Airbus CEO: Era of four engine aircraft coming to an end, A380 'burdened us for many many years'

15 February, 2019

Airbus CEO Tom Enders said the era of large, four engine commercial aircraft "is coming to an end" and the European OEM had been "at least 10 years, or maybe more, too late with the A380" (CNN Business, 14-Feb-2019). Airbus plans to deliver another 17 A380s before halting production in 2021. 14 of the aircraft are set to go to Emirates and three to All Nippon Airways. Boeing has a firm order backlog of 24 747-8s, including 19 for UPS, one for Volga-Dnepr Airlines and four aircraft placed with 'Unidentified Customer(s)'. Mr Enders characterised the A380 programme as a "heavy liability" which "burdened us for many many years".