Confusion, cancellations, and U-turns as Middle East travel chaos looks set to last at least a week

Tech Insider : Travel, Business, Economy
An Etihad Airways Airbus A380-800 departs Toronto Pearson International Airport for the United Arab Emirates in Mississauga, Ontario, on June 25, 2025.
An Etihad Airways Airbus A380.

Mike Campbell via Getty Images

The Iran conflict triggered some of the longest-ever flights to nowhere, with 2 planes returning to their bases after 16 hours

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
An Emirates Airbus A380-800 bound for Dubai departs Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, on February 26, 2026.
An Emirates Airbus A380, like the one that returned to Auckland.

Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images

An Airbus A380 from Australia to South Africa took passengers on a 9-hour flight to nowhere after a satellite issue

Tech Insider : Business, Style
Qantas Airbus A380 aircraft as seen flying and landing at London Heathrow Airport LHR.
A Qantas Airbus A380.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

British Airways' new first-class is a major upgrade and shows airlines' luxury arms race is heating up

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
A collage of British Airways' new and old first-class cabins for the Airbus A380
The new and old British Airways A380 first class.

Pete Syme/Business Insider; JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

An Airbus A380 flew for nearly 300 hours with a 4-foot-long tool left inside one of its engines

Tech Insider
A Qantas Airways Airbus A380 takes off from Dresden Airport.
A Qantas Airbus A380.

Sebastian Kahnert/Getty Images

I flew on a British Airways A380 in economy and premium economy. Upgrading isn't really worth it.

Tech Insider : Travel
A collage of the author sat on board a British Airways Airbus A380, and the plane's exterior
The author in economy class, and a British Airways Airbus A380.

Pete Syme/Business Insider; Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Qatar CEO says the airline isn't ditching its Airbus A380s just yet. See inside the superjumbo, complete with a bar and lounge.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Qatar a380 bar with sparkling chandelier
Qatar's A380s come equipped with a flying bar and lounge for business and first-class passengers.

MIGUEL MEDINA/Getty Images

An airline startup that hopes to fly Airbus A380s between New York and London is delaying its launch to 2025

Tech Insider : Travel
Global Airlines rendering of A380 in flight.
Global Airlines hopes to launch commercial operations by 2025, though a year behind schedule.

Global Airlines

Rival airlines Emirates and Etihad are both flying their luxe Airbus A380s to the US. See how the superjumbos compare.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel
Emirates A380 stitched with a photo of an Etihad A380.
Etihad and Emirates offer two of the most luxurious flying options between New York and the UAE.

Etihad, Stan Honda/AFP via Getty Images

See inside Etihad's giant Airbus A380 that is flying to the US again after being nearly forced into retirement

Tech Insider : Travel
Etihad pilots hand out the windows of the A380 with the US and UAE flags.
Etihad pilots after landing in New York on Monday.

Etihad Airways

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