Airbus CEO Says A380 Testbed Program Is Convenient but Costly
Airbus CEO has described the A380 testbed aircraft as convenient for trials but acknowledged that operating the superjumbo for testing purposes is expensive.
Jishan Khan 
The CEO of airbus has described the Airbus A380 testbed aircraft as highly convenient for flight trials, while acknowledging that operating the superjumbo comes at a significant cost.
Airbus has used an A380 platform as a flying testbed for evaluating new technologies and engine developments. The aircraft’s large size and onboard systems make it suitable for accommodating experimental equipment and monitoring systems during flight testing.
However, maintaining and operating the four-engine widebody aircraft involves considerable expense, including fuel consumption, maintenance, and crew costs. Compared to smaller aircraft platforms, the A380 requires substantially higher operational resources.
Despite the cost factor, the testbed provides Airbus with flexibility for complex trials that may not be possible on smaller aircraft types. The platform supports long-duration flights and the integration of advanced systems under real operating conditions.
The comments highlight the balance aircraft manufacturers must maintain between technical capability and cost efficiency when selecting platforms for research and development programs.
