![Prague-water-Cannon.jpg](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmR8fZUS7TEWfJQR39oYfcYufNq42rE8d6FRkPQcarNXiZ)
[source](https://www.aviationcv.com/aviation-blog/2019/airbus-cancels-airbus-a380-program)



I was watching a documentary last night how the aviation industry is changing and why the planes we fly in today are getting smaller and not bigger. This didn't make any sense and started looking up what were the reasons behind this. There are more passengers flying today than there were 10 years ago and it will only increase. 

Some experts call it the dumbest plane ever built as the market was heading in the opposite direction when Airbus started.The A380 had it's first flight in 2007 which is only 12 years ago and is still a new plane yet it is outdated already. They projected having planned for  1500 A380's in the sky and their total will finish at 251 when they shut the plant down in 2021.This is well short of their target and is out by over 500 percent costing the tax payers of Europe plenty of money as this is in the EU and funded by all it's members. 

When plans for the A380 were being first discussed only a few twin engine planes were crossing the Atlantic. Before this the Civil Aviation Authority had safety measures in place and twin engine passenger planes were not allowed to fly over large bodies of water. Safety meaures were put in place so if a plane lost the use of one engine they had a strict timeline of 90 minutes to land at the closest possible airport using the remaining engine. Today that rule has been tossed away and most Atlantic crossings are done on twin engine planes now.
<center><img src="https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmYXtvi2U5fsJYfvs5CAN5KGD3cLYHMbdb1KtitmhvTY89"/></center>
[source](http://www.newgeography.com/content/006228-airbus-a380-death-plane-born-die)
Two Singapore airline jets being stripped for parts.


The current number of A380's stands at 234 currently and 17 more are being built and that will be it. Emirates which works totally differently to other airlines and has nearly half the total of A380's built. They use a hub flying everyone around the world to their base and then sending them out from there. They are the only ones doing this business model as others favor smaller planes flying directly between destinations.

The truth is over the last 20 years the engines are becoming more fuel efficient due to technological advancements and more reliable. The days of four engine aircraft are numbered and even though this model is still fairly new it is already a dinosaur.
![Emirates-replaces-the-A380-with-orders-for-the-A330-and-A350.jpg](https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmcGx9mnGx4hWWHQWZ8Zr5GX8BpHBzvTrpqgua4woM8gKc)
[source](https://www.aviationcv.com/aviation-blog/2019/airbus-cancels-airbus-a380-program)

Who would have thought that such a majestic beast that was unveiled as the game changer in 2007 would end up costing everyone a fortune and bowing out this way. Airbus have already rapidly changed course and are building the smaller A330 and A350 models. They already have just under 7600 aircraft orders on their books so it is not all doom and gloom.