Qantas Accelerates A380 Retirement Amid Profit Decline

Qantas will accelerate the retirement of its 10 Airbus A380 aircraft, beginning the phase-out in 2028 rather than 2032. The airline is replacing the double-decker jets with a fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, including the A350-1000ULR.

This fleet transition supports Project Sunrise, which introduces non-stop flights from Sydney to London and New York starting in October. The first A350-1000ULR was delivered in April to facilitate these ultra-long-haul routes.

The strategic shift follows a 19.8% drop in net profit to $1.3 billion for the 2025/26 fiscal year. The airline attributed the decline to Middle East conflict and rising jet fuel costs, which totaled $610 million. Consequently, the company cancelled a planned $150 million share buyback, although its shares rose more than 2% after the announcement.