Airbus A380 Upgrade May Come Later Than 2022

Airbus believes that an upgrade to the A380 aircraft in 2022 may be too early, chief executive Fabrice Bregier said at an industry gathering in New York.

Airbus is looking at whether to upgrade the A380, the world's largest passenger jet, as requested by its largest customer Emirates.

While buy-in from Emirates is crucial, Airbus still must justify to other airlines that an upgraded aircraft has a market, Bregier said.

"People love the A380 as passengers. But airlines don't," he said.

Airbus had been expected to introduce the A380 upgrade in 2022 or 2023.

Last year, there were no orders placed by commercial airlines for the Boeing 747 or Airbus A380, reflecting a fundamental shift in the airline industry toward smaller, twin-engine planes.

Smaller planes cost less to fly than the stately, four-engine jumbos, which can carry up to 525 passengers. However, a recent drop in fuel prices has helped the A380 look more competitive.