights to destinations in over 84 countries across six

continents. The airline has racked up countless awards such as “World’s Best Airline”

according to Skytrax. Emirates is synonymous with luxury and outstanding customer

service no matter what cabin you are flying in. Additionally, Emirates operates a sky

cargo business that utilizes some of its A380s to its advantage.

Emirates has created a streamlined business model. Unlike many carriers around

the world that operate many different types and variants of aircraft, Emirates has a

streamlined aircraft fleet of just two planes. The airline operates 270 aircraft with an

average aircraft age of 73 months. 30 The two aircraft types are the Airbus A380 and the

Boeing 777. Emirates operates 123 A380s, taking delivery of seven of them in 2019

28
ibid
29
The Emirates Group, 2018 – 2019 Annual Report, p. 158, https://cdn.ek.aero/downloads/ek/pdfs/report/
annual_report_2019.pdf
30
The Emirates Group, 2018 – 2019 Annual Report, p. 193, https://cdn.ek.aero/downloads/ek/pdfs/report/
annual_report_2019.pdf
16
alone. This business model has allowed Emirates to turn a substantial profit for 31

consecutive years with exponential growth in each of the past three years. 31

The A380 is the perfect fit for Emirates since it only operates long haul flights, it

is able to do because all of their destinations are international. They offer no domestic

service within the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is the perfect location for Emirates to

operate their giant hub and spoke business model. Dubai is located within an eight to

fourteen hours from practically every point on the globe. It is the growing markets and

tourism in Dubai that is set to make Dubai International Airport the largest airport in

passenger volume in the world?? within the next ten years. Emirates is able to offer

A380 flights? so frequently because, to many of the 158 cities they serve, they offer one

daily flight with a focus of trying to get as many passengers on board as possible in

order to maximize revenue. Emirates daily seat factor across all A380 flights is 76.8% 32

They maintain a break-even rate of 66.4% Emirates has been able to operate such a

high number of A380s because their business models allows for the movement of very

large numbers of people on long haul flights. 33

Emirates is currently utilizing enhanced airline revenue management services to

increase A380 flights to destinations with a need for increased capacity such as:

Houston, Melbourne, London, and Brisbane. 34 When the Airbus A380 was launched,

Emirates placed an initial order of 162 airplanes, but in 2019, they cut the order to 123.

31
The Emirates Group, 2018- 2019 Annual Report, https://www.emirates.com/media-centre/emirates-
group-announces-2018-19-results/
32
The Emirates Group, 2018 – 2019 Annual Report, p. 9,
https://cdn.ek.aero/downloads/ek/pdfs/report/annual_report_2019.pdf
33
Andrea Massey, “How Are Emirates' A380s So Profitable?,” Simple Flying, January 21, 2019,
https://simpleflying.com/how-are-emirates-a380s-so-profitable/.
34
The Emirates Group, 2018 – 2019 Annual Report, p. 89,
https://cdn.ek.aero/downloads/ek/pdfs/report/annual_report_2019.pdf
17
Using the tools from their airline revenue management system, they have determined

that their business model might not be as profitable in the future and have ordered a few

more fuel-efficient aircraft to add to their fleet within the next ten years.

Emirates makes the majority of its revenue on A380 flights from its premium

cabin products. Its highly touted three-bedroom apartments cost over $25,000 per one-

way flight. Some of these flights are as short as six hours.

Emirates and President Sir Tim Clarke over the years had various meetings with

Airbus about the production of a smaller and more fuel-efficient A380 model being

released. The airline’s business model would not necessarily support an A380 on some

of the routes they flew. Although, the A380 is fuel efficient, new airplanes came along

that were up to 33% more fuel efficient which could further save Emirates money. 35

Positive Performance Drivers

The need for an aircraft that could transport a higher average number of

passengers to many destinations contributed to the success of the A380. Airlines

primarily value being able to offer one daily with the A380 versus offering multiple

flights with a smaller aircraft such as the Boeing 787 or the Airbus A330. The A380

made its mark on marque high traffic routes where it could sell off its premium seats

and the majority of economy seats. Utilizing the A380 on an ultra-long haul flights,

(longer than four hours) was another advantage. An A380 on ultra-long haul flights

allowed passengers more comfort and allowed airlines to charge slightly higher ticket

prices.

35
Tim Hepher and Reuters, “Why the Airbus A380 Will Fly No More,” World Economic Forum, https://
www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/airbus-a380-from-european-dream-to-white-elephant.
18
 Another positive driver for the Airbus A380 is the marketing. Amazingly, the

airplane has managed to market itself within the global aviation community. Airbus

utilized a website titled iflya380.com which has really been successful at directly

marketing to passengers. This B2C marketing website allows consumers to see every

route the A380 flies as well as photos and videos from flyers’ past trips on the airplane.
36
This website receives high visitor traffic, from travelers who go to the site when they

are trying to make sure they can fly on an A380. This website marketing also benefits

the carriers who operate the A380, as the iflya380 website allows consumers to book

flights directly. (Figure 6)

Even though the production facility will be shutting its doors in 2021 and many

people will be out of jobs, there is a positive aspect to the situation. Some of the jobs

will be salvaged as Airbus is contractually obligated to continue to support the plane

and create spare parts for repairs, which still generates some revenue for the company.

Since the aircraft will be flying for a few more decades, Airbus will have a modest

revenue stream from parts and supplies.

Premium cabins have been another success factor for the Airbus A380. Some of

the Middle Eastern carriers that operate the A380 can meet the break-even load factor

by just selling their premium cabin seats. Carriers who operate the A380 upgrade their

business- and first-class cabins much more frequently than on other aircraft types

because the return on investment is so high. Premium cabins can single-handedly make

the same amount of revenue as all of the economy class seats sold on certain flights. It

36
Ben and Ford, “Brilliant: Airbus Marketing The A380 Directly To Consumers,” One Mile at a Time,
May 11, 2018, https://onemileatatime.com/iflya380-website/.

19
has long been known that the first- and business-class seats generate the most revenue,

and with so much space, the airlines that operate the A380 recognize this. Some carriers

have over 100 seats in premium cabins and really take advantage of the generous floor

space the A380 offers.

20
 Part Four: Failures

Despite the success of the Airbus A380, it has a long list of failures. Some can

be attributed to Airbus and some can be attributed to a shift of trends and the aviation

market. Airbus determined that it can no longer recoup its 25-billion-dollar investment

and must cease production. The A380 does not offer a unique value proposition to

airlines. 37 Emirates’ cancellation of some of their A380s on order was the main driving

factor that led to the shutdown of production, according to Airbus CEO, Tom Enders.

The negative aspect about shutting down production of this plane is that about

3,000 people will be out of work. Airbus could have salvaged this project if they were

not stubborn and had instead listened to their biggest customer. Airbus may see this as a

huge hit to company pride, but a factor that must be considered is that quad engine jets,

no matter the manufacturer, are being replaced by more fuel-efficient twin-engine

planes. We are witnessing the Boeing 747 on the last leg of its product life cycle as well

as Airbus’s other quad engine airplane, the A340.

Failing to Adhere to Customer Demands

Despite only fifteen carriers operating the Airbus A380, top executives at

airlines around the globe have expressed interest in operating the airplane type.

Emirates asked that Airbus create an updated version of the A380 that would be smaller

and more fuel efficient. Airbus executives considered the idea, but ultimately decided
37
Ben and Tiffany, “Airbus A380 Production Could End, And Why Emirates Is Pissed,” One Mile at a
Time, May 22, 2019, https://onemileatatime.com/airbus-a380-production-end-emirates-pissed/.

21
that the cost of creating a new, updated version of the A380 was not feasible. This was a

critical and costly mistake that ultimately led to the demise of the aircraft. Other airlines

also voiced concerns about a smaller version of A380. Trying to fill an aircraft that seats

an average of over 500 people on some flights which occur three to four times daily, is a

daunting task. Most airlines avoid purchasing the A380 because they do not think they

can fill that many seats on a daily basis.

Logistics

Despite the promising success of the A380, it is a logistical nightmare. The

massive size of the airplane is one of the key contributors to its logistical problems. The

size of the A380 required airports to add new infrastructure which included: longer and

wider runways, longer and wider taxiways, extra gate space, and dual boarding bridges.

Only select airports around the globe are equipped to handle the enormous size

of the A380. Many huge international airports had to build new infrastructure to be able

to accommodate the A380. Prior to the launch of the A380 in 2004, London Heathrow

Airport went through a multi-million-dollar renovation in order to accommodate the

A380. New York’s JFK airport spent over 179 million dollars to be able to

accommodate the A380s. These high fees to be able to accommodate the plane are just

not worth it in too many cities. Additionally, the airlines that operate the A380 have to

contribute to added costs needed to operate the A380. Emirates and the Dubai

International Airport spent over 1 billion at their hub in Dubai to make new runways

and add more A380 gates, as this model requires multiple gates due to its double decker

layout. There needs to be a gate that can reach the upper deck of the plane and gates for

22
the lower levels of the plane. Often times, A380s use four gates, two on each deck, in

order to make the boarding process faster for the average 500-plus passengers on board

each flight. These additional gates, come with significant cost.

Due to the logistical challenges of the A380, it cannot fly to many airports.

Numerous airports across the globe, such as Seattle- Tacoma International and

McCarren Las Vegas International airport, have looked into the feasibility of having the

A380 fly into their airport, but ultimately, the costs outweighed the reward.

Negative Performance

In 2000, Airbus conducted a global market forecast and felt that demand for

extra-large aircraft would be over 1,200 within the next two decades. Unfortunately, the

demand has quickly dried up over the course of these two decades with the introduction

of more fuel efficient aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. This demand

has dried up so quickly that some airlines have even retired the A380 and scrapped

them for parts. Airbus overlooked some of the technical challenges with the aircraft.

Three challenges they failed to understand was the necessary logistical challenge, the

changing aviation market demand, and poor operating efficiency. The logistical

challenges could be overcome, but not without extreme costs. The changing market

demand was something that Airbus had predicted correctly, but they could never be

certain about spikes and dips in demand.

23
 Recommendations

Airbus should have heeded some obvious red flags. Boeing researched a joint

venture about creating an extra-large plane but, eventually decided against it. Airbus

should have followed Boeing’s lead and not spent so much money on developing the

plane. The reason Airbus continued was likely European pride and bragging rights to

the title of the world’s largest plane.

Airbus should continue to support the A380 and manufacture parts in order to

support and service the model for the current carriers. This will generate goodwill, and

when airlines seek to purchase new planes in the future, they will more likely consider

Airbus before Boeing.

Once the Covid–19 situations is resolved, Airbus should consider reintroducing

the Airbus A380 with a reduced capacity and only twin engines. If they can keep the

double decker layout, that would be a huge factor that would convince more carriers to

buy this updated version of the A380. One of the most popular long-haul planes is the

Boeing 787 and it is used in all kinds of markets, including on longer domestic routes in

the United States such as JFK to LAX and international routes around the world.

Airbus should also consider creating a freighter version of their aircraft. With

the ever-increasing demand and costs for air cargo, the A380’s size could be a

competitive advantage. The cargo market is one industry where the size of the A380

would not be considered a problem. Currently, with the Covid-19 situation, cargo

airlines are looking to add extra storage space on their planes, but most of these planes

are already full. The A380 would give these carriers much more room and they could,

in turn, generate more profit with the rising air cargo costs.
24
 List of Figures

Figure 1: Map showing origin of A380 parts

Figure 2: Shower suite on Emirates A380

25
Figure 3: Full service bar on Qatar A380

26
Figure 4: Airbus A380 vs. Boeing 747 comparison chart

27
Figure 5: Chart displaying point-to-point and hub-and-spoke model

Figure 6: Screenshots of iflya380.com website

28
 Bibliography

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Provided a timeline of dates that led to the creation of the a380. It also provided many
useful dates after Airbus announced the a380 to the media.

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Mile at a Time, May 11, 2018. https://onemileatatime.com/iflya380-website/.

Ben, and Tiffany. “Airbus A380 Production Could End, And Why Emirates Is Pissed.”
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29
“Bumpy Ride Expected for Airline Industry in 2005.” CNN. Cable News Network.
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Source for all things Airbus a380. The website is run by Airbus and gave a list of every
destination the airplane flies as well as a list of all the carriers that operate the
aircraft. I was also able to find various useful facts and figures on the aircraft.
On this site, you also see various reviews from customers proving my why it is
the consensus favorite passenger airplane on market. Despite this, all the
reviews were positive so there might be some inherent bias.

Cummins, Nicholas, Javier, Mitul, Kaden, Matt, Jack, David Shotton, et al. “The First
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Reputable source on all things aviation news. Source provided more insight into why
the Airbus a380 production is being scrapped in 2021.

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Provided more insight on the end of production of the a380.

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A380 Specs.” Modern Airliners, June 17, 2019.
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Source useful for any details or facts I needed on the specs in the A380. Gave all the
specs I could possibly need.
30
Hepher, Tim, and Reuters. “Why the Airbus A380 Will Fly No More.” World
Economic Forum. Accessed May 5, 2020.
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Guardian. Guardian News and Media, February 14, 2019.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/14/a380-airbus-to-end-
production-of-superjumbo.

A useful source for gaining insight on the announcement of Airbus shutting down the
a380 production facility. The source is from a British newspaper so it has a
different perspective since the UK is going to be more affected by this
announcement than a US source.

Langen, Vincent de. Why Was the Airbus A380 a Failure? YouTube, 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FogSAQ63f3Q&t=220s.

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75387839.html.

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#43e956e93c59.

This source was very helpful in allowing me to find out what defines a failure in the
industry. This article gave me reasons why the aircraft failed. This source gave
very detailed analysis as too why this plane should not have been built.

31
Rigby, Bill. “Airbus Superjumbo Lands at New York's JFK.” Reuters. Thomson
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This source gave me insight into how much it takes to operate an a380. It gave me
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superjumbo. This source also provided insight on the parts that are made in the
US and the effect it has on the US economy.

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This book was very useful. It was over 700 pages and provided me every fact or
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A useful source for finding out what was a successful play. The source gave info on the
most successful airplanes ever built based on different metrics.

Weiss, Stanley I., and Amir R. Amir. “Airbus Industrie.” Encyclopedia Britannica.
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company-doesnt-use-airbus-a380-2019-4.

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33