# The Airbus A380 program was launched by the European manufacturer, Airbus, in the 1990s.

*business · news · 2026-04-10 · Simple Flying*

## Key points

- Emirates received 123 of the 251 A380s produced, nearly half of all deliveries.
- As of early 2026, only about 190 A380s remain in service with ten airlines.
- Emirates built a dedicated A380 concourse and invested in extensive in-house maintenance for the fleet.
- No current or upcoming aircraft matches the A380's passenger capacity, making it irreplaceable at slot-constrained airports.
- Several airlines retrofitted A380 cabins post-pandemic, indicating renewed demand for the aircraft's unique offerings.

**Companies:** Airbus, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Air France, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, China Southern, Qatar Airways
**Countries:** United Arab Emirates, Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Thailand, Malaysia, China, Qatar

[Read the full story on Simple Flying](https://simpleflying.com/airbus-30-billion-failure-most-beloved-aircraft-sky-2026/)

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