In this article, we explore the world’s shortest and longest A380 flights, from Asiana’s short hop between Seoul and Tokyo to Emirates’ ultra-long-haul flight between Auckland and Dubai. Moreover, this will be followed by a breakdown of active A380 operators.
How Many A380s Are Currently In Service?
Despite the aircraft’s production ending in 2021, the A380 remains a key part of many airline fleets. As of April 13, 2025, there are 189 Airbus A380s in active service worldwide, with the following airlines operating them:
| S. No. | Airlines | Active | Maintenance | Parked | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emirates | 95 | 12 | 9 | 116 |
| 2 | Singapore Airlines | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | British Airways | 11 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| 4 | Qantas | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 5 | Lufthansa | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 6 | Qatar Airways | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 7 | Korean Air | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 8 | Etihad Airways | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 9 | Asiana Airlines | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 10 | All Nippon Airways | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Top 10 Shortest A380 Flights
At just 780 miles (1,255 km), the Seoul to Tokyo Narita route operated by Asiana Airlines is the world’s shortest scheduled Airbus A380 flight. With a flight time of approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, Asiana primarily deploys the A380 on this route to handle high passenger demand and to optimize aircraft utilization between long-haul rotations.
Unsurprisingly, the majority of the shortest A380 routes are operated by Emirates, the largest A380 operator in the world. The Dubai-based carrier deploys its superjumbos on several short-haul routes within the Middle East and South Asia, where demand for premium cabins and high-capacity seating remains strong.
1. Seoul (ICN) – Tokyo Narita (NRT), Asiana Airlines
- Flight distance: 780 miles (1,255 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 2 hours 20 minutes
2. Seoul (ICN) – Taipei (TPE), Asiana Airlines, Korean Air
- Flight distance: 909 miles (1,463 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 2 hours 55 minutes
3. Bangkok (BKK) – Hong Kong (HKG), Emirates
- Flight distance: 1,055 miles (1,697 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Fifth-Freedom Route
4. Dubai (DXB) – Jeddah (JED), Emirates
- Flight distance: 1,055 miles (1,698 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 2 hours 50 minutes
5. Dubai (DXB) – Mumbai (BOM), Emirates
- Flight distance: 1,197 miles (1,927 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 3 hours 10 minutes
6. Dubai (DXB) – Amman (AMM), Emirates
- Flight distance: 1,262 miles (2,031 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 3 hours 5 minutes
7. Seoul (ICN) – Hong Kong (HKG), Korean Air
- Flight distance: 1,292 miles (2,078 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 3 hours 30 minutes
8. Christchurch (CHC) – Sydney (SYD), Emirates
- Flight distance: 1,323 miles (2,129 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Fifth-Freedom Route
9. Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI), Emirates
- Flight distance: 1,500 miles (2,414 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 3 hours 45 minutes
10. Dubai (DXB) – Bengaluru (BLR), Emirates
- Flight distance: 1,655 miles (2,663 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 3 hours and 50 minutes
| Rank | Route | Airlines | Flight Distance | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seoul (ICN) – Tokyo Narita (NRT) | Asiana Airlines | 780 miles (1,255 km) | 2h 20m |
| 2 | Seoul (ICN) – Taipei (TPE) | Asiana, Korean Air | 909 miles (1,463 km) | 2h 55m |
| 3 | Bangkok (BKK) – Hong Kong (HKG) | Emirates | 1,055 miles (1,697 km) | 3h 10m |
| 4 | Dubai (DXB) – Jeddah (JED) | Emirates | 1,055 miles (1,698 km) | 2h 50m |
| 5 | Dubai (DXB) – Mumbai (BOM) | Emirates | 1,197 miles (1,927 km) | 3h 10m |
| 6 | Dubai (DXB) – Amman (AMM) | Emirates | 1,262 miles (2,031 km) | 3h 05m |
| 7 | Seoul (ICN) – Hong Kong (HKG) | Korean Air | 1,292 miles (2,078 km) | 4h 35m |
| 8 | Christchurch (CHC) – Sydney (SYD) | Emirates | 1,323 miles (2,129 km) | 3h 20m |
| 9 | Dubai (DXB) – Cairo (CAI) | Emirates | 1,500 miles (2,414 km) | 3h 50m |
| 10 | Dubai (DXB) – Bengaluru (BLR) | Emirates | 1,655 miles (2,663 km) | 4h 00m |
Top 10 Longest A380 Routes
At the other end of the spectrum, some A380 flights stretch across the globe, taking advantage of the aircraft’s long-range and high-capacity capability. These ultra-long-haul routes typically connect major international hubs.
Moreover, these routes further highlight Emirates’ dominance in A380 operations, connecting Dubai with distant destinations such as Auckland and Los Angeles. Qantas and Qatar Airways also operate some of the longest A380 flights, linking Australia with North America and the Middle East.
Emirates operates the world’s longest Airbus A380 flight between Auckland and Dubai, covering a staggering distance of 8,873 miles (14,280 km). This ultra-long-haul journey typically takes around 17 hours and 25 minutes, depending on wind and routing.
1. Auckland (AKL) – Dubai (DXB), Emirates
- Flight distance: 8,873 miles (14,280 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 17 hours 25 minutes
2. Dubai (DXB) – Los Angeles (LAX), Emirates
- Flight distance: 8,339 miles (13,420 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 16 hours 20 minutes
3. Dubai (DXB) – Houston (IAH), Emirates
- Flight distance: 8,200 miles (13,200 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 16 hours 15 minutes
4. Dubai (DXB) – San Francisco (SFO), Emirates
- Flight distance: 8,103 miles (13,038 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 16 hours
5. Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL), Qantas
- Flight distance: 7,971 miles (12,825 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 15 hours 45 minutes
6. Doha (DOH) – Sydney (SYD), Qatar Airways
- Flight distance: 7,704 miles (12,400 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 14 hours 40 minutes
7. Dubai (DXB) – São Paulo (GRU), Emirates
- Flight distance: 7,591 miles (12,216 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 14 hours 50 minutes
8. Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD), Qantas
- Flight distance: 7,488 miles (12,051 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 14 hours 30 minutes
9. Dubai (DXB) – Sydney (SYD), Emirates
- Flight distance: 7,460 miles (12,007 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 13 hours 30 minutes
10. Dubai (DXB) – Brisbane (BNE), Emirates
- Flight distance: 7,454 miles (11,997 km)
- Scheduled flight time: 13 hours 50 minutes
| Rank | Route | Airlines | Flight Distance | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland (AKL) – Dubai (DXB) | Emirates | 8,873 miles (14,280 km) | 17h 25m |
| 2 | Dubai (DXB) – Los Angeles (LAX) | Emirates | 8,339 miles (13,420 km) | 16h 15m |
| 3 | Dubai (DXB) – Houston (IAH) | Emirates | 8,200 miles (13,200 km) | 16h 20m |
| 4 | Dubai (DXB) – San Francisco (SFO) | Emirates | 8,103 miles (13,038 km) | 15h 50m |
| 5 | Los Angeles (LAX) – Melbourne (MEL) | Qantas | 7,971 miles (12,825 km) | 16h 00m |
| 6 | Doha (DOH) – Sydney (SYD) | Qatar Airways | 7,704 miles (12,400 km) | 14h 40m |
| 7 | Dubai (DXB) – São Paulo (GRU) | Emirates | 7,591 miles (12,216 km) | 15h 50m |
| 8 | Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) | Qantas | 7,488 miles (12,051 km) | 15h 00m |
| 9 | Dubai (DXB) – Sydney (SYD) | Emirates | 7,460 miles (12,007 km) | 13h 30m |
| 10 | Dubai (DXB) – Brisbane (BNE) | Emirates | 7,454 miles (11,997 km) | 13h 45m |
The Future of the A380
While Airbus officially ended production of the A380 in 2021, niche demand for the aircraft remains strong in the post-pandemic era. While Emirates and Qantas have fully reactivated their fleets, other airlines, including Lufthansa and Qatar Airways, have returned the A380 to service to meet growing international demand.
However, the long-term future of the A380 remains uncertain. Some airlines, including Air France and Malaysia Airlines, have permanently retired their A380 fleets, citing high operational costs and a shift toward more fuel-efficient twin-engine aircraft like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777X.
Despite this, the A380 continues to play a key role in global air travel, especially on major hub-to-hub routes where demand for premium travel remains strong. The superjumbo is still a passenger favorite, offering unmatched comfort, spacious cabins, and premium services that continue to define long-haul air travel.
Sources: Cirium Diio, GC Map, Planespotters