Emirates president Tim Clark says the airline will keep flying all its A380s
The largest operator of the Airbus A380 will not be making cuts to its fleet of the world's biggest passenger jet after all, and in fact expects to fly all of its airplanes again by the summer of 2022. That's according to the president of Emirates, Sir Tim Clark, who told the Financial Times that "we're not getting rid of any of them" except for three, which were scheduled to be retied anyway. That would leave Emirates with 112 of the double-decker jets, and runs contrary to earlier reports that the airline might retire 46 of them to cope with reduced demand.
Emirates grounded temporarily all of its A380s as the coronavirus pandemic erased most demand for international flights, which is the only kind of flying Emirates does. The A380, Sir Tim told the FT, still has a "place in the Emirates international network on the scale it has before."
For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
The Dubai-based airline is able to use its hub's position at the geographic center of the world to make the A380's massive seat capacity work. The A380 is in fact, according to what Clark once told TPG in Dubai, the only airplane that could have enabled Emirates to launch its business model based on moving vast numbers of people on connecting flights. Clearly, the head of the world's number one airline by international passengers carried is confident that model can still work, once the pandemic has passed.
"I think there will be a place for it and I think it is going to be extremely popular," he said of the A380.
Related: 10 fun facts about the Airbus A380
That position stands in contrast to other airlines', which have ditched some or all of their A380s in the face of dropping demand. Lufthansa is getting rid of half its 380s, and Air France has retired them all effective immediately. Sir Tim has an opinion, albeit expressed before the pandemic crisis, on why the A380 never worked for carriers that ordered a small number.
Emirates has restarted some flights after suspending all of them in March due to the virus, but all of those are being flown with the Boeing 777, the only other airplane model in its fleet. All of its A380s remain, for now, grounded.
At the time of this writing there was only one A380 airborne in the world, a British Airways jet headed back to London Heathrow from Manila, where it had been since March undergoing scheduled maintenance according to The BA Source. Incidentally, that's the same A380 one of our readers spotted last year at the Oakland airport, an extremely unusual appearance due to a strike by British Airways pilots.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees