Airbus A380 under threat as Qantas pulls order

Australia's Qantas Airways has formally canceled a longstanding order for eight Airbus A380 jets as new doubts have been raised about the future of the four-engined superjumbo.

Jayson Albano reports.

Fresh concerns on Thursday (February 7) about the future of the world's largest jetliner - the Airbus A380.

Australia's Qantas Airways has officially cancelled the order it made back in 2006 for eight of the jets.

That follows a similar decision by Hong Kong Airlines to kill an order for 10 of the planes.

Sources told Reuters last week - Airbus is now considering closing its iconic A380 line - an official decision is yet to be made.

Sales of four-engined planes like the A380 have been tumbling as many airlines switch to smaller, more efficient twin-engined jets - like the A350 or rival Boeing's 777.

Dubai's Emirates - which has more than a hundred A380s is also considering a move - according to sources - to swap out some orders of superjumbos for the smaller A350s.

The existing Qantas superjumbos won't be heading into retirement any time soon.

A company spokesman said its 12 A380s will be refurbished in 2019 and will remain flying - quote "well into the future".