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Qantas has confirmed it will begin retiring its A380s in two years’ time as more next-generation widebodies enter the fleet.
The national carrier is bringing forward the superjumbos’ retirement, which had been planned for the early 2030s, as it holds talks with Boeing and Airbus about converting around 20 existing purchase right options to firm orders from 2030.
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“The A380 will now be gradually phased out of the fleet from calendar year 2028. The next generation aircraft replacing it can fly further, and will be able to operate all routes on the airline’s current international network and open up new ones,” the Flying Kangaroo said in its full-year earnings press release.
“This fleet renewal is expected to significantly improve Qantas International’s earnings performance and reduce operational complexity, with its operating margin expected to increase to 10-12 per cent from FY32.”
Qantas already has firm orders for 12 new A350s and 12 new 787s, on top of the 12 specially-modified A350-1000ULR aircraft that will operate Project Sunrise flights. The first Project Sunrise aircraft will arrive in April, with Qantas’ first new 787s to arrive in the 2028 financial year.
According to Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson, the group’s fleet renewal “continued at pace” in FY26, with 17 new aircraft arriving during the year and up to 31 more to arrive in the year ahead; the majority of these aircraft joined Qantas.
“Customers are telling us how much these aircraft are improving the flying experience, and they’re a big part of what’s driving our financial performance too,” said Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson.
“With our first Project Sunrise A350-1000ULR to arrive in April, and more A350s and 787s on the way, it’s a new era for Qantas’ international fleet with these next generation aircraft set to transform the way our customers travel.
“This means we can commence the retirement of our A380 fleet from 2028.”
Qantas returned the last of its A380s, VH-OQC, to service late last year, and now has 10 operating superjumbos of its original 12, with VH-OQE and VH-OQF having been scrapped. The airline had initially ordered 20, but scaled back its purchase in the mid-2010s due to cost.
Its first A380, VH-OQA “Nancy-Bird Walton”, entered service in 2008.
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