Qatar eventually plans to retire the jets with the yet-to-be-certified Boeing 777X, which is five years behind schedule and at least $1 billion in the hole due to pandemic and other production delays.

The airline has 94 of the 777X planes on order, including the 20 additional purchases it announced at the airshow. It expects the first delivery in early 2026.

Speaking about the 777X, Al Meer expressed confidence in the program despite its myriad problems, telling reporters “let’s not cry over spilled milk.”

Al Meer explained previously told CNBC that the high-capacity A380s allow the airline to capture “very strong demand” to certain cities in Europe and Asia, noting the plane has achieved an over 86% load factor, an important measure that impacts a plane’s profitability.

Al Meer said the A380 allows it to shuttle as many people as possible, noting the plane would be a great future solution to the ever-busy skies as travel breaks records this year.

“We have so many restrictions and so many airports around the world that the A380 is the best option to operate to certain airports,” he said. “For example, the A380 is the best option for us when we are restricted on the number of flights we can make to Australia.”

Qatar was lauded by Skytrax as having the “best economy class in the Middle East” in 2024, one of the handful of wins the airline secured.

The cabin can accommodate 461 people and features a seatback screen, power outlets, amenities like headphones, and meals. The bottom level of the A380 has 405 economy seats, while the second level has 56 coach seats.

According to Qatar, the upper economy level has a less cramped 2-3-2 layout than the 3-4-3 on the first level.

Qatar has yet to introduce a premium economy cabin despite the demand for the seats continuing to heat up.

Upstairs lie 48 business-class seats and an even more exclusive eight first-class seats. There are also 56 economy seats.

Passengers will get the regular bells and whistles of business, including lie-flat beds, large seatback screens, plenty of legroom, power, and an amenity kit.

The seats resemble those of British Airways’ new Club Suite, which is flying on many of its Boeing and Airbus widebodies, though not the A380.

Qatar’s QSuite is considered by Skytrax as the world’s best business class for 2024. It is the regular winner, with its product boasting unique features like quad-seating and double beds.

Travelers can find the QSuite on all of Qatar’s Airbus A350-1000s, some of its Airbus A350-900s, and most of its Boeing 777s.

The airline is also planning to introduce a new version of the QSuite, which it unveiled at the airshow in July.

Like its A380 business class, Qatar’s superjumbo first-class lacks a sliding door.

However, passengers will still find the suites are private thanks to the high middle dividers and the wings on the sides of each seat.

It also includes other nice touches, like a small lamp and side table, a big seatback screen, and plush linens.

“We want to combine the experience of flying commercial and on a private jet to develop something new,” Al Meer told CNBC of the effort.

The onboard bar is exclusive to Qatar’s A380s and allows passengers to stretch or socialize.

The lounge accommodates half a dozen people and is available to business and first-class customers.

Emirates, the world’s largest A380 operator, has a similar-looking space with a circular bar and seats on its superjumno.

Meanwhile, Virgin has several social spaces on its fleet of planes, though it doesn’t fly any A380s. Instead, its Upper-Class bar is on its Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 787s, while it has lounge areas on its Airbus A330neos and A350s.

Competitors Etihad Airways and Emirates both have showers available to first-class travelers on their A380s.

One main reason airlines don’t install showers is the water weight, which would increase the plane’s already high operating costs.

According to Cirium, Qatar’s A380 is scheduled to fly between Doha and Bangkok, Paris, London, Sydney, and Perth, Australia, this year.

The plane is not presently flying to the US.

Beyond Qatar, the world’s A380 operators are Emirates, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Etihad, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Korea’s Asiana Airlines, and Japan’s All Nippon Airways.

English startup Global Airlines is also planning to fly the A380 between New York and London, but critics aren’t holding their breath.