I had mixed feelings when it was introduced - several market “brains” said there just wasn’t the demand for the massive planes - especially with the requirements that many airports upgrade terminals to accommodate the monsters. Also - it was introduced at a time that most carriers were actually DOWNsizing there aircraft - with a shift more toward regional jets. At the same time, Boeing was rolling out their latest - smaller than the A380, but also significantly more efficient.
I hadn’t keep up much after the initial deliveries - but I traveled to Europe last Spring - and saw a surprising number of the A380 aircraft under a few different colors - at Charles de Gaulle Airport - and at Atlanta.
I still want to fly on one...
Boeing made the bet that airlines and passengers would choose to fly point to point. Airbus made their bet on the old hub and spoke model.
Initial bookings of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner dwarfed that of the A380. What saved the A380 was that it’s Boeing rival had to re-design it’s wing and so there was a lengthy delay in deliveries and significant cancellations. Had that not happened the A380 might have died an early death.
Me too. I never got to fly on a 747, despite logging a ton of miles-—but all domestic.