Qantas will begin retiring its 10 Airbus A380s in 2028, moving the phase-out forward by about four years from the previous plan. The airline is pairing the change with a broader long-haul fleet renewal programme, relying on incoming Airbus A350-1000s, Boeing 787s and later Project Sunrise aircraft to preserve network coverage.
The revised schedule comes as Qantas reshapes its international operation around newer twin-engine widebodies and away from the ageing superjumbo, which is no longer in production. Chief executive Vanessa Hudson linked the decision to rising maintenance and disruption costs over time. Additional 787-9 deliveries from calendar year 2027 are expected to help bridge capacity as the A380s leave the fleet.
The move also carries a financial benefit, with Qantas expecting about A$300 million in net cash flow from financial year 2028 to financial year 2031, mainly from lower maintenance spending. The airline has not set a date for the final A380 retirement, only the start of the phase-out in 2028.