The US is the country with the world’s third most Airbus A380 flights, after the UAE and UK. In the first half of 2026, seven carriers will fly the superjumbo to the US: All Nippon, Asiana, British Airways, Emirates, Korean Air, Lufthansa, and Qantas.
Korean Air recently confirmed the type will return to New York JFK and Los Angeles next summer. Despite this, Cirium Diio data shows total A380 flights remain down by 5% compared to the first half of 2025. And they’re 31% lower than in the same six months before the pandemic in 2019.
The US’s Ten Longest A380 Flights
Seven airlines fly the A380 to the US. Analysis of their schedules shows the double-decker quadjet will operate 23 US routes between January and June 2026. When the airline is stripped out, 22 airport pairs will exist.
The only market with more than one airline is Seoul Incheon to Los Angeles, on which Asiana and Korean Air use the type. This is somewhat of a technicality, as Korean Air owns nearly 64% of Asiana, which is now a subsidiary. Not that it really matters, the market’s maximum block time was marginally too short to be included.
The sole one-stop service is operated by 
Emirates from Dubai to New York JFK via Milan Malpensa. The A380 has served this market since 2015, with fifth freedom rights available between Milan and the Big Apple. It is timed at up to 18h 50m in the examined period and is, unsurprisingly, the longest link mentioned in the table. It is perhaps unfair to include it, but it’s there for completeness.
|
Max. Block Time: January-June 2026* |
Direction Of Route With That Time |
Airline |
A380 Operations Only |
|---|---|---|---|
|
18h 50m |
Dubai to New York JFK via Milan Malpensa |
Emirates |
Daily |
|
17h 25m |
Dallas/Fort Worth back to Sydney |
Qantas |
Daily |
|
16h 35m |
Dubai to Houston Intercontinental |
Emirates |
Daily |
|
16h 20m |
Dubai to Los Angeles |
Emirates |
Daily |
|
16h 00m |
Dubai to San Francisco |
Emirates |
Daily |
|
15h 55m |
Los Angeles back to Melbourne |
Qantas |
Twice-weekly |
|
15h 45m |
New York JFK back to Seoul Incheon |
Korean Air |
Daily |
|
14h 45m |
Dubai to Washington Dulles |
Emirates |
Daily |
|
14h 40m |
Dubai to New York JFK (nonstop) |
Emirates |
Twice-daily |
|
13h 50m |
Los Angeles back to Sydney |
Qantas |
Daily |
|
* At any point in those months, even if just once |
Korean Air’s Daily A380 Service To New York
Until the most recent update, the SkyTeam member had only scheduled the 407-seat A380 between Seoul Incheon and New York JFK until March 28. This is the final date of the northern winter aviation season, based on IATA slot seasons. From March 29 onward, Korean Air had planned to fly the Boeing 777-300ER instead. Both of its twice-daily summer services were due to be on the Triple 7.
Things have changed again. They’re prone to do so, especially for Korean operators, whose equipment switches tend to come quite late, particularly for the A380. Now, the superjumbo will continue to operate daily, alongside a daily 777-300ER service.
Let’s look at the A380’s schedule. In January, for example, KE81 will depart from South Korea at 10:00 am and arrive in the Big Apple at 10:00 am local time (14h 00m). Returning, KE82 will leave at 12:00 pm and get back at 5:45 pm local time the following day (15h 45m).
Where Emirates’ Massive 615-Seat Airbus A380s Will Fly In 2026: Routes & Map
Discover the routes where Emirates deploys its highest-capacity superjumbo.
Emirates’ A380s To Houston
Timed at up to 16h 35m, Emirates’ operation from Dubai to Houston Intercontinental is the Gulf behemoth’s longest nonstop US A380 service. Houston is one of four US airports with only one A380 carrier in 2026. It is the only Texas airport to see Emirates’ double-deckers, although Dallas/Fort Worth had them until 2016.
Emirates’ A380s first appeared in Houston 11 years ago, in December 2014. The type was deployed there until March 2020 and reappeared in December 2022. Since then, only that equipment has been used. All flights have first-class cabins, while premium economy has been available to Houston since June 2023.
#Airbus #A380s #Longest #Flights
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