Overview

• The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued 95 airworthiness directives for the A380 since January 2020, about double the number for similar Boeing jets.
• Qantas experienced fuel-pump failures in Singapore this year that delayed its Sydney–London flight by more than 24 hours and caused multi-day disruptions.
• A British Airways A380 spent over 100 days grounded in Manila and flew only seven days in the month following its return to London Heathrow.
• Comprehensive A380 maintenance checks can consume up to 60,000 man-hours, placing heavy strain on workshops from Dresden to Manila amid global parts shortages.
• Airbus reports 99% operational reliability over the past 12 months, and major operators are planning cabin upgrades and extended service into the next decade.