Airbus A380 family

The fatal design choice was in not designing a BWB.
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I see your technical point, but I disagree on other grounds. Long story short: airports already balked at adapting to the A380, although Airbus had wisely stuck with "reasonable" dimensions (a square 80 m x 80 m, no bigger).
Adapting to a BWB specifics would have been far more difficult. Airbus has to listen to airlines requirements, otherwise their big plane would not sell. And the A380 already sold much less than what they initially hoped.
Also the issues of windows and evacuations. Airports, airlines, FAA / EASA are pretty conservative for safety sake, that's why the "cylinder with wings" is still there - even if BWB is technically superior on many points.
 
And also the issue of passenger comfort in terms of natural light (the lack of), which will be much more noticeable than traditional design.

Airbus made various design efforts, as well as trying to cooperate with Boeing on the new giant, however the finalization of design was too late and there were too many delays for the birth of A380. Had it been exist 5 to 10 years earlier, things will be much more different.
 
SK2 said:
Had it been exist 5 to 10 years earlier, things will be much more different.
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If the project had been formally initiated in 1995 instead of 2000 it likely would've had a different outcome especially if two years of development work was done before the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
 
Airbus/Europe rules the civilian commercial (sadly) subsonic skies. Any questions?
 
Airbus A380 Wing Spars Should Be Inspected Urgently, EASA Says

LYON—The wing spars of 16 Airbus A380s require inspection and possible ensuing repairs, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said in an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) effective June 24.

EASA's injunction comes after a December 2025 AD, less urgent but extending to the entire fleet. Three years ago, a phenomenon called hydrogen embrittlement was identified as the cause of accelerated crack development in certain wing spars of A380s that had been stored for extended periods of time. The findings were behind an AD the EASA issued in 2023.
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Qantas Brings Forward A380 Replacement Plans

Qantas has advanced the replacement of its Airbus A380s by 3 to 4 years and confirmed it is negotiating with Airbus and Boeing to exercise more widebody options.

The carrier intends to start the replacement of its A380s in mid-2028, Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said during an annual earnings media briefing. The company had previously indicated it was aiming to start the A380 retirement in fiscal 2032, which begins in mid-2031.

Qantas operates 10 A380s, which were delivered beginning in 2008. The carrier has stated that the A350-1000 is the intended replacement.
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