The Airbus A380 was once expected to disappear from passenger service far sooner than anyone wanted. Airbus ended production in 2021, several major airlines retired the aircraft during the pandemic and many remaining examples were placed into long-term storage.

Yet the world’s largest passenger aircraft has enjoyed an unexpected second life.

Strong travel demand and delays to replacement aircraft have encouraged airlines including Lufthansa, Etihad and Qatar Airways to return A380s to service. Approximately 7,500 A380 flights are scheduled globally during November 2026, compared with more than 10,000 per month at the aircraft’s peak in 2017.

The routes below are based on airline schedules for November 2026. Aircraft substitutions, seasonal changes and maintenance requirements mean an A380 is never completely guaranteed, so passengers should check the aircraft type carefully before booking and again before departure.

Ten airlines currently have scheduled passenger services using the A380:

Global Airlines owns an A380, but it does not currently operate a regular scheduled passenger network and is therefore not included among the ten active scheduled operators.

Emirates remains by far the largest A380 operator in the world. Its fleet is bigger than those of every other operator combined, making Dubai the best place to find and fly the aircraft.

During the winter 2026 season, Emirates is scheduled to use the A380 between Dubai and:

Emirates also operates several fifth-freedom A380 services that can be booked without travelling through Dubai:

These shorter fifth-freedom routes can be an excellent way to experience the Emirates A380 without booking an ultra-long-haul journey.

Emirates schedules change regularly and not every service to these destinations will necessarily use an A380. London Gatwick, for example, is due to temporarily lose the type during October and November 2026 before its planned return in December.

British Airways has 12 A380s based at London Heathrow.

For the winter 2026 season, the aircraft is scheduled to fly from Heathrow to:

Los Angeles, one of British Airways’ best-known A380 destinations, is being removed from the winter superjumbo schedule as the airline reduces A380 flying while aircraft undergo maintenance and cabin refurbishment.

The exact programme can change throughout the year, with destinations such as Boston, Dallas, Dubai, Los Angeles and Washington appearing during previous seasonal schedules.

British Airways’ A380 remains unusual because Economy is available on both decks. The smaller upper-deck World Traveller cabin uses a 2-4-2 configuration and gives passengers seated by the windows access to useful side storage compartments.

You can watch our full review of British Airways’ A380 Economy Class from London to Los Angeles here.

Singapore Airlines was the first carrier to place the A380 into commercial service, launching the aircraft in 2007.

Its winter 2026 network connects Singapore with:

Singapore Airlines operates one of the most impressive A380 cabins in the sky, although passengers should check which configuration is scheduled before booking.

The newest Suites cabin contains six individual rooms on the upper deck. Each has a separate reclining chair and bed, while two adjoining suites can be combined to create a double bed for passengers travelling together.

Qatar Airways is scheduled to deploy the A380 from Doha to:

The airline reversed plans to retire the aircraft as delays to the Boeing 777X increased the need for additional capacity.

Qatar Airways’ A380 does not feature the airline’s Qsuite Business Class seat. Instead, Business Class uses an older fully flat product, but passengers gain access to a spacious onboard bar shared with First Class.

The small First Class cabin also offers wide seats, generous personal space and access to some of the largest bathrooms found on a commercial aircraft, although there are no onboard showers.

Qantas operates its A380s primarily from Sydney, with scheduled services to:

The aircraft may also appear between Melbourne and Los Angeles on selected dates.

Qantas uses the A380 on flight QF1 from Sydney to London via Singapore, with the return journey operating as QF2. Passengers can book the entire journey or travel on individual sectors, including Singapore to London.

The airline has announced that it will begin retiring the A380 from 2028, four years earlier than previously planned, as maintenance and disruption costs increase. Its replacement programme will include new Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft.

Etihad has returned the A380 to an expanding group of high-demand destinations from Abu Dhabi:

The Etihad A380 offers arguably the most extravagant commercial airline seat ever created.

The Residence is a private three-room space incorporating a living room, separate bedroom and private shower room. It sits ahead of the airline’s First Apartments, which provide individual enclosed suites with a separate seat and bed.

Availability in The Residence is extremely limited and fares can cost tens of thousands of pounds, but the First Apartments provide much of the same A380 experience at a lower, although still substantial, price.

Lufthansa operates its reactivated A380 fleet from Munich.

The winter 2026 schedule includes:

Lufthansa returned the A380 after initially retiring its entire fleet during the pandemic. Eight aircraft have since been brought back, while the remaining six were sold to Airbus.

Its current First Class cabin is comparatively understated, with eight open suites rather than fully enclosed rooms. The A380’s large upper-deck bathrooms and exceptionally quiet cabin remain major attractions.

Business Class is an older-generation product and does not provide direct aisle access from every seat, so passengers choosing Lufthansa primarily for the cabin may find newer aircraft more competitive.

Korean Air is scheduled to operate the A380 between:

The airline has significantly reduced its A380 network, but the aircraft remains useful on the high-capacity route between South Korea and New York.

Korean Air’s configuration includes the Celestial Bar on the upper deck for Business Class passengers, alongside a large dedicated premium cabin.

The airline had previously planned to retire its A380s by 2026, but strong demand and delays to replacement aircraft have kept a smaller number in service.

Asiana Airlines continues to operate the A380 from Seoul Incheon to:

Asiana is now a subsidiary of Korean Air and is expected to be absorbed into the combined airline. Its A380 operation is therefore unlikely to have a long-term future, but the aircraft remains scheduled while fleet integration continues.

The airline’s former First Class suites are marketed as Business Suites on selected aircraft, potentially giving passengers an unusually spacious seat with Business Class service.

All Nippon Airways operates the most distinctive A380 fleet in the world.

Its three aircraft fly exclusively between:

Known as the Flying Honu fleet, each aircraft carries a different sea turtle livery inspired by Hawaii. The blue aircraft represents the sky, the green aircraft represents the ocean and the orange aircraft represents the Hawaiian sunset.

ANA’s A380 includes First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. The lower deck contains an enormous Economy cabin, while the upper deck is reserved for premium passengers.

The United Kingdom remains one of the best places in the world to see and fly on the Airbus A380.

The following scheduled routes connect UK airports with A380 services during the winter 2026 season:

Aircraft and frequencies vary by date. Emirates also serves other UK airports with Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft, so passengers should not assume that every Emirates flight will be operated by an A380.

The A380 is no longer as widespread as it once was, but it is far from finished. Ten airlines still schedule the aircraft across some of the world’s busiest long-haul routes, and UK passengers retain an exceptional choice from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.

Emirates offers the greatest number of opportunities, but Singapore Airlines Suites, Etihad’s Residence, ANA’s Flying Honu and British Airways’ upper-deck Economy cabin prove that every operator gives the superjumbo its own identity.

Anyone determined to fly it should book sooner rather than later, check the aircraft carefully and accept that schedules can change as the remaining fleets age.