Airbus Abandons Iconic A380 Superjumbo as Sales Slump

Airbus Abandons Iconic A380 Superjumbo as Sales Slump
In this June 26, 2011, file photo, an Airbus A380 performs during a demonstration flight at the 49th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport, east of Paris. Airbus said on Feb. 14, 2019 it will stop making A380 superjumbo jets in 2021 after struggling to win clients. Francois Mori/AP
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TOULOUSE, France—Europe’s Airbus is scrapping production of the A380 superjumbo, with lackluster sales forcing it to abandon a dream of dominating the skies with a 21st century cruiseliner.

The world’s largest airliner, with two decks of spacious cabins and room for 544 people in standard layout, was designed to challenge Boeing’s legendary 747 but failed to take hold as airlines backed a new generation of smaller, more nimble jets.