Hannah Dowling

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has again suggested that the Qantas model makes it one of the few airlines internationally that can successfully sustain the Airbus A380 in the post-COVID world.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has again suggested that Qantas will secure “at least” a 70 per cent share of the domestic market, despite Virgin in March knocking the Flying Kangaroo down to a 67 per cent share.

As Qantas announces that two of its 12 Airbus A380s are set to be retired, Australian Aviation looks back on the history of the airline’s A380 fleet, and gives you the chance to guess which superjumbos are destined to be grounded for life.

Including the new additions, Virgin Australia’s mainline fleet now totals 77 aircraft, including 75 Boeing 737-800s and two slightly smaller Boeing 737-700s.

Construction is now already underway, with the first 500 beds to be available by the end of this year. The facility will be entirely completed by March next year, according to the Wagners.

In total, Qantas expects 10 of its 12 A380s to be back to performing regularly scheduled services by early 2024, while the remaining two are to be retired.