The Emirates Airbus A380 fleet is the world's largest airline fleet of the Airbus A380. Emirates had 116 A380-800s in its fleet at 31 March 2026, representing 42 per cent of its 277-aircraft operating fleet. During the 2025–26 financial year, the type served 53 destinations, carried 43 per cent of Emirates passengers and achieved a 79 per cent seat factor.[1]Annual Report 2025–2026The Emirates Group · c.ekstatic.net · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Fleet overview
Emirates is both the largest A380 customer and its largest operator. It accepted 123 new aircraft from Airbus between July 2008 and December 2021. Seven fewer aircraft were recorded in the fleet at March 2026 than had been delivered, reflecting retirements rather than an incomplete order.[2]Emirates' first retired A380 to be repurposed in the UAEEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[3]Emirates completes A380 fleet with 123rd deliveryEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[1]Annual Report 2025–2026The Emirates Group · c.ekstatic.net · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
| Measure | Value | Date or scope |
|---|---|---|
| New aircraft delivered | 123 | 2008–2021 |
| Aircraft in fleet | 116 | 31 March 2026 |
| A380 destinations | 53 | FY2025–26 |
| Share of Emirates passengers carried | 43% | FY2025–26 |
| Seat factor | 79% | FY2025–26 |
| A380s retrofitted during the year | 12 | FY2025–26 |
| A380s retrofitted cumulatively | 47 | 14 July 2026 |
“In fleet” is the audited reporting category and should not be interpreted as proof that every aircraft was serviceable or flying on a particular day. Operational status, maintenance input and route assignment change more frequently than the annual census.[1]Annual Report 2025–2026The Emirates Group · c.ekstatic.net · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Acquisition and deliveries
Emirates became the first airline to announce an order for the then A3XX at the 2000 Farnborough Airshow. It progressively enlarged the commitment as the A380 became central to its high-capacity Dubai connecting model.[3]Emirates completes A380 fleet with 123rd deliveryEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
The first aircraft, A6-EDA, was delivered at Hamburg on 28 July 2008 and entered commercial service between Dubai and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport on 1 August. Emirates received its 100th A380 in November 2017.[2]Emirates' first retired A380 to be repurposed in the UAEEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[4]Emirates welcomes 100th A380 to its fleetEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
In February 2019, Emirates and Airbus revised the orderbook from 162 to 123 aircraft, with final delivery planned for 2021. A6-EVS, the 123rd Emirates aircraft, was delivered on 16 December 2021 and was also the last new A380 delivered to the airline.[5]Airbus and Emirates reach a deal on A380 fleetAirbus · airbus.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[3]Emirates completes A380 fleet with 123rd deliveryEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
The 123 Emirates deliveries account for nearly half of all 251 A380s delivered by Airbus. See the Airbus A380 production list for the manufacturer serial-number and original-customer record.
Engines
The fleet uses both approved A380 powerplant families: the Engine Alliance GP7200 and Rolls-Royce Trent 900. The engine fitted to an individual aircraft must be established from its airframe record; the two types are not interchangeable as a casual operational choice.[6]The Emirates A380 fleetEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Early and much of the main production fleet used GP7200 engines. Emirates later selected Trent 900s for a group of deliveries; Rolls-Royce stated in 2019 that the agreement would take the airline's Trent-powered A380 fleet to 33 aircraft.[7]Emirates selects Engine Alliance GP7200 enginesGE · ge.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[8]Rolls-Royce welcomes Emirates agreementRolls-Royce · rolls-royce.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Emirates and Rolls-Royce agreed in 2025 that Emirates would establish Trent 900 maintenance, repair and overhaul capability in Dubai from 2027, with the associated TotalCare support extended into the 2040s. The arrangement supports Emirates' stated intention to operate the A380 into that decade.[9]Emirates to join Rolls-Royce global MRO networkRolls-Royce · rolls-royce.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Cabin configurations
Emirates operates multiple cabin layouts rather than one standard seat count. Its published A380 specifications list:[6]The Emirates A380 fleetEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
| Published configuration | Total seats | Cabin classes |
|---|---|---|
| Four-class, ultra-long-range | 484 | First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy |
| Three-class, ultra-long-range | 489 | First, Business and Economy |
| Three-class, long-range | 517 | First, Business and Economy |
| Two-class, long-range | 615 | Business and Economy |
The configuration on a scheduled flight can change for operational reasons. Seat capacity therefore belongs to the individual aircraft and effective cabin layout, not simply to the A380-800 type.[6]The Emirates A380 fleetEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
First Class-equipped aircraft feature private suites and shower facilities on the upper deck. Three- and four-class aircraft generally include the upper-deck onboard lounge. Premium Economy first entered the Emirates A380 fleet on a new four-class aircraft in December 2020 and is being extended through retrofit.[10]Emirates welcomes first of three A380s to be delivered in DecemberEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[3]Emirates completes A380 fleet with 123rd deliveryEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Retrofit programme
Emirates began its current widebody retrofit programme with A6-EVM in November 2022. The work is performed by Emirates Engineering in Dubai and includes cabin removal, inspection, new furnishings and, where planned, installation of Premium Economy.[11]First Emirates A380 rolls in for cabin refreshEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Twelve A380s were retrofitted in FY2025–26, taking the combined A380 and Boeing 777 programme total to 91 aircraft at 31 March 2026. By 14 July, Emirates reported that 47 A380s and 53 777s had received full interior refreshes.[1]Annual Report 2025–2026The Emirates Group · c.ekstatic.net · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details[12]Emirates marks 100th retrofit aircraftEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
In May 2026, A6-EUX became the first of the 15 former two-class A380s to be converted to a three-class layout. The completed aircraft has 76 Business, 56 Premium Economy and 437 Economy seats, totalling 569. Premium Economy is on the upper deck in a 2-3-2 arrangement. Emirates planned to complete all 15 conversions by the end of 2026.[13]Emirates completes first retrofit of a two-class A380Emirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
The next programme phase covers new cabin products on 60 A380s and 51 Boeing 777s. These figures are programme scope, not additional aircraft orders or a count of currently completed work.[14]Emirates to roll out next phase of fleet retrofit programmeEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Network role
The A380 supplies high seat capacity on trunk routes from Dubai International Airport, particularly where slots constrain additional frequencies. Emirates' Concourse A at Dubai was built around A380 operations with direct boarding from premium lounges, although A380 flights may also use other gates and remote stands.[4]Emirates welcomes 100th A380 to its fleetEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
In FY2025–26, Emirates reported 53 A380 destinations and 76 routes using the type. The difference reflects multiple routings or services within the network rather than 76 distinct destination cities.[1]Annual Report 2025–2026The Emirates Group · c.ekstatic.net · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Route deployment is seasonal and can change at short notice. A historical list of airports visited should therefore not be presented as the current network, and a timetable entry alone does not establish a permanent A380 destination.
Retirements and long-term support
A6-EDA was the first Emirates A380 to be retired. Its final commercial flight was Singapore–Dubai on 8 March 2020 after 6,319 flights. Emirates removed reusable components before the airframe was transferred for dismantling and material repurposing in the United Arab Emirates.[2]Emirates' first retired A380 to be repurposed in the UAEEmirates · emirates.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Emirates has continued to buy aircraft at lease expiry as part of its long-term fleet plan. During FY2025–26 it acquired 29 previously leased A380s. This was a financing and ownership change within the fleet, not 29 new deliveries.[1]Annual Report 2025–2026The Emirates Group · c.ekstatic.net · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Cabin investment, engine-support agreements and aircraft purchases support operations beyond the end of A380 production. They do not, however, establish the retirement date of any individual registration; that status requires a current operator or register source.[9]Emirates to join Rolls-Royce global MRO networkRolls-Royce · rolls-royce.com · Accessed 2026-08-29Open source details
Registration and airframe records
Emirates A380s carry United Arab Emirates registrations beginning A6-. Registration, manufacturer serial number, engine fit, delivery date, cabin configuration and status should be recorded at individual-aircraft level where supported by recent sources. A fleet total must not be used to infer which registrations remain active.
See Emirates Airbus A380 registrations for the registration-led record when available. A6-EDA also has a separate priority airframe page because of its significance as the airline's first A380.
Related pages
Sources
Annual Report 2025–2026 — The Emirates Group
The Emirates A380 fleet — Emirates
Emirates completes A380 fleet with 123rd delivery — Emirates
Emirates marks 100th retrofit aircraft — Emirates
Emirates completes first retrofit of a two-class A380 — Emirates
Emirates to join Rolls-Royce MRO network — Rolls-Royce