Fabian Bimmer and Tim Hepher by Fabian Bimmer

PARIS/HAMBURG, (Reuters) – On Thursday, Airbus handed over the last A380 superjumbo to Dubai’s Emirates. This marks the close of a 14 year-old run which gave Europe a symbol of recognition around the world, but did not achieve the commercial goals of its creators.

The world’s biggest airliner, capable of carrying 500 passengers on two decks and offering perks like showers in the first class, was produced with less than 250 aircraft delivered as opposed to the 1000 or so expected.

Airbus was a conglomerate of planemakers from different countries in Britain, France and Germany. They were working together to create mega-jets that would beat congestion. In 2019, Airbus pulled the plug after smaller models were developed by airlines.

Emirates was the biggest customer of the superjumbo. The superjumbo departed Hamburg after darkening skies.

Thursday’s handover was intentionally low-key, due in part to COVID regulations and because Airbus is now focusing on PR for the environmental benefits associated with smaller jets.

This contrasts sharply with the light display that showed the new giant in front European leaders in 2005.

Emirates remains confident in superjumbo’s potential to attract passengers. Emirates will continue to fly A380s for many years, even though there will no new A380s. Many airlines are disagreeing and cancelled the A380 due to the pandemic.

Tim Clark, president of the airline refuses to accept criticisms that A380 is no longer a spacious jet with four engines. He believes an airline seat has become a commodity.

Clark stated recently that he doesn’t agree with Clark.

Technocrats, accountants had said the plane was unfit for purpose. This is not what resonates with the travelling public. “They absolutely love that plane,” he stated.

SHOWER TALKS

One of the largest buildings in the world, an assembly plant measuring 122,500 square metres located in Toulouse, was left abandoned by A380.

Airbus intends to take part of it for the production of some narrowbody aircraft that are a dominant sales force, as was announced by Qantas earlier in Thursday.

Hamburg is where some of the most distinctive features of A380 were created.

Clark recalls how he dealt with Airbus designers in Germany in order to get Airbus bosses in France to fund the engineering required to make inflight showers possible.

Clark explained that there was much arm-folding, and his French friends were very circumspect.

“I had to meet up with my Hamburg friends to construct the showers. Then I asked Toulouse management for help.

This innovation was headline-grabbing, but it didn’t translate into the sales required to continue with A380.

This plane was built in 1990, when China was experiencing a boom in travel demand.

The plane arrived more than two years after its first delivery in 2007. The financial crisis that erupted a year after Emirates’ first A380 delivery forced analysts to reduce their estimates for larger jets.

Boeing (NYSE) was simultaneously capturing orders to build a new 787 Dreamliner. This will be followed up by an Airbus A350.

There was an increase in enthusiasm and appetite. Clark stated that they didn’t agree with this view and put the A380 aircraft to good use. Clark spoke on the sidelines at an airline meeting.

“This is the best aircraft I have ever seen.”