Emirates President Renews Call for Airbus to Resume A380 Production

Emirates President Tim Clark has once again expressed the airline’s strong interest in seeing Airbus restart production of the A380. Despite the significant hurdles involved, Clark continues to advocate for the return of the iconic superjumbo, which remains central to Emirates’ fleet.

The Case for Resuming A380 Production

In an interview with Business Insider, Clark reiterated that Airbus is well aware of Emirates’ desire to see the A380 return to production. He proposed that Airbus could modernize the aircraft by incorporating lighter materials and exploring the use of next-generation engines, particularly the Rolls-Royce UltraFan.

According to Rolls-Royce, the UltraFan engine promises a 25% improvement in fuel burn efficiency compared to the first-generation Trent 700 engines, which power the Airbus A330ceo. Additionally, it offers a 10% fuel efficiency gain over the Trent XWB engine, currently used in the Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000.

Clark has previously criticized the Trent XWB-97 engine, which powers the A350-1000, labeling it as defective. During a media roundtable at the Dubai Airshow in November 2023, he raised concerns about its reliability, emphasizing that if the engine met Emirates’ stringent standards, the airline would reconsider adding the A350-1000 to its fleet.

Repeated Calls for A380 Revival

Clark’s recent statements echo his previous calls for the resumption of A380 production in August 2022 and June 2023. His recommendations remain consistent: incorporating lightweight materials and next-generation engines, including the Rolls-Royce UltraFan, to enhance the aircraft’s performance and efficiency.

However, bringing back the A380 poses a significant challenge for Airbus. The manufacturer ceased A380 production in 2021, and in January 2020, it announced plans to repurpose the aircraft’s final assembly line (FAL) in Toulouse for A321neo production. By mid-2022, the A380 Lagardère facility had been converted into a digitally enabled A321neo production line, part of Airbus’ modernization efforts for the A320 series.

In December 2023, Airbus delivered its first A321neo assembled in Toulouse to Pegasus Airlines, reinforcing the company’s commitment to meeting the rising demand for the A321neo, which accounts for nearly 65% of Airbus’ A320 backlog.

Despite these challenges, Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer, who will be succeeded by Lars Wagner in 2026, stated in an interview with Germany’s Hamburger Abendblatt that in the aviation industry, nothing is ever entirely ruled out.

Addressing Airport Capacity Constraints

Clark also highlighted a pressing concern for global airport infrastructure. He argued that as airport expansion remains limited—particularly in Europe and North America—the aviation industry will face increasing constraints. He pointed out that a 500-seat aircraft like the A380 is far more efficient in utilizing limited airport slots compared to smaller jets carrying only 50 passengers.

Emirates’ Commitment to the A380

Emirates remains the largest operator of the A380, having taken delivery of 123 units out of the 251 aircraft produced by Airbus. This includes the final A380 ever built, registered as A6-EVS. Airbus retained the first A380 for internal use, including hydrogen testing.