KHAZANAH Nasional Bhd, through Malaysia Airlines Group, had finally decided to put its six Airbus A380 aircraft up for sale.
I previously wrote an article about Malaysia Airlines’ A380, published in The Sun Daily on January 3, 2021.
This article was later expanded upon in my book, Malaysian Aviation: The Untold Stories, released in March 2021. At that time, I suggested that selling the aircraft was the best option.
Following this decision, a feature appeared in a local daily titled “Good Decision But Bad Timing,” published one Saturday in April 2021. It even included a quote from someone stating, “Malaysia Airlines should have sold the A380s a long time ago.”
With all due respect, it’s easy to be wise with the benefit of hindsight.
Airlines, with Singapore Airlines as the launch customer, opted for the A380 for two main reasons:
1.The booming aviation industry at the time created a demand for larger aircraft.
2.The largest commercial aircraft then, the Boeing 747-400, was due for replacement.
Singapore Airlines acquired 19 A380s, followed by Qantas and Thai International with six each. Middle Eastern airlines were the biggest buyers, with Emirates ordering an astonishing 117, and Qatar and Etihad each acquiring 10.
Malaysia Airlines felt compelled to join this trend to remain competitive, lest it be pushed out of the market with an inferior product.
No one anticipated that Covid-19 would wreak havoc on the aviation industry. Virtually all these giants are now grounded. With the virus persisting and new variants emerging, uncertainties loom over the future of air travel. One thing is certain: the days of the A380 are numbered.
Both major aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, have introduced two-engine long-range wide-body aircraft capable of covering routes traditionally served by the four-engine giants:
– Airbus A350-900
– Boeing B777X
In light of the bleak future for the A380, Singapore Airlines has already laid out plans to retire seven of their Airbus A380s, and other airlines may follow suit.
Malaysia Airlines’ decision to sell all six of their A380s is expected, though perhaps a bit late. However, circumstances dictate this move.
The pressing question remains: given the current restrictions on air travel, who would be willing to buy them, no matter how low the price? – June 8, 2025
Captain Mohd Kamil Abu Bakar is former MAS Flight Operations director. This article includes excerpts from his book Malaysian Aviation: The Untold Stories and was prompted by news this week of Malaysia Airlines six A380s heading for the scrapyard in France.