Apparently the massive two level Airbus A380, capable of passenger loads in excess of 600 passengers, failed to generate a single new customer in 2014, according to this story by Bloomberg Businessweek.
The only buyer so far this year was a leasing company that has not yet lined up a single carrier to take any of the 20 A380 planes it ordered. Six A380s that had been ordered by Japan’s Skymark Airlines Inc. were canceled, two near completion.
Despite its seven years of operation, there is concern over the plane’s future. Having cost $25 billion to develop, it may turn out to be a product without demand or future and may be a costly misstep for Airbus. Air carriers are currently preferentially buying smaller twin-jet models that are much more fuel efficient and allow access to many more airports. The one exception to the rule is Emirates which has ordered 140 A380s, while other airlines have either backed off on orders and are struggling to fill the two decks of their existing planes.
Time will tell.
Finally some good news for the Airbus A380. Japanese airline, ANA, has announced plans to purchase 3 of these jumbo planes to be rolled out in 2018.
More on this story at this link.