Emirates has taken delivery of its 123rd and last Airbus A380 aircraft, marking the end of a program that lasted just 14 short years. The first superjumbo was delivered to its launch company Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY) in 2007.
The final delivery took place at the Airbus Hamburg facility in Germany on December 16, 2021. The last A380, which bears the MSN number 272, had completed its final test flight three days before. To mark the occasion, the double-decker drew a heart in the sky.
“The A380 has touched the lives of so many passengers by setting new standards in terms of flying and travel experience,” commented Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO.
The Dubai-based airline expects to fly the superjumbos for another 20 years.
“The A380 will remain Emirates’ flagship product for the coming years, and a vital pillar of our network plans,” the president of Emirates Tim Clark said in a statement. “The aircraft we are receiving today features our latest cabin products including Premium Economy. Compare it to our very first A380 delivered back in 2008 and you’ll see the myriad of enhancements and upgrades invested in ensuring that the Emirates A380 experience is unparalleled.”
The plan to stop production of the aircraft was announced on February 14, 2019, and was planned for 2022. The date was eventually brought forward, as, together with Emirates, the manufacturer announced that the carrier would reduce the backlog of the A380 by 39 aircraft on February 14, 2019.
Lovers of jumbo aircraft will barely have time to dry their tears, as Boeing is preparing to end the production of the 747 in 2022.