Qantas is accelerating the retirement of its fleet of 10 Airbus A380 aircraft, with the process scheduled to begin in 2028. This timeline is four years ahead of the original plan, as the airline shifts toward more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets.
The decision follows a period of financial pressure, as the airline reported a 610 million AUD increase in fuel costs for the 2026 fiscal year. Pre-tax profits for the same period fell by 13.8 percent to 2.06 billion AUD.
By phasing out the four-engine A380s, Qantas expects to generate approximately 300 million AUD in net cash flow between the 2028 and 2031 fiscal years. The airline is currently in negotiations to acquire about 20 additional aircraft, specifically evaluating the Airbus A350-1000 and the Boeing 787.
The fleet transition is already underway. Starting October 25, the airline will replace the A380 with the Boeing 787-9 on the Melbourne to Los Angeles route. The A380 will continue to operate flights on this path until October 24.
