British Airways continues to operate one of the world’s largest Airbus A380 fleets, with 12 aircraft based at London Heathrow Airport. The airline did not retire any of its A380s during the COVID-19 pandemic and considered acquiring additional used models, though high refurbishment costs prevented further purchases.
The A380s serve as British Airways’ flagship aircraft, offering the highest number of premium and economy seats in the carrier’s fleet. These aircraft are used primarily on routes with significant passenger demand. Data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, identifies the airline’s longest A380 routes for 2025.
One of the key routes is between London Heathrow and Miami International Airport. British Airways operates up to two daily A380 flights on this route. Miami is a significant hub for American Airlines, which is both a oneworld alliance and joint venture partner with British Airways. This partnership allows for coordinated schedules and pricing on transatlantic flights. Combined, British Airways and American Airlines offer up to four daily flights between London and Miami, surpassing the frequency of competitors such as Virgin Atlantic.
The London Heathrow to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport route was previously operated by the A380, but the aircraft was withdrawn earlier in 2025 for cabin reconfigurations. British Airways plans to return to this route on October 26, 2025, using an Airbus A350-1000, while American Airlines continues to operate multiple daily flights.
San Francisco International Airport is another major destination for British Airways’ A380. Despite not being an American Airlines hub, British Airways maintains strong demand on this route, operating up to two daily flights, with one using the A380. The aircraft’s high capacity helps maximize the use of Heathrow’s limited slots.
Los Angeles International Airport is served by three daily British Airways flights, one of which uses the A380. The partnership with American Airlines provides a total of five daily flights during the summer season, making them the largest operator on this route between London and Los Angeles.
Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport is British Airways’ second-longest A380 route, with two daily flights for most of the year. The airport’s high altitude and warm weather can restrict aircraft performance, but the A380’s four engines are less affected by these conditions compared to twinjets. British Airways offers significantly more capacity on this route than its competitor Virgin Atlantic.
For part of early 2025, British Airways operated its longest A380 route between London Heathrow and Singapore Changi Airport, covering 5,879 nautical miles. The airline has since replaced the A380 on this route, but during its operation, the route saw competition from Singapore Airlines and Qantas, both using A380s on some flights.
The deployment of the A380 on these long-haul routes reflects British Airways’ strategy to use the aircraft where passenger demand and airport constraints are greatest. The ongoing cabin reconfiguration program is expected to update the aircraft’s seating, including new business and first class products.
