A380: Airbus gives up on superjumbo

The European aircraft manufacturer said Thursday that it will cease delivering the A380s in 2021 after Dubai-based airlines Emirates slashed their orders for the major jetliner.

A380, the world The biggest airline, first in the sky 14 years ago, but Airbus's gigantic effort that airlines would need many extra-large planes to fly passengers between large airport hubs, did not pay as the company had hoped.

The company has delivered 234 of superjumbos to date, less than a quarter of the 1[ads1],200 it predicted it would sell when it first introduced the dual-deck aircraft, its plans were undermined by airlines that shifted interest in lighter, more fuel-efficient passenger aircraft that have reduced the need to ferry passengers between the big hubs.