Alerts Sign-up
Emirates, the Dubai-based carrier, ceased operations of its Airbus A380 to 24 destinations, a shift in their flight strategy since the aircraft inaugurated service nearly 17 years ago. The A380, which began flying between Dubai and New York JFK in August 2008, has since visited 75 airports globally, including one-off events. From those, 24 destinations are no longer served by Emirates' largest aircraft, such as Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong, which had most A380 flights.
Notably, the 24 destinations do not include Bahrain. Emirates recently utilized its A380 to transport passengers to the Bahrain Grand Prix, a flight which briefly became the shortest A380 service globally, at 263 nautical miles each way. Emirates emphasizes that while these destinations are no longer served by the A380, they continue to be serviced by the Boeing 777-300ER.
The analysis using Cirium Diio data reflects a shift from the A380 to the 777-300ER, particularly observed in Chinese markets. This decision helps carry more freight, albeit at the expense of fewer passenger seats. Over 100 flights were made to key airports, such as Dallas/Fort Worth and Boston, with operations shifting since the A380’s Dallas debut in 2014.
