LONDON: The future of Airbus A380 could be saved by growing demand from China, potentially offsetting a slowdown in orders for the super-jet by the aircraft’s biggest customer Emirates.
Chinese airlines potentially need between 60 and 100 A380 planes over the next five years as passenger traffic increases, Airbus’ China head Eric Chen told Reuters at an event in Beijing on Tuesday.
“When I look at the market flow, the passenger flow, route by route and the economics, I’m fully confident that the Chinese carriers will need a minimum of 60 A380s over the next 5 to 7 years,” he told the newswire.
If Chinese demand does pick up, it could help turn around the fortunes of Airbus’s beleaguered superjet, which has started to see its popularity decline globally as airlines — including Emirates — look to order more fuel-efficient planes such as the A350 and Boeing’s 787 model.
The A380 model was launched a decade ago, with the Dubai-based airline Emirates quickly becoming the largest buyer of the aircraft. As of the end of July, Emirates operated a fleet of 96 A380s, with a total order backlog of 46 planes. There has been a total of 317 orders for A380s worldwide to-date, according to Airbus.
The airline is set to introduce a fourth daily A380 service from Dubai to Sydney from March 25 next year, adding to its three existing A380 services on the same route. It is also due to take delivery of its 100th A380 later this year, announcing a number of special offers on flights to mark the occasion, according to a Sept. 12 statement from the airline.
While the aircraft model remains a central cog in Emirate’s current operations, it has slowed down the rate of A380 orders and deliveries. The airline placed an order for just two of the aircraft in 2016, which compares to 50 A380s it ordered at the Dubai Airshow in 2013.
At the end of 2016, Emirates deferred delivery of 12 A380s that were due for delivery over the next two years.
Dwindling demand for the A380 has hit Airbus’ planned deliveries. In its half-year results released in July, the plane maker revised down its A380 delivery schedule for 2019 from the planned 12 aircraft to just eight planes.
Operating planes as large as an A380 is no longer seen as a cost-efficient option for many airlines. The planes lack the fuel efficiency of newer aircraft models; have limited second-hand market appeal; and can’t operate at some airports due to size constraints, according to aviation analysts.
While China’s market holds promise, so far Airbus has sold and delivered just five A380s to China Southern Airlines, according to the plane maker.
Asia Pacific is one of the fastest growing aviation markets, with passenger traffic in June increasing by 9.1 percent compared to the same time period the previous year, according to data from IATA. In contrast, Middle Eastern carriers posted a 2.5 percent traffic increase, marking a slowdown in growth from the 3.7 percent recorded in May.
Airbus looks beyond Dubai for A380 future
Airbus looks beyond Dubai for A380 future
Middle East AI adoption reaches 75%, beating global average: PwC survey
RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is becoming embedded across Middle East workplaces, with 75 percent of employees using AI tools at work over the past year, a higher rate than the 69 percent global average, a new survey showed.
According to PwC’s Middle East Workforce Hopes and Fears Survey 2025, the region is outpacing global peers in adopting AI for everyday work, driven by government and corporate digital transformation efforts.
Based on responses from 1,286 employees, the survey indicates AI use has moved beyond pilot stages, with 32 percent of workers using generative AI tools daily — above the global average of 28 percent and reflecting growing familiarity with AI-driven workflows.
The survey findings align with trends observed in Saudi Arabia, where advanced technologies such as AI are being widely embraced across workplaces.
In November, a report released by KPMG highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in the technology sector, noting that 84 percent of CEOs in Saudi Arabia are ready to deploy AI responsibly — well above the 76 percent global benchmark — supported by the Kingdom’s data governance ecosystem, including national initiatives led by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority.
Earlier this month, data from the Global AI Index revealed that Saudi Arabia ranked fifth globally and first in the Arab region for growth in the AI sector.
Commenting on the findings, Randa Bahsoun, partner at PwC Middle East, said: “As employees confidently embrace change, build new capabilities and show remarkable adaptability with AI, they also want to feel secure and supported.”
She added: “Organizations that provide clarity on how roles will evolve, expand access to learning and protect wellbeing will be the ones that retain talent and get ahead in a fast-changing labor market.”
Adapting to the tech-driven future
The latest PwC survey found that the Middle East workforce is confidently leading the integration of AI into daily work, while prioritizing job security and skills development at higher rates than their global counterparts.
According to the report, 49 percent of employees in the region expect technological change — including AI, robotics and automation — to impact their jobs to a large or very large extent over the next three years, compared with 45 percent globally.
PwC said this trend reflects not only higher adoption, but also greater readiness and comfort with next-generation technologies across the region.
Employees in the Middle East increasingly view emerging technologies as tools that enhance productivity and creativity rather than threats to job security.
Around eight out of 10 employees said AI has improved their productivity, with 87 percent reporting higher-quality work and 84 percent citing increased creativity.
Higher confidence among younger employees
The survey found that younger employees in the region demonstrate significantly higher confidence in AI’s potential, with millennials and Gen Z being the most hands-on users of AI tools. These groups are adopting new technologies quickly and often outpacing older cohorts in both usage and creative application.
“This puts early career employees in a strong position to adapt to the evolving technological demands of entry-level roles,” said PwC.
It added: “For employers, this is an opportunity to leverage younger talent to drive digital adoption and performance, while providing guidance, clarity and support as AI continues to reshape the future of work.”
Acquiring the tools
Skills development remains a defining priority for the Middle East workforce, according to the survey.
The report found that 69 percent of employees in the region gained new skills over the past 12 months, compared with 56 percent globally.
Some 81 percent of respondents said they would prefer a job that offers opportunities to build transferable skills — higher than the 69 percent global average.
Job security has also emerged as the top priority, with 85 percent of employees saying it is very important.
“As employees in the Middle East seek balance and flexibility, their expectations of career progression and reward are also evolving. Fewer employees are asking for a pay rise than last year, signalling a more cautious labor market,” said PwC.
The report found that engagement levels among the Middle East workforce remain among the highest globally, with 78 percent of regional employees saying they look forward to going to work, compared with 64 percent globally.
Despite this high level of engagement, 45 percent of employees said they feel fatigued at least once a week, and nearly half reported feeling overwhelmed, indicating that workload intensity is becoming a significant pressure point.
Converting momentum to benefits
PwC highlighted several actions organizations should prioritize to convert the current AI momentum into a lasting advantage.
The firm said companies should communicate clearly and consistently about where AI technologies are being deployed, what will change across processes, how job roles will be affected and where new value will be created.
The report also emphasized the importance of building a continuously evolving, future-ready, skills-first workforce that can fully harness AI’s potential.
“Leaders need to ensure upskilling, reskilling and capability building move 22 beyond periodic initiatives and become a key element of their organizations’ forward-looking business strategy,” said PwC.
It added: “This means identifying future skill needs early, assessing current capabilities to understand gaps and using those insights to create development pathways tailored to roles, seniority and diverse career trajectories.”
Companies should also foster a culture of agility and innovation and equip managers to effectively support AI-enabled teams.
PwC said managers must have the clarity, tools and protected time needed to coach teams, support skill development and manage workloads in ways that sustain employee engagement and wellbeing.
“This can be achieved by setting clear performance expectations for managers around employee development and wellbeing and supporting them with the knowledge and guidance needed to fulfil these responsibilities,” added PwC.
Organizations should also prioritize flexibility, autonomy and balanced workloads to sustain high performance, giving employees the freedom and clarity to manage their work effectively.
The report suggested that expanding flexible work arrangements, strengthening autonomy in day-to-day decision-making and giving teams a greater voice in how work gets done could help employees perform at their best.
“The Middle East’s workforce continues to demonstrate a powerful blend of optimism, ambition and adaptability. The challenge now is for leaders to amplify these strengths through vision, transparency and care – ensuring that technology, trust and talent progress together,” concluded the report.
Earlier this month, a KPMG report echoed similar views, saying UAE CEOs are accelerating investment in artificial intelligence while prioritizing people, skills and responsible innovation as core drivers of future growth.
The report said 84 percent of CEOs in the UAE expect to expand headcount over the next three years, while 80 percent are already redesigning roles to integrate AI collaboration across their businesses.
