FINAL COUNTDOWN FOR ICONIC A380

Airbus says last superjumbo will be delivered in 2021

EUROPE’s Airbus SE announced plans to scrap production of the A380 superjumbo yesterday, abandoning its dream of dominating the skies with a cruiseliner for the 21st century after years of lacklustre sales.

The world’s largest airliner, with two decks of spacious cabins and room for 544 people in standard layout, was designed to challenge Boeing’s legendary 747 but failed to take hold as airlines backed a new generation of smaller, more nimble jets.

Airbus said the last A380 would be delivered in 2021.

Confirming the shake-up, Airbus said Emirates — the largest A380 customer — had decided to reduce its orders for the iconic superjumbo and order a total of 70 of the smaller A350 and A330neo models.

Around 3,000 to 3,500 jobs are potentially affected.

Airbus will produce 17 more of the planes, including 14 for Emirates and three for Japanese airline ANA.

As part of the restructuring, Emirates placed a new order for 40 A330-900neo jets and 30 A350-900 aircraft, partially restoring a purchase of A350 aircraft that it cancelled in 2014.

Emirates’ rival Etihad of Abu Dhabi also disclosed it was cutting some Airbus and Boeing jet orders.

Making its maiden flight in 2005, the A380 was a major step in Airbus’s efforts to compete on equal terms with Boeing and challenge what had been a cash cow for its arch-rival.

But sales of the industry’s largest four-engined jets have fallen due to improvements in lighter twin-engined alternatives, such as the Boeing 787 and 777 or Airbus’s own A350.