The new version of the 'world's largest plane' that was set to transform aviation

A new version of the Airbus A380 was once pitched as the future of long-haul flying, but it never made it off the ground. The A380 is still the world's largest passenger aircraft, with two full decks and space for more than 850 people in an all-economy layout. In a typical three-class configuration, it usually carries around 500 to 600 passengers.

With a maximum range of about 8,000 miles (nearly 15,000km), it was designed for ultra-long-haul routes and remains one of the most comfortable planes for passengers. The plane has quiet cabins, wide seats, and space for lounges and bars on some airlines.

Inside, the A380 can feature everything from onboard showers and cocktail bars to first-class suites, also depending on the airline.

Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Qatar Airways are among the carriers that still fly the aircraft today.

It is mainly used on busy international routes where there is high demand, including flights between London, Dubai, Sydney, New York, Singapore and Bangkok.

But despite its size and comfort, plans for a newer, more efficient version of the plane, known as the A380neo, were never approved.

Emirates, the Dubai-based airline and biggest A380 operator, had hoped Airbus would build a new model with better engines to cut fuel costs and keep the jet at the heart of its operations.

They repeatedly pushed for an upgrade that would reduce fuel burn and operating costs, but Airbus never officially launched the neo project.

Instead, in 2017, Airbus introduced a smaller update called the A380plus. It featured new winglets, better aerodynamics and a higher takeoff weight.

Airbus claimed the tweaks would improve fuel efficiency by around 4%.

But this fell short of what Emirates wanted. The airline was hoping for a full engine upgrade and other major improvements, not just minor design changes.

Meanwhile, the industry was shifting to smaller twin-engine planes like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, which are cheaper to run and more flexible on different routes.

With little interest from other airlines, the A380plus quietly disappeared, and Emirates started cancelling some of its remaining A380 orders in 2019.

That marked the beginning of the end. Airbus delivered its final A380 in 2021, officially ending production of the iconic jet. Nonetheless, Emirates continues to operate the A380 on many of its most popular routes.

But the dream of a more advanced version, one that could have possibly transformed the future of aviation, is now firmly grounded.