The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft in the sky. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, many of the world’s largest airlines operated this type. In recent years, the aircraft’s popularity has declined as more airlines seek smaller, more fuel-efficient options. Melbourne Airport(MEL) in Australia is a fair representation of this, with the Victorian airport losing six of its previous A380 operators.
At present, just two airlines operate the A380 to Melbourne: Emirates, the world’s largest operator of the double-decker, and Qantas. However, starting in October, the Australian flag carrier will cease A380 operations at MEL, adjusting its non-stop service to Los Angeles to the Boeing 787.
The Heyday of the Airbus A380 Is Over
During its peak, Melbourne Airport had a total of eight airlines flying the A380 to the country’s second-busiest airport; however, this has dwindled down to just two airlines, with one about to suspend its operations. In September 2017, the airport saw its peak A380 operations with nine departures across the day, operated by Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways.
Pictured in the map above is a snapshot of some of the A380 operations that once operated to and from Melbourne Airport (albeit a one-off MEL-LAX-JFK, which wouldn’t fit on the map). Post October, when Qantas retires its A380 operations at Melbourne, Emirates will remain the sole operator of the type to and from this Victorian airport. Here’s a list of routes operated with the type from MEL according to Cirium, an online aviation analytics company:
| Airline | No. Of Routes | Routes | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas | Four (+ one one-off service to New York JFK Airport) | Melbourne – Dubai – London HeathrowMelbourne – Singapore – London HeathrowMelbourne – Los Angeles – New York JFK (one-off)Melbourne – Los AngelesMelbourne – Tokyo Narita | Airbus A380-800 |
| Emirates | One | Melbourne – Dubai | Airbus A380-800 |
| Singapore Airlines | One | Melbourne – Singapore | Airbus A380-800 |
| Qatar Airways | One | Melbourne – Doha | Airbus A380-800 |
| Etihad Airways | One | Melbourne – Abu Dhabi | Airbus A380-800 |
| China Southern Airlines | One | Melbourne – Guangzhou | Airbus A380-800 |
| Malaysia Airlines | One | Melbourne – Kuala Lumpur |
The Busiest Day For A380 Operations At Melbourne
On September 25, 2017, Melbourne recorded its busiest day for A380 operations in history, when nine A380 flights arrived and departed from MEL. This was the highest number ever recorded in a single calendar day, and has never been repeated. These flights served major airports around the globe, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), Auckland Airport (AKL), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH), and Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH).
Throughout that day, the largest operator was Emirates, with four flights served by its double-decker. While the airline no longer operates this A380 frequency to Melbourne, it continues to be the world’s largest operator of the type. On this day, routes such as Emirates’ non-stop service to Auckland, which was the only short-haul A380 service from Auckland, no longer exist.
| Airline | Departure Time | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 12:05 am | Dubai |
| Singapore Airlines | 12:05 am | Singapore |
| Emirates | 7:10 am | Auckland |
| Qantas | 9:15 am | Los Angeles |
| Emirates | 6:00 pm | Dubai |
| Emirates | 9:25 pm | Dubai |
| Qatar Airways | 9:40 pm | Doha |
| Etihad Airways | 10:15 pm | Abu Dhabi |
| Qantas | 10:55 pm | Dubai – London Heathrow |
While all the above airlines still operate the Airbus A380, their operations to Melbourne have changed. Airlines like Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Etihad have shifted to more economical aircraft, such as the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, or Boeing 777, to better match seasonal passenger demand.
Credits: Airbus A380
