Key milestone in the history of Airbus’ A380 as last one to be built takes off for maiden flight

Yesterday marked a key milestone in the history of Airbus’ A380 super jumbo when the final one to be built performed its maiden flight.

The brand new aircraft took off  Toulouse on Wednesday afternoon and flew to the Airbus Hamburg plant for completion ahead of its delivery to Emirates.

The flight took place two years after Airbus decided pull the plug on further A380 production.

Airbus announced in February 2019 it was to stop building the A380 after the plane’s biggest customer, Dubai-based Emirates Airline, cut its order by 39 planes.

Airbus said it had “no basis to sustain production, despite all our sales efforts with other airlines in recent years.”

In a Tweet, Airbus Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury said: “Another remarkable day in Toulouse: the last #A380 has taken off for its maiden flight.”

“Well done #TeamAirbus for your contributions over the years – looking forward to supporting this iconic aircraft & its customers for many years, delivering best-in-class passenger experience.”

MSN 272, the last @Airbus A380 built, doing a low-pass & wing wave in Toulouse on March 17 before flying to Hamburg (XFW). Video: Virgile Prodault @Virgile_prd ✈️ @jonostrower @AirlineFlyer @airlivenet @jvreymondon @AirbusPRESS @jetcitystar @AA380fanclub @AgueraMartin @emirates pic.twitter.com/zW2PJofN6I

— Aeronews (@AeronewsGlobal) March 17, 2021

Airbus opened its £350m A380 wing plant at Broughton in 2003 at the time the facility was regarded as the largest factory to be built in the UK for years.

But with orders drying up and production running at a minimum former chief executive, Tom Enders pulled the plug on the A380 project in February 2018.

The first A380 first delivered to Singapore Airlines on 15 October 2007 and entered service on 25 October.

Production peaked at 30 per year in 2012 and 2014. However, Airbus conceded that the investment in the twin decked aircraft cannot be recouped.

On 14 February 2019, after Emirates reduced its last orders in favour of the A350 and the A330neo, Airbus announced that A380 production would end by 2021.