The Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, has seen a decline in popularity among airlines due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift towards more fuel-efficient options. Melbourne Airport (MEL) in Australia, which was once a hub for A380 operations, has now lost six of its previous A380 operators.

Currently, only two airlines, Emirates and Qantas, operate the A380 to Melbourne. However, starting in October, Qantas will cease A380 operations at MEL and replace its non-stop service to Los Angeles with the Boeing 787.

Peak of A380 Operations at Melbourne Airport

At its peak, Melbourne Airport had a total of eight airlines operating the A380, but that number has now dwindled down to just two. In September 2017, the airport recorded its highest number of A380 operations in a single day, with nine departures operated by Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways.

Currently, Emirates remains the only airline operating the A380 to and from Melbourne, with routes to Dubai. Other airlines, such as Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Etihad have shifted to more economical aircraft to better match seasonal demand.

Busiest Day for A380 Operations at Melbourne Airport

On September 25, 2017, Melbourne Airport saw its busiest day for A380 operations, with nine flights arriving and departing from MEL. These flights served major airports around the world, including Dubai, Singapore, Auckland, Los Angeles, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

Currently, the largest operator of the A380 is Emirates, with four operations to and from Melbourne. However, the airline no longer operates this frequency of A380 flights to the city. Other routes, such as Emirates’ non-stop service to Auckland, which was the only short-haul A380 service from Auckland, no longer exist.

Airlines Shift to More Economical Aircraft

While all the above mentioned airlines still operate the A380, their operations to Melbourne have changed. Many have shifted to more economical aircraft, such as the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, or Boeing 777, to better match seasonal demand.

Snapshot of Melbourne Airport’s International Operations

Melbourne Airport remains the second busiest airport in Oceania, after Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD). The airport has seen an increase in international services in recent years, with Finnair being the latest to announce operations to the city from Helsinki via Bangkok. Currently, a total of 45 airlines operate to MEL, serving 41 international and 32 domestic destinations. Popular international routes include Auckland, Dubai, Singapore, Doha, Istanbul, and San Francisco, while domestic services to Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide also remain popular.

Upcoming Developments at Melbourne Airport

Later this year, Finnair, Indonesia AirAsia, and Jetstar will begin operating flights to Melbourne Airport.