Economics

Airbus Will Stop Making the World’s Largest Passenger Jet

Emirates to take only 14 more of the double-decker jets
Production to end in 2021 after remaining orders are filled

Guillaume Faury, who replaces Tom Enders as CEO in April, discusses Airbus’s decision to scrap the A380.Source: Bloomberg

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By Benjamin D Katz and Benedikt Kammel

February 14, 2019 at 5:28 AM UTC

Updated on

February 14, 2019 at 9:30 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Airbus SE decided to stop making the A380 double-decker after a dozen years in service, burying a prestige project that won the hearts of passengers and politicians but never the broad support of airlines that instead preferred smaller, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Production of the jumbo jet will end by 2021, after the A380’s biggest customer, Emirates, and a handful of remaining buyers receive their last orders. The Gulf carrier will pare down its current A380 order to 14 from 53. Emirates said separately it would purchase 70 smaller A330neo and A350 widebodies listed at $21.4 billion before customary discounts.