AirlinesPublished September 13, 20261 min read

An A380 and a 747 share a taxiway at LAX: the photo is already nostalgia

JSBy Joan SanzCurated by Joan Sanz. · September 13, 2026 · Follow on LinkedIn

Voice reading · ~1 min

A sight that has become rare at almost any airport in the world. At LAX, a Lufthansa Boeing 747 bound for Frankfurt and a parked Emirates A380 shared the taxiways, alongside another A380 that had just arrived from Munich and a 777-300ER in the same area. Preferente has the video and confirms the scene with footage from this month.

LAX is one of the few hubs where that parade is still routine. Emirates keeps its A380 fleet active on several routes, and Lufthansa retains the 747-8 as a centrepiece of its long-haul network out of Frankfurt. Outside of that, the list of airports with simultaneous quad-jet movements has been shrinking year after year.

My read for industry professionals: this kind of image has become a product argument, not an anecdote. Anyone selling connections through LAX, Frankfurt or Munich can use it with enthusiasts and premium profiles. The window is finite, and whoever works it now gets more out of it.

Quick questions

Which aircraft appear in the LAX video?

A Lufthansa Boeing 747 bound for Frankfurt, a parked Emirates A380, another A380 that had just arrived from Munich and a Boeing 777-300ER taxiing in the same area.

Why is it rare to see an A380 and a 747 together today?

Because both are quad-jets and most airlines have retired or reduced them. Only a few hubs like LAX still handle simultaneous traffic of this type of aircraft.

Which airlines still fly the A380 in 2026?

Emirates is the largest A380 operator and keeps its fleet active. Others such as Lufthansa or Singapore still use the model on selected long-haul routes.

Does Lufthansa still operate the Boeing 747?

Yes. Lufthansa retains the 747-8 as a key aircraft on some long-haul routes out of Frankfurt, which enables scenes like the one at LAX.

Why is LAX a good airport for spotting large aircraft?

Because it concentrates several international airlines with wide-body fleets and long-haul routes. That makes it easier for quad-jets and large jets to meet on the taxiway.

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