The unpainted superjumbo took flight for the first time on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for Airbus's biggest aircraft. Courtesy Airbus
The unpainted superjumbo took flight for the first time on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for Airbus's biggest aircraft. Courtesy Airbus
The unpainted superjumbo took flight for the first time on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for Airbus's biggest aircraft. Courtesy Airbus
The unpainted superjumbo took flight for the first time on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for Airbus's biggest aircraft. Courtesy Airbus

The last-production A380 superjumbo completes its first flight

Final double-decker from Airbus is destined for Emirates airline in Dubai

Hayley Skirka
Hayley Skirka

May 05, 2021

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Two years after Airbus announced the end of its A380 production, the final superjumbo has taken flight for the first time.

Aircraft MSN 272, the last A380 to be built, completed its first flight in France on Wednesday, sporting Emirates colours on the tail.

Departing its Toulouse base around 1pm, the pilot of the A380 made a low pass and performed a wing-wave, before heading towards Germany at a cruising altitude of 43,000 feet.

The jet landed at Hamburg Finkenwerder Airport just after 4pm, after a flight time of about three hours and 10 minutes.

There is still a way to go for the final A380 aircraft, which will now undergo work, including painting, in Airbus's Hamburg facility.

It is expected to be delivered to the UAE in 2022.

Emirates confirmed to The National that it has five A380 jets still outstanding for delivery, including MSN 272.

500 tonnes and an 80-metre wingspan

  • Emirates is ramping up operations via its A380 jets to meet travel demands. Photo: AP
    Emirates is ramping up operations via its A380 jets to meet travel demands. Photo: AP
  • The A380 is the world's largest passenger jet. Photo: Getty Images
    The A380 is the world's largest passenger jet. Photo: Getty Images
  • Emirates is the world's biggest A380 customer and offers shower spas and an upper-deck lounge for premium passengers. Photo: Emirates
    Emirates is the world's biggest A380 customer and offers shower spas and an upper-deck lounge for premium passengers. Photo: Emirates
  • Emirates A380 economy class. Photo: Emirates
    Emirates A380 economy class. Photo: Emirates
  • Inside Emirates new A380 Premium Economy cabin. Courtesy Emirates
    Inside Emirates new A380 Premium Economy cabin. Courtesy Emirates
  • The Emirates super jumbo is known for its luxury. Photo: Emirates
    The Emirates super jumbo is known for its luxury. Photo: Emirates
  • The grand staircase on an Emirates airline Airbus A380. Photo: AP
    The grand staircase on an Emirates airline Airbus A380. Photo: AP
  • A custom A380 livery dedicated to Dubai’s Museum of the Future. Photo: Emirates
    A custom A380 livery dedicated to Dubai’s Museum of the Future. Photo: Emirates
  • The United for Wildlife Emirates A380 before its first flight to London. Photo: Emirates
    The United for Wildlife Emirates A380 before its first flight to London. Photo: Emirates
  • The Emirates Year of Zayed A380 makes a scenic landing in Hong Kong. Photo: Emirates
    The Emirates Year of Zayed A380 makes a scenic landing in Hong Kong. Photo: Emirates
  • The Emirates FA Cup branded A380. Photo: Emirates
    The Emirates FA Cup branded A380. Photo: Emirates

Weighing more than 500 tonnes, Airbus's A380 consists of more than four million parts and has a wingspan of almost 80 metres. Emirates's fleet has 115 A380s and has been flying them for 13 years.

The airline turned the double-decker jet into a luxury flying machine, with private suites, shower spas and a communal bar.

Covid-19: the end of an era

Since the Covid-19 pandemic thwarted demand for passenger travel, Emirates has grounded the majority of its A380 fleet.

After being entirely out of service for four months in 2020, the airline reinstated A380s on a small number of passenger routes. The plane is also being used as a "mini-freighter" on select cargo charter operations.

In December, Emirates took delivery of three A380 jets, one of which was fitted with Emirates' first Premium Economy cabin.

The airline previously said it hopes to return the majority of its superjumbos to service in 2022.

The end of Airbus' A380 production was propelled by the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting dip in passenger demand for travel.

Previously called the "aircraft that reimagined flying", without people to fill the hundreds of seats on these colossal-sized jets, many airlines around the world were forced to retire or ground their A380s.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

While you're here

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

'Ghostbusters: From Beyond'

Director: Jason Reitman

Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace

Rating: 2/5

While you're here
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

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