It was only a few short years ago when we would be hearing Airbus talk about the Megacity to Megacity traffic flows and ongoing growth that demanded the VLA (very large aircraft). They were right about that. Even after Covid, this is true, Airlines that still have access to their A380 fleet are bringing them back as quickly as they can.
But earlier this week at a preshow briefing in Toulouse Airbus was sanguine about the VLA. Several times there were questions about the possibility of an A380neo. All were met with less than enthusiastic smiles and shrugs. The A380 was an amazing program, and remains an excellent way to travel. But its success for Airbus is something best measured in non-financial terms.
