Qatar's A380s come equipped with a flying bar and lounge for business and first-class passengers.
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Qatar Airways' new CEO told reporters in July that the airline is keeping its beloved A380s.
The decision came down to demand, airport and sky congestion, and the delayed Boeing 777X.
Qatar is also developing a new first-class cabin for its A380s, reemphasizing its commitment.
Qatar Airways has gone back and forth on what to do with its Airbus A380s.
Its former CEO, Akbar al Bakar, said told Simple Flying in 2021 that buying the planes was a "big mistake," given its high costs and inefficiencies.
However, on the sidelines of the Farnborough Airshow in July, Qatar's new CEO, Badr Mohammed Al Meer, told the media that the quad-engine is getting a second life.
"His Excellency, maybe he gave this comment years ago based on the situation of the industry, but today it's different," he said, referring to Bakar.
Across the industry, airlines have been retiring the A380 en masse. While it was loved for its grandeur, its two levels and four engines simply aren't as economical as the twin-engine widebody competitors like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.
Qatar believes it has found the niche routes that make its A380s profitable out of its lucrative Doha base. Executives said the U-turn came down to airspace and airport congestion, demand, and the delayed Boeing 777X.
Qatar isn't just keeping A380s around as placeholders, either. In March, Al Meer said the airline is also designing a new first-class cabin for the jets.
Until then, passengers can still enjoy the luxury Qatar's A380s currently offer, including a flying bar.
Qatar has seven active A380 superjumbos with an average age of about eight-and-a-half years.
A Qatar Airways Airbus A380.
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Qatar eventually plans to retire the jets with the yet-to-be-certified Boeing 777X, which is five years behind schedule and at least $1 billion in the hole due to pandemic and other production delays.
The airline has 94 of the 777X planes on order, including the 20 additional purchases it announced at the airshow. It expects the first delivery in early 2026.
Speaking about the 777X, Al Meer expressed confidence in the program despite its myriad problems, telling reporters "let's not cry over spilled milk."
The plane holds up to 517 people in three classes.
Qatar's A380 on display at the Paris Airshow in 2015, shortly after it first debuted.
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Al Meer explained previously told CNBC that the high-capacity A380s allow the airline to capture "very strong demand" to certain cities in Europe and Asia, noting the plane has achieved an over 86% load factor, an important measure that impacts a plane's profitability.
Qatar utilizes the A380s giant cabin to compensate for the airport and airspace congestion it’s experiencing.
Doha, Qatar's Hamad International Airport.
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Al Meer said the A380 allows it to shuttle as many people as possible, noting the plane would be a great future solution to the ever-busy skies as travel breaks records this year.
"We have so many restrictions and so many airports around the world that the A380 is the best option to operate to certain airports," he said. "For example, the A380 is the best option for us when we are restricted on the number of flights we can make to Australia."
The most basic offering — yet still very nice — is economy.
Qatar's A380 economy cabin.
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Qatar was lauded by Skytrax as having the "best economy class in the Middle East" in 2024, one of the handful of wins the airline secured.
The cabin can accommodate 461 people and features a seatback screen, power outlets, amenities like headphones, and meals. The bottom level of the A380 has 405 economy seats, while the second level has 56 coach seats.
According to Qatar, the upper economy level has a less cramped 2-3-2 layout than the 3-4-3 on the first level.
Unlike competitors, Qatar's A380s do not offer premium economy.
Rivals Emirates and Singapore Airlines have installed the product on their respective A380s.
Emirates
Qatar has yet to introduce a premium economy cabin despite the demand for the seats continuing to heat up.
Qatar’s cash cows are on the second level: business and first class.
Qatar flight attendants stand on stairs of A380.
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Upstairs lie 48 business-class seats and an even more exclusive eight first-class seats. There are also 56 economy seats.
Business is set up in a 1-2-1 layout, meaning every passenger has direct-aisle access.
Qatar's cabin lacks sliding doors — a staple in modern business class that airlines like Air India have recently added to their planes.
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Passengers will get the regular bells and whistles of business, including lie-flat beds, large seatback screens, plenty of legroom, power, and an amenity kit.
The seats resemble those of British Airways' new Club Suite, which is flying on many of its Boeing and Airbus widebodies, though not the A380.
The A380 business class is not the airline's famous QSuite.
A double bed set up.
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Qatar's QSuite is considered by Skytrax as the world's best business class for 2024. It is the regular winner, with its product boasting unique features like quad-seating and double beds.
Travelers can find the QSuite on all of Qatar's Airbus A350-1000s, some of its Airbus A350-900s, and most of its Boeing 777s.
The airline is also planning to introduce a new version of the QSuite, which it unveiled at the airshow in July.
First class is Qatar's most luxurious A380 offering.
Qatar's first class cabin on the A380 is different than the QSuite on some other aircraft.
Meanwhile, Virgin has several social spaces on its fleet of planes, though it doesn't fly any A380s. Instead, its Upper-Class bar is on its Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 787s, while it has lounge areas on its Airbus A330neos and A350s.
One thing missing from Qatar's A380 is a shower.
Emirates A380 shower.
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Competitors Etihad Airways and Emirates both have showers available to first-class travelers on their A380s.
One main reason airlines don't install showers is the water weight, which would increase the plane's already high operating costs.
With Qatar’s A380s given a second life, travelers don’t have to worry about flying them before they’re gone.
Qatar Airways new CEO, Badr Mohammed Al Meer.
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According to Cirium, Qatar's A380 is scheduled to fly between Doha and Bangkok, Paris, London, Sydney, and Perth, Australia, this year.
The plane is not presently flying to the US.
If not Qatar, only a few other airlines still fly the fan-favorite superjumbo.
A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380.
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Beyond Qatar, the world's A380 operators are Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Etihad, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Korea's Asiana Airlines, and Japan's All Nippon Airways.
