Qatar Airways 777X Replacing A380?

Qatar Airways is looking to offload its Airbus A380 sooner rather than later.

With many aircraft on order, notably the Boeing 777X, can this upcoming long-haul jet help replace the world’s largest passenger jet?

Additionally, what has the airline’s plan been for the Airbus A380? Why did it return, and what’s next?

Qatar Airways A380 Retirement Plan

The mission to replace the A380 at Qatar Airways began at the start of 2019, and it has been a lengthy process since then.

The Doha-based airline announced its intention to retire the widebody, as it was no longer economically viable. A retirement was likely to occur by the 10th anniversary of flying the series in 2024.

Akbar Al Baker, the now-departed head of the airline, spoke with an Aviation Analyst and said he intended to remove the plane. Ultimately, transitoning to next-generation twin-engine aircraft was slated to have a better long-term effect on the company.

As part of the retirement plan, the carrier intended to use the Boeing 777X as a replacement aircraft. The 777X, initially slated to enter service in 2020, is poised to alleviate many airlines’ capacity difficulties, thanks to the retirements of superjumbos over the last five years.

However, despite a seemingly clear-cut plan, Qatar Airways’ path would be substantially skewed by several factors beyond its control.

A Replacement Plan Collapses

Despite signalling its intention to retire the Airbus A380 by 2024 and replace it with the 777X, the airline’s plan quickly spiralled out of its own control.

While Boeing targeted a 2020 EIS for its 777X, it became increasingly apparent that the manufacturer would be unable to meet this target due to issues with the GE9X, other MAX problems, and an internal crisis.

Additionally, the arrival of the global pandemic in 2020 would force Qatar Airways to rethink its day-to-day operations.

As part of the review, Qatar Airways grounded the A380 earlier than expected. Additionally, the company announced that it had no plan to return the aircraft to service even when demand eventually returned.

While demand had dropped considerably, Qatar Airways was still operating a somewhat regular schedule. Flights focused on repatriating countries’ citizens; thus, capacity wasn’t the most significant priority.

In the early 2020s, legal battles over surface defects on the Airbus A350 aircraft also occurred. As a result, Qatar Airways grounded its widebody units and suspended deliveries of the type. In addition to these decisions, the carrier also saw an impact on its A321neo order.

All this occurred as the 777X failed to progress in its own certification attempts, thereby throwing future fleet planning by the Doha-based carrier out of the window.

The Airbus A380 Returns

For a prolonged period during the global pandemic, Qatar Airways referred to the A380 as its “biggest mistake.” However, Qatar was forced to decide the fate of the aircraft series as demand surged.

After deliberation, Qatar Airways announced plans to return the widebody to service, albeit reluctantly. This decision came especially after persistent difficulties in acquiring next-generation twin-engine aircraft, such as the A350 or 777X, on time. The global pandemic and subsequent conflict had decimated supply chains.

Away from supply chains, Boeing still could not get its 777X certified, with delays now stretching over five years. Qatar Airways needed the capacity, and reactivating a grounded aircraft type for the short term made the most sense.

As the aircraft returned to service, the decision was met with applause from the travelling public. The Airbus A380 has long been a champion for an enjoyable flying experience, with travellers sharing their preferences across forums and reviews.

But now, what’s next for the Airbus A380 with Qatar Airways and will the 777X finally play a role in replacing it?

What’s Next For The A380 At Qatar Airways?

According to Aviation Week and further developments, the Airbus A380 will remain in the fleet in the short term. However, depending on the company’s situation, this could extend further.

While past management disliked the widebody, it has proved essential in the airline’s ability to serve markets following the return of travel demand after the pandemic.

The retirement of the Airbus A380 also seems to be hinged on one critical business development: the delivery of the 777X, which has continued to face setbacks over recent years.

Boeing’s 777X was initially slated to enter service in 2020, which is why Qatar Airways outlined its fleet-retirement plan in 2019. However, its certification is now likely to occur in 2026 at the earliest. Following Boeing’s latest crisis, some remain sceptical, with Emirates President Tim Clark publicly casting doubt.

Even if approval can be granted in 2026, airline executives don’t expect the 777X to fly with passengers until 2027, following the delivery process and necessary familiarisation.

For Qatar Airways, this would see them come full circle on their 2019 plan, which intended to remove the A380 and add the 777X. Now, after a hiatus largely beyond the airline’s control, this plan is set to be put in motion once more, six years later, following one of the industry’s more turbulent periods.

To Conclude

The Airbus A380 is expensive to fly, and few airlines have been able to make it work. Qatar Airways has also highlighted factors such as maintenance costs, which have made the situation far from favourable.

Jets like the 777X present a more modest alternative at a fraction of the cost, while still offering more than adequate capacity. For the 777X, the biggest roadblock has been certification.

Ultimately, Qatar Airways will consider the 777X a replacement for the A380, while the A350-1000 will also boost capacity. It’s increasingly likely that a lot will depend on when the 777X can be delivered and when the A380 will be retired.

Until then, the world’s largest passenger plane will remain in service for a little longer, meeting demand from the airline’s hub in Doha.