Simple Flying has reported that another Airbus A380 Superjumbo is set to be scrapped. Although these large aircraft will continue flying into the 2030s, their numbers are expected to decrease as more airframes are dismantled to support the remaining fleet. In October 2022, Airbus auctioned off parts from an A380 deconstructed by TARMAC Aerosave.
The latest A380s to be dismantled were previously operated by Lufthansa and Malaysia Airlines. However, retired China Southern A380s have found new life with Global Airlines. The question arises: why are so many of these aircraft being scrapped? It appears to be a combination of factors.
According to ch-aviation data, around 29 A380s have been scrapped, not including a recent acquisition by Setna iQ for dismantling. This company specializes in spare parts for commercial aircraft and is based in Chicago. With only 251 A380s ever delivered, this means about 12% of the global fleet has been scrapped.