Why Retired Airbus A380s Are Now Worth More Dead Than Alive To Emirates

Emirates operates approximately 118 Airbus A380s, more than every other A380 operator in the world combined. The airline plans to keep the type flying until at least 2040. But the A380 has been out of production since 2021; the pool of new replacement parts is shrinking, and Boeing's 777X delays have forced Emirates to fly its oldest A380S longer than originally planned. Each additional year of service generates demand for engines, landing gear, and components that are increasingly difficult to source from the manufacturer.