The world’s largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, requires specific modifications of standards (MoS) at the airports it operates. From wide taxiways and aprons to high jet bridges and ground equipment, the double-deck of the A380 drives some modifications to standard airports.
- Length: 72.72 m (238 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 79.75 m (261 ft 8 in) with a wing sweep of 33.5°
- Width: 7.14 m (23 ft 5 in)
- Height: 24.09 m (79 ft 0 in)
- Max takeoff weight: 575,000 kg (1,267,658 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 253,983 kg (559,937 lb), 323,546 liters (85,472 US gal)
- Takeoff: 3,000 m (9,800 ft) at MTOW, SL, ISA
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lists the US airports that can handle the twin-decker plane. Sixteen airports nationwide are A380 capable, although only a handful of these airports currently see the A380 service.
Airbus A380 Modification of Standards
- ANC – Anchorage International Airport
- ATL – Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport
- BOS – Boston Logan International Airport
- DEN – Denver International Airport
- DFW – Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport
- HNL – Honolulu International Airport
- IAD – Washington Dulles International Airport
- IAH – Houston Intercontinental Airport, Texas
- JFK – John F. Kennedy International Airport
- LAX – Los Angeles International Airport
- MCO – Orlando International Airport
- MEM – Memphis International Airport
- MIA – Miami International Airport
- ORD – Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- SDF – Louisville International Airport, Kentucky
- SFO – San Francisco International Airport
Photo: Philip Pilosian | Shutterstock
A variety of US airports are operated by Airbus A380s from various global airlines. Since no US airlines operate the superjumbo, Middle Eastern, European, and airlines in the Oceanic regions fly their mighty quad jets to the US soil. Data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, shows that eight airlines operate scheduled A380 services to various US airports in January.
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From Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Five major US destinations served by Emirates in January
| Airline | Origin | Destination | Number of flights in January | Average distance (miles) | Seats per departure | Number of seats in January | Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates | DXB | LAX | 31 | 8,334 | 484 | 15,004 | 125,043,336 |
| Emirates | DXB | IAH | 31 | 8,165 | 484 | 15,004 | 122,507,660 |
| Emirates | DXB | SFO | 31 | 8,101 | 484 | 15,004 | 121,574,404 |
| Emirates | DXB | IAD | 31 | 7,069 | 489 | 15,161 | 107,173,109 |
| Emirates | DXB | JFK | 62 | 6,849 | 487 | 30,165 | 206,600,085 |
| Total | 186 | 90,338 | 682 million |
The largest operator of the type, Emirates, flies to five US destinations from its hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) using the Airbus A380 fleet in January. Los Angeles (LAX), Houston George Bush International (IAH), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports see once-daily A380 flights from Dubai, with a total of 31 flights to each destination in January. On average, Emirates offers 484 seats per departure to LAX, IAH, and SFO.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The Middle Eastern giant offers an average of 489 seats per departure to IAD, for a total of 15,161 seats in January. Emirates operates twice-daily service to New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) using the Airbus A380. With an average of 487 seats per departure, the airline offers 30,165 seats in January. Cumulatively, there are 186 A380 departures from DXB to US airports (direct) in January, with a total of 90,338 seats, translating to over 628 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). Notably, Emirates offers additional daily rotations to these airports using its Boeing 777 fleet.
The airline primarily operates various configurations, including three-class and two-class seating. The Emirates A380 is equipped with 489 seats in a three-class configuration:
Emirates Airbus A380 (489 seats)
- First Class closed-door suites: 14 seats, Pitch 86 inches/bed length 78 inches, Width 23 inches
- Business Class flatbed seats: 76 seats, Pitch 48 inches/bed length 78 inches, Width 18.5 inches
- Economy: 399 seats, Pitch 32-34 inches, Width 18 inches
According to SeatGuru,
“This aircraft operates with three classes of service. First Class are individual suites with sliding doors. There is also a shower for First Class passengers. Business Class is in a staggered pattern with most seats having direct access to the aisle and a pair of seats down the centre. Economy Class is located entirely on the main deck of the aircraft.”
Notably, some makeover and newer A380s are equipped with Premium Economy seating, an upscale seats in the front of the cabin. According to Emirates,
“Sink into wider, cream leather seats and enjoy extra room to stretch out on raised cushioned leg rests. Adjustable headrests and a deeper recline help you to get your comfort just right, before you sleep under the stars of the overhead mood lighting. On the A380, our spacious Premium Economy seats are at the front of the aircraft giving you greater priority to exit when we land.”
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From London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Four major US destinations served by British Airways in January
| Airline | Origin | Destination | Number of flights in January | Average distance (miles) | Seats per departure | Number of seats in January | Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | LHR | LAX | 26 | 8,334 | 469 | 12,194 | 66,530,464 |
| British Airways | LHR | SFO | 33 | 8,101 | 469 | 15,477 | 83,080,530 |
| British Airways | LHR | DFW | 28 | 7,069 | 469 | 13,132 | 62,390,132 |
| British Airways | LHR | MIA | 60 | 6,849 | 469 | 28,140 | 124,519,500 |
| Total | 147 | 69,543 | 337 million |
The United Kingdom’s flag carrier flies to four US destinations from its hub at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) using the Airbus A380 fleet in January. Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airports see daily A380 flights (with some exceptions) from LHR. British Airways offers 469 seats per departure on average to US destinations. British Airways operates twice-daily service to Miami International Airport (MIA) using the Airbus A380.
Photo: Thiago B Trevisan | Shutterstock
With an average of 469 seats per departure, the airline offers 28,140 seats in January. Cumulatively, 147 A380 departures from LHR to US airports (direct) in January, with a total of 69,543 seats, translating to over 337 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). British Airways offers additional daily rotations to various US airports using its Airbus A350, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 fleet.
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From Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Two major US destinations served by multiple Korean airlines in January
| Airline | Origin | Destination | Number of flights in January | Average distance (miles) | Seats per departure | Number of seats in January | Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Air | ICN | JFK | 31 | 6,907 | 407 | 12,617 | 87,145,619 |
| Korean Air | ICN | LAX | 31 | 5,995 | 407 | 12,617 | 75,638,915 |
| Asiana Airlines | ICN | LAX | 35 | 5,995 | 495 | 17,325 | 103,863,375 |
Two major South Korean carriers, Korean Air and Asiana, operate Airbus A380 flights to US airports. Korean Air operates daily flights to JFK and LAX airports from its hub in Seoul Incheon (ICN). With an average of 407 seats per departure, the airline offers 12,617 seats to each destination in January. The two A380 routes from Korean Air cumulated to nearly 163 million ASMs.
Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock
Asiana Airlines operates up to two daily flights from ICN to Los Angeles (LAX) using its A380 aircraft. The airline’s superjumbos on the route are configured with 495 seats, making it a total of 17,325 seats and nearly 104 million ASMs in January.
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Korean Air Suspending Airbus A380 Flights to the US?
According to a post by Ishrion Aviation, Korean Air has significant plans to its 2025 network with the Airbus A380. This results in likely suspending A380 service between Seoul (ICN) and Los Angeles (LAX), but also New York (JFK).
As of right now according to Flightradar24, Korean Air switches daily between the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A380 for the afternoon flight at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. But, the aircraft remains an Airbus A380 for the late night flight. For Los Angeles (LAX), Korean Air uses the Airbus A380 but switches between the Boeing 747-8 and Boeing 777-300ER for the route.
Ishrion Aviation states that Korean Air will switch to the Boeing 747-8 for the Seoul-Los Angeles route, and New York-JFK will be switched to the Boeing 777-300ER. These will most likely take place in Spring of 2025.
A report by Ishrion Aviation also shows that there are no additional A380 flights for next year by Korean Air. But the A380 is expected to return in October of 202
From multiple global airports
Various US destinations served by other airlines in January
| Airline | Origin | Destination | Number of flights in January | Average distance (miles) | Seats per departure | Number of seats in January | Available Seat Miles (ASMs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas | MEL | LAX | 10 | 7,920 | 485 | 4,850 | 38,412,000 |
| Qantas | SYD | LAX | 31 | 7,487 | 485 | 15,035 | 112,567,045 |
| Etihad Airways | AUH | JFK | 31 | 6,867 | 486 | 15,066 | 103,458,222 |
| Lufthansa | MUC | LAX | 11 | 5,989 | 509 | 5,599 | 33,532,411 |
| Emirates | MXP | JFK | 31 | 3,995 | 519 | 16,089 | 64,275,555 |
| All Nippon Airways | NRT | HNL | 50 | 3,818 | 520 | 26,000 | 99,268,000 |
Australian Qantas flies its A380 to Los Angeles from Melbourne (MEL) and Sydney (SYD). While the SYD-LAX rotation is once daily on the A380, the MEL-LAX flights are only two times a week. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways operates a daily A380 flight from its hub in AUH to New York-JFK, offering 486 seats in its double-decker plane. With over 15,000 seats in January, the airline offers nearly 103.5K ASMs.
Photo: Christopher Halloran | Shutterstock
Emirates’ fifth-freedom flight between Milan (MXP) and JFK is a daily rotation that originates in Dubai and ends in JFK via a stopover in Milan. This daily A380 flight also drops and picks up passengers at Milan, making it different from a fuel stopover. The incoming flight from Dubai arrives in Milan at 13:10 local time and departs for JFK two hours and 30 minutes later. Emirates operates some of the densest A380 configurations on the route, averaging 519 seats per departure. In January, Emirates offered over 16,000 seats, which accumulated to over 64 million ASMs.
The German flag carrier operates 11 flights between its Munich (MUC) hub and LAX, amounting to nearly 5,600 seats and 33.5 million ASMs in January. All Nippon Airways (ANA), the Japanese mainline carrier, operates 50 A380 flights between Tokyo Narita (NRT) and Honolulu (HNL) in Hawaii. The airlines offers an average of 520 seats per departure at one of the most popular tourist destinations, amounting to 26,000 seats and over 99 million ASMS.
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