Editing Airbus A380 (section)

==Market==
[[File:A380 tails at Heathrow.jpg|thumb|[[Singapore Airlines]], [[Qantas]], and [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] A380 tails at [[Heathrow Airport]]]]

===Size===
In its 2000 Global Market Forecast, Airbus estimated a demand for 1,235 passenger Very Large Aircraft (VLA) with more than 400 seats: 360 up to 2009 and 875 by 2019.<ref name="Flight19sep2017">{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-the-a380s-rollercoaster-ride-in-10-years-440832/ |title= The A380's rollercoaster ride in 10 years of service |date= 19 September 2017 |work= Flight International |author= Max Kingsley-Jones}}</ref>
In late 2003, Boeing forecast 320 "Boeing 747 and larger" passenger aircraft over 20 years, close to the 298 orders actually placed for the A380 and 747-8 passenger airliners as of March 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/programmes/how-the-a380-ran-out-of-runway-after-just-two-decades/137480.article |title= How the A380 ran out of runway after just two decades |author= Max Kingsley-Jones |date= 25 March 2020 |work= Flightglobal}}</ref>

In 2007, Airbus estimated a demand for 1,283 VLAs in the following 20 years if airport congestion remains constant, up to 1,771 VLAs if congestion increases, with most deliveries (56%) in Asia-Pacific, and 415 very large, 120-tonne plus freighters.<ref>{{cite web |title= Flying by Nature Airbus Global Market Forecast 2007–2026 |publisher=[[Airbus S.A.S.]] |date=31 January 2008 |pages=78–79 |url=http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/documents/gmf/PDF_dl/00-all-gmf_2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409133337/http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/documents/gmf/PDF_dl/00-all-gmf_2007.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2008}}</ref> For the same period, Boeing was estimating the demand for 590 large (747 or A380) passenger airliners and 630 freighters.<ref>{{cite web |title= Boeing Current Market Outlook 2007 |publisher=[[Boeing Commercial Airplanes]] |date=20 November 2007 |page=43 |url=http://www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/pdf/Boeing_Current_Market_Outlook_2007.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409133335/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/cmo/pdf/Boeing_Current_Market_Outlook_2007.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2008}}</ref>
Estimates for the total over a twenty-year period have varied from 400 to over 1,700.<ref name="ms_a380_debate_20060905" /><ref>{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/opinion-mega-transports-hobbled-their-size |title= Opinion: Mega-Transports Hobbled By Their Size |author= Pierre Sparaco |work= [[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |date= 3 March 2014 |url-access= subscription}}</ref>

===Frequency and capacity===
In 2013, [[Cathay Pacific]] and [[Singapore Airlines]] needed to balance frequency and capacity.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/asian-airlines-changing-presence-at-london-heathrow-pt-1-cathay-and-sia-increase-capacity-96950 |title= Asian Airlines' changing presence at London Heathrow |work= Center for Aviation |date= 13 February 2013}}</ref> [[China Southern]] struggled for two years to use its A380s from Beijing, and finally received Boeing 787s in its base in [[Guangzhou]], but where it cannot command a premium, unlike Beijing or Shanghai.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/china-southerns-a380-problems-may-not-be-solved-by-possible-air-china-partnership-103063 |title= China Southern's A380 problems may not be solved by possible Air China partnership |work= CAPA: Centre for Aviation |date= 2 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-02/china-southern-gets-first-dreamliner-after-failed-a380-strategy.html |author=Jasmine Wang |title=China Southern Gets First Dreamliner After Failed A380 Strategy |date=1 June 2013 |publisher=Bloomberg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602205556/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-02/china-southern-gets-first-dreamliner-after-failed-a380-strategy.html |archive-date=2 June 2013}}</ref> In 2013, [[Air France]] withdrew A380 services to Singapore and Montreal and switched to smaller aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |author= Kurt Hofman |url= http://atwonline.com/airframes/air-france-airbus-a380-not-good-fit-network |title= Air France: Airbus A380 not a good fit for network |work= Air Transport World |date= 30 September 2013 |url-access= subscription}}</ref>

In 2014, [[British Airways]] replaced three 777 flights between London and Los Angeles with two A380 per day.<ref>{{cite news |author= Ian Goold |url= http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/farnborough-air-show/2014-07-13/airbus-airlines-happy-a380 |title= Airbus, Airlines Happy With A380 |date= 13 July 2014 |work= Aviation International News |access-date= 20 July 2014 |archive-date= 29 November 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129034118/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/farnborough-air-show/2014-07-13/airbus-airlines-happy-a380 |url-status= dead}}</ref> Emirates' [[Tim Clark (airline executive)|Tim Clark]] saw a large potential for East Asian A380-users, and criticised Airbus' marketing efforts.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/new-breed-managers-needed-a380-success-tim-clark-believes |title= 'New Breed of Managers' Needed For A380 Success, Tim Clark Believes |author= Jens Flottau |work= [[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |date= 17 November 2014}}</ref> As many business travellers prefer more choices offered by greater flight frequency achieved by flying any given route multiple times on smaller aircraft, rather than fewer flights on larger planes, United Airlines observed the A380 "just doesn't really work for us"<!--<ref name=reuters4jun2015/>--> with a much higher trip cost than the [[Boeing 787]].<ref name="reuters4jun2015">{{Cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/united-airlines-fleet-idUSL1N0YQ00Z20150604 |title= United Airlines does not see a fit for Airbus A380 |work= Reuters |date= 4 June 2015 |author= Jeffrey Dastin |access-date= 30 June 2017 |archive-date= 17 October 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151017020432/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/04/united-airlines-fleet-idUSL1N0YQ00Z20150604 |url-status= live}}</ref>

At the A380 launch, most Europe-Asia and transpacific routes used [[Boeing 747-400]]s at fairly low frequencies but, since then, routes proliferated with [[open skies]], and most airlines downsized, offering higher frequencies and more routes.<!--<ref name=Flight19sep2017/>-->
The huge capacity offered by each flight eroded the yield: North America was viewed as 17% of the market but the A380 never materialised as a 747 replacement, with only 15 747s remaining in passenger service in November 2017 for transpacific routes, where time zones restrict potential frequency.<!--<ref name=Flight19sep2017/>--> Consolidation changed the networks, and US majors constrained capacity and emphasised daily frequencies for business traffic with midsize widebodies like the 787, to extract higher yields; the focus being on profits, with market share ceded to Asian carriers.<ref name="Flight19sep2017" />

The 747 was largely replaced on [[transatlantic flight]]s by the 767, and on the transpacific flights by the 777{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}; newer, smaller aircraft with similar [[Available seat miles|seat-mile]] costs have lower trip costs and allow more direct routes.<!--<ref name=Flight19sep2017/>-->
Cabin 'densification', to lower unit costs, could aggravate this overcapacity.<ref name="Flight19sep2017" />

===Production===
In 2005, 270 sales were necessary to attain [[break-even]] and with 751 expected deliveries its [[internal rate of return]] outlook was at 19%, but due to disruptions in the [[ramp-up]] leading to overcosts and delayed deliveries, it increased to 420 in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/0/74/41485740.pdf |title=A380 financial update |author=Andreas Sperl |publisher=EADS |date=19 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061103062416/http://www.eads.com/xml/content/OF00000000400004/0/74/41485740.pdf |archive-date=3 November 2006}}</ref> In 2010, EADS CFO Hans Peter Ring said that break-even could be achieved by 2015 when 200 deliveries were projected.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/eads-hopeful-a380-could-break-even-in-2015-342126/ |title= EADS hopeful A380 could break even in 2015 |work= Flight International |date= 19 May 2010}}</ref> In 2012, Airbus clarified that the aircraft production costs would be less than its sales price.<ref name="wsjDMcc">{{cite news |url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303644004577522643299354320 |title= Airbus Wants A380 Cost Cuts |work= The Wall Street Journal |author= Daniel Michaels |date= 13 July 2012 |url-access= subscription}}</ref>

On 11 December 2014, Airbus [[chief financial officer]] Harald Wilhelm hinted the possibility of ending the programme in 2018, disappointing Emirates president Tim Clark.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-airbus-group-idUSKBN0JP0W020141211 |author= Tim Hepher |title= Fury at Airbus after it hints the super-jumbo may be mothballed |work= Reuters |date= 11 December 2014}}</ref> Airbus shares fell down consequently.<ref>{{cite news |title= Airbus shares fall over A380 threat |work= BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30427116 |date= 11 December 2014}}</ref> Airbus responded to the protests by playing down the possibility the A380 would be abandoned, instead emphasising that enhancing the aeroplane was a likelier scenario.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/19274cca-8155-11e4-a493-00144feabdc0.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/19274cca-8155-11e4-a493-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title= Airbus plays down fears over A380 future |work= Financial Times |date= 11 December 2014 |author= Michael Stothard}}</ref> On 22 December 2014, as the jet was about to break even, Airbus CEO [[Fabrice Brégier]] ruled out cancelling it.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/airbus-a350-delivery-idUSL6N0U61HS20141222 |title= UPDATE 1-Airbus delivers first A350, rules out cancelling A380 project |work=Reuters |date=22 December 2014 |author= Tim Hepher}}</ref>

Ten years after its first flight, Brégier said it was "almost certainly introduced ten years too early".<ref>{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/blog/airbus-a380-makes-maiden-flight-2005 |title= Airbus A380 Makes Maiden Flight (2005) |work= [[Aviation Week & Space Technology]] |author= Jens Flottau |date= 24 April 2015}}</ref> While no longer losing money on each plane sold, Airbus admits that the company will never recoup the $25&nbsp;billion investment it made in the project.<ref name="Bloomberg27apr2015">{{cite news |url= https://skift.com/2015/04/27/airbus-a380-is-the-plane-airlines-arent-ordering-anymore/ |title= Airbus A380 Is the Plane Airlines Aren't Ordering Anymore |author= Andrea Rothman |work= Skift |agency= Bloomberg |date= 27 April 2015 }}</ref>

Airbus consistently forecast 1,400 VLA demand over 20-year, still in 2017, and aimed to secure a 50% share, up to 700 units, but delivered 215 aircraft in 10 years, achieving three produced per month but not the four per month target after the ramp-up to achieve more than 350 and is now declining to 0.5 a month.<!--<ref name=Flight19sep2017/>-->
As Boeing see the VLA market as too small to retain in its 2017 forecast, its VP marketing Randy Tinseth does not believe Airbus will deliver the rest of the backlog.<ref name="Flight19sep2017" />

[[Richard Aboulafia]] predicted a 2020 final delivery, with unpleasant losses due to "hubris, shoddy [[market analysis]], nationalism and simple wishful thinking".<!--<ref name=Flight19sep2017/>-->
In 2017, the A380 fleet exceeded the number of remaining passenger B747s, which had declined from 740 aircraft when the A380 was launched in 2000 to 550 units when the A380 was introduced in 2007, and around 200 ten years later.<!--<ref name=Flight19sep2017/>--> However, the market-share battle has shifted to large single-aisles and 300-seat twin-aisles.<ref name="Flight19sep2017" />

===Cost===
{{As of|2016}}, the list price of an A380 was US$432.6&nbsp;million.<ref name="Airbus_prices_first">{{cite press release |url= http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/new-airbus-aircraft-list-prices-for-2016/ |title= New Airbus aircraft list prices for 2016 |publisher= Airbus |date= 12 January 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161116213741/http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/new-airbus-aircraft-list-prices-for-2016/ |archive-date= 16 November 2016 |df= dmy-all}}</ref> Negotiated discounts made the actual prices much lower, and industry experts questioned whether the A380 project would ever pay for itself.<ref name="wsjDMcc" /> The first aircraft was sold and leased back by [[Singapore Airlines]] in 2007 to [[Dr. Peters]] for $197&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/singapore-airlines-won-t-extend-first-airbus-a380-lease |title= Singapore Airlines Won't Extend First Airbus A380 Lease |date= 14 September 2016 |author= Jens Flottau |work= Aviation Daily |publisher= Aviation Week Network}}</ref> In 2016, [[International Airlines Group|IAG]]'s [[Willie Walsh (Irish businessman)|Willie Walsh]] said he could add a few, but also that he found the price of new aircraft "outrageous" and would source them from the second-hand market.<ref name="Flight19sep2017" />

AirInsight estimates its hourly cost at $26,000, or around $50 per seat hour (when configured for only {{#expr:26000/50round0}} seats), which compares to $44 per seat hour for a [[Boeing 777-300ER]], and $90 per seat hour for a [[Boeing 747-400]] {{as of|2015|November|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.airinsight.com/the-a380s-future/ |title= The A380s future |date= 20 November 2015 |publisher= AirInsight}}</ref> The A380 was designed with large wing and tail surfaces to accommodate a planned stretch; this resulted in a high empty weight per seat.<ref name="Flight19sep2017" /> The stretch never occurred to take advantage of this, and the A380's cost-per-seat is expected to be matched by the [[A350-1000]] and [[777-9]].<ref name="Flight19sep2017" />

===Economic aspects===
With a theoretical maximum seating capacity of 853 seats, which is not used by any airline, the Airbus A380 consumes 2.4 liters of kerosene per 100 passenger kilometers. This increases with a reduced seating capacity from 555 to 3.5 l/100 pkm and is 5.2 liters of kerosene per 100 passenger kilometers in the smallest possible variant with only 362 seats.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=HAW Hamburg, Prof. Dr. Dieter Scholz, MSME |url=https://www.haw-hamburg.de/detail/news/news/show/tschuess-airbus-a380-ein-nachruf0/ |title=Tschüss Airbus A380 – Ein Nachruf |language=de}}</ref>

===Secondary===
[[File:Airbus A380 9H-MIP, HiFly, at Paris Airshow, June 2019 (6).jpg|thumb|The sole [[Hi Fly (airline)|Hi Fly]] A380 at the 2019 [[Paris Air Show]]]]

As of 2015, several airlines expressed their interest in selling their aircraft, partially coinciding with expiring lease contracts for the aircraft. Several in-service A380s were offered for lease to other airlines. The suggestion prompted concerns on the potential for new sales for Airbus, although these were dismissed by Airbus COO John Leahy who stated that "Used A380s do not compete with new A380s", noting that the second-hand market is more interesting for parties otherwise looking to buy smaller aircraft such as the Boeing 777.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rothman|first1=Andrea|last2=Weiss|first2=Richard|title=Used A380 superjumbos pose fresh threat to Airbus' sales drive|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/used-a380-superjumbos-pose-fresh-threat-to-airbus-sales-drive/|date=8 June 2015|work=The Seattle Times|access-date=13 June 2015}}</ref>

After [[Malaysia Airlines]] was unable to sell or lease its six A380s, it decided to refurbish the aircraft with seating for 700 and transfer them to a subsidiary carrier for religious [[pilgrimage]] flights.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/mas-to-use-a380s-for-pilgrimages-up-seats-to-700-430606/ |title= MAS to use A380s for pilgrimages, up seats to 700 |date= 21 October 2016 |work= Flightglobal}}</ref> As it started receiving its six [[A350]]s to replace its A380s in December 2017, the new subsidiary will serve the [[Hajj]] and [[Umrah]] market with them, starting in the third quarter of 2018 and could be expanded above six beyond 2020 to 2022.<!--<ref name=ATW5Jun2017A>--> The cabin will have 36 business seats and 600 economy seats, with a 712-seat reconfiguration possible within five days.<!--<ref name=ATW5Jun2017B>--> The fleet could be [[Air charter|charter]]ed half the year for the [[tourism industry]] like [[cruise ship]]ping and will be able to operate for the next 40 years if [[oil price]]s stay low.<ref name="ATW5Jun2017C">{{cite news |url= http://atwonline.com/airlines/malaysia-airlines-targets-3q-2018-a380-charter-carrier |title= Malaysia Airlines targets 3Q 2018 for A380 charter carrier |date= 5 June 2017 |author= Kurt Hofmann |work= Aviation Week Network}}</ref>
As they should be parked by June 2018 before reconfiguration, MAS confirmed the plans and will also use them for peak periods to high traffic markets like London.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/malaysia-airlines-dismisses-report-of-plans-to-scrap-444084/ |title= Malaysia Airlines dismisses report of plans to scrap A380 unit |date= 13 December 2017 |author= Aaron Chang |work= Flightglobal}}</ref>

In August 2017, it was announced that [[Hi Fly (airline)|Hi Fly]] would lease two used aircraft. The Portuguese [[Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance|ACMI]]/charter airline will use the aircraft for markets where high capacity is needed and airports where slots are scarce. The first aircraft was scheduled to begin commercial operations during the first quarter of 2018<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.aerotelegraph.com/portugiesische-fluglinie-uebernimmt-zwei-a380 |title= Portuguese airline takes over two A380s |date= 26 August 2017 |publisher= aerotelegraph.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/58948-portuguese-acmi-specialist-hi-fly-to-add-a380s |title= Portuguese ACMI specialist Hi Fly to add A380s |date= 26 August 2017 |publisher= ch-aviation.com}}</ref> Hi Fly was to receive its A380s from mid 2018 in a 471-seat configuration: 399 on the main deck, 60 business-class and 12 first-class seats on the upper deck, the [[Singapore Airlines]] layout.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/hi-fly-to-introduce-471-seat-a380-by-mid-year-447342/ |title= Hi Fly to introduce 471-seat A380 by mid-year |date= 5 April 2018 |author= David Kaminski-Morrow |work= Flightglobal}}</ref> Hi Fly first used one of their A380s on 1 August 2018 for a one-off flight to enable [[Thomas Cook Airlines]] to repatriate passengers from [[Rhodes International Airport|Rhodes]] to [[Copenhagen Airport|Copenhagen]] following IT problems in the Greek airport.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thomas Cook revealed as Hi Fly's first A380 customer |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/thomas-cook-revealed-as-hi-flys-first-a380-customer-450833/ |access-date=1 August 2018 |work=Flight Global |date=1 August 2018}}</ref> The same aircraft was then [[Aircraft lease#Wet lease|wet-leased]] to [[Norwegian Air Shuttle|Norwegian]] to operate its evening London-New York service for several weeks in August 2018, to alleviate availability issues on its [[Boeing 787]]s affected by [[Rolls-Royce Trent 1000|Trent 1000]] engine problems;<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Keeffe |first1=Niall |title=Norwegian to deploy Hi Fly's A380 as 787 cover |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/norwegian-to-deploy-hi-flys-a380-as-787-cover-450896/ |access-date=3 August 2018 |work=FlightGlobal |date=3 August 2018}}</ref> Air Austral also signed a deal to wet-lease an A380 from Hi Fly while one of its 787s is grounded for three months of Trent 1000 inspections.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Massy-Beresford |first1=Helen |title=Air Austral To Ground Boeing 787, Replace With Airbus A380 |url=https://aviationweek.com/awincommercial/air-austral-ground-boeing-787-replace-airbus-a380 |access-date=4 August 2018 |work=Aviationweek.com |date=3 August 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
As of December 2019, Hi Fly has leased one used A380.

Amedeo, mainly an A380 [[aircraft lessor|lessor]] and the largest with 22, mostly leased to Emirates, wants to find a use for them after their lease expires from 2022, and study if there is a demand to [[wet lease]] them.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.airinsight.com/amedeos-a380-net-jets-share-idea/ |title=Amedeo's A380 "Net Jets" Share Idea |last=Schonland |first=Addison |date=27 November 2017 |work= AirInsight}}</ref>
Swiss aircraft broker Sparfell & Partners plans to convert for [[Air transports of heads of state and government|head-of-state]] or [[Business jet|VVIP transport]] some of Dr. Peters' four ex-SIA A380s for under $300&nbsp;million apiece, less than a new [[Boeing Business Jet|Boeing 777]] or [[Airbus Corporate Jet|Airbus A330]].<ref>{{cite news |author= John Morris |title= First A380 'Royal Yacht' May be Launched Soon |url= http://aviationweek.com/ebace-2018/first-a380-royal-yacht-may-be-launched-soon |work= Aviation Week |date= 28 May 2018}}</ref>
As of November 2018, [[Air France]] was planning to return five of its A380s to lessors by the end of 2019 and refurbish its other five with new interiors by 2020 for $51&nbsp;million per aircraft.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/airfrance-reduce-a380-fleet/ |title= Air France To Return Five A380 Back To Lessors |date= 23 November 2018 |work= Airways International |author1= Enrique Perrella |author2= James Field |access-date= 24 November 2018 |archive-date= 24 November 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181124163834/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/airfrance-reduce-a380-fleet/ |url-status= dead}}</ref> By July 2019, Air France revised this plan and intended to phase out all ten of its A380s by 2022 as part of an "accelerated" retirement plan, replacing them with no more than nine twin-engined wide-body aircraft. The A330-900, A350-900 and 787-9 were being evaluated as potential replacements.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gubisch |first1=Michael |title=Air France evaluates A330neo as A380 replacement |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/air-france-evaluates-a330neo-as-a380-replacement-460025/ |work=Flightglobal.com |date=31 July 2019}}</ref>

Following the cancellation of the programme in February 2019, the residual value of existing aircraft is in doubt. While Amedeo argued that cancellation should benefit the value, this will depend on whether any new airlines are prepared to adopt second-hand A380s, and how many existing users continue to operate the aircraft. Even the teardown value is questionable, in that the engines, usually the most valuable part of a scrap aircraft, are not used by any other models.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Derber |first1=Alex |title=A380 Dumped on Valentine's Day |url=https://www.mro-network.com/manufacturing-distribution/airbus-calls-time-a380-program |work=MRO Network |date=15 February 2019}}</ref>

===Teardown and second-hand market===
With four A380s leased to Singapore Airlines having been returned between October 2017 and March 2018, [[Dr. Peters]] feared a weak [[Aftermarket (merchandise)|aftermarket]] and is considering [[Aircraft boneyard|scrapping]] them, although they are on sale for a [[business jet]] conversion, but on the other hand Airbus sees a potential for [[African airlines]] and [[Chinese airlines]], [[Hajj]] charters and its large Gulf operators.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dr-peters-considering-a380-teardown-sources-437799/ |title= Dr Peters considering A380 teardown |date=1 June 2017 |author=Jamie Bullen |website=Flight Global}}</ref> An A380 parted out may be worth $30&nbsp;million to $50&nbsp;million if it is at half-life.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/hi-fly-eyes-dr-peters-a380s-441077/ |title=Hi Fly eyes Dr Peters' A380s |date=13 September 2017 |author= Jamie Bullen |website= Flight Global}}</ref> Teardown specialists have declined offers for several aircraft at [[aircraft recycling|part-out]] prices due to high risk as a [[Second-hand|secondary market]] is uncertain with $30 to $40&nbsp;million for the [[Remanufacturing|refurbishment]], but should be between $20 and $30&nbsp;million to be viable.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.mro-network.com/airlines/part-out-specialists-lukewarm-second-hand-a380s |title= Part-Out Specialists Lukewarm on Second Hand A380s |author= James Pozzi |date=30 May 2018 |website= Aviation Week Network}}</ref>

When the aircraft were proposed to [[British Airways]], [[Hi Fly Malta|Hi Fly]] and [[Iran Air]], BA did not want to replace its [[Boeing 747]]s until 2021, while Iran Air faced [[Iran deal|political uncertainty]] and Hi Fly did not have a convincing [[business case]].<!--<ref name=Bloomberg5jun2018>--> Consequently, Dr. Peters recommended to its investors on 28 June 2018 to sell the [[aircraft part]]s with [[Volvo Aero|VA]]S Aero Services within two years for US$45&nbsp;million, quickly for components like the [[landing gear]] or the [[Auxiliary power unit|APU]].<!--<ref name=Dr.Peters5jun2018>-->
[[Rolls-Royce Trent 900]] leasing beyond March 2019 should generate US$480,000 monthly for each aircraft before selling the turbofans by 2020.<!--<ref name=Dr.Peters5jun2018>--> With a total revenue of US$80&nbsp;million per aircraft, the overall [[Return on capital|return]] expected is 145–155% while 72% and 81% of their [[debt]] had already been repaid.<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://www.dr-peters.de/en/press/press-releases/2018/2018-06-05.html |title= Positive overall result for two A380 funds |date= 5 June 2018 |publisher= Dr. Peters Group |access-date= 23 July 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180723122713/https://www.dr-peters.de/en/press/press-releases/2018/2018-06-05.html |archive-date= 23 July 2018 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

The fifth plane coming back from SIA, owned by Doric, has been leased by [[Hi Fly Malta]] with a lease period of "nearly 6 years".<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Doric: First A380 Secondary Market Deal |url=https://www.doric.com/fileadmin/Doric_Asset_Finance/Press_Releases/2018_07_19_Doric_press_release_Hi_Fly_A380.pdf |location= |publisher=Doric Group |date=19 July 2018 |access-date=2022-01-10}}</ref> Hi Fly Malta became the first operator of second-hand A380 (MSN006).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/hi-fly-becomes-the-worlds-first-airbus-a380-second-hand-operator-photos/ |title=Hi Fly Becomes the World's First Airbus A380 Second-Hand Operator |author=Airways |website=Airways News |date=5 July 2018 |access-date=15 May 2019 |archive-date=15 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515090440/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/hi-fly-becomes-the-worlds-first-airbus-a380-second-hand-operator-photos/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Norwegian Long Haul]] briefly leased Hi Fly Malta A380 in August 2018, which operated the aircraft following engine problems with their Dreamliner fleet.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morris |first1=Hugh |title=Budget fliers to New York could be upgraded to luxurious first class after Norwegian forced to lease A380 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/norwegian-a380-london-new-york/ |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/norwegian-a380-london-new-york/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph Online |date=5 November 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Norwegian leased the A380 again in late 2018 to help deal with the passenger backlog as a result of the [[Gatwick Airport drone incident]].

Two others returned from Singapore Airlines in the coming weeks (June 2018) but they could stay with an existing Asian A380 flag carrier.<ref name="Bloomberg5jun2018">{{cite news |url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-05/first-a380s-poised-for-scrapheap-as-second-hand-interest-fades |title= Two Unwanted A380s Are Moving Closer to the Scrapheap |author= Tom Lavell and Benedikt Kammel |date= 5 June 2018 |agency= Bloomberg}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/dr-peters-to-part-out-two-a380s-after-airline-talks-449224/ |title= Dr Peters to part out two A380s after airline talks yield no deal |date= 5 June 2018 |author= Michael Gubisch |website=Flight Global}}</ref>

The teardown value includes $32–$33&nbsp;million from the engines in 2020 and $4&nbsp;million from leasing them until then, while the value of a 2008 A380 would be $78.4&nbsp;million in 2020 and its monthly [[aircraft lease|lease]] in 2018 would be $929,000.<!--<ref name=Flight7jun2018>-->
The two aircraft have [[rate of return|return]]ed 3.8–4.2% per year since 2008 but the 145–155% return is lower than the 220% originally [[Forecasting|forecast]].<!--<ref name=Flight7jun2018>-->
Of the nearly 500 made, 50 [[747-400]]s were sold in the secondary market, including only 25 to new customers.<ref name="Flight7jun2018">{{cite news |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-dr-peters-seeks-to-salvage-a380s-with-part-449268/ |title=Dr Peters seeks to salvage A380s with part-out plan |date=7 June 2018 |author=Sophie Segal |website= Flight Global}}</ref>
These are among the first A380s delivered, lacking the improvements and weight savings of later ones.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/opinion-the-fading-dream-of-an-a380-secondary-marke-449287/ |title= The fading dream of an A380 secondary market |date=8 June 2018 |website=Flight Global}}</ref>

The first two A380s delivered to Singapore Airlines (MSN003 and MSN005) flew to [[Tarbes]], France, to be scrapped. Their engines and some components had been dismantled and removed while the livery was painted over in white.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://airwaysmag.com/industry/sad-sight-first-two-airbus-a380-in-the-scrapyards/ |title=Sad Sight: First Two Airbus A380 in the Scrapyards |website=Airways News |date=8 May 2019 |author=Daniel Sander |access-date=15 May 2019 |archive-date=14 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514195854/https://airwaysmag.com/industry/sad-sight-first-two-airbus-a380-in-the-scrapyards/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of September 2019, Emirates initiated its A380 retirement plan{{snd}}which will see the type remain in service until at least 2035{{snd}}by retiring two aircraft that were due for a major overhaul, and using them as parts donors for the rest of the fleet. Emirates does not see any demand in the second-hand market, but is indifferent in that the retired aircraft have already been fully [[Writedown|written down]] and thus have no residual [[book value|value]]. As further aircraft are retired, Emirates-owned airframes will continue to be used for parts, while leased airframes will be returned to the lessors.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kingsley-Jones |first1=Max |title=Emirates begins A380 retirements to support in-service fleet |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/emirates-begins-a380-retirements-to-support-in-serv-460661/ |work=Flightglobal.com |date=4 September 2019}}</ref> One such return to lessor Doric was <!-- re- -->purchased by Emirates for £25.3&nbsp;million in late 2022, as spare parts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Doric's Nimrod One sells A380 ahead of liquidation {{!}} News {{!}} Airfinance Journal |url=https://www.airfinancejournal.com/articles/3589160/dorics-nimrod-one-sells-a380-ahead-of-liquidation |website= airfinancejournal.com |date=21 December 2022}}</ref>