Airbus originally planned to bring a cargo version of the A380 onto the market. However, due to a lack of demand, the plans quickly disappeared back into the drawer. Golf carrier Emirates Airline is now using several super jumbos for pure cargo flights.

However, the company did not expand the seats. Emirates Sky Cargo refers to the A380s used as “auxiliary freighters” as “mini-freighter”. The payload is considerable, however, because without passengers, the cargo zone alone can hold an impressive 50 tonnes of cargo. However, Emirates does not want to expand the seats. Instead, you want to transport packages in the overhead lockers and on the armchairs in order to be able to make optimal use of the possible storage space.

The competitor Hi Fly Malta did with the expansion of the seating not a good experience. The company's only A380 was converted into a freighter, but demand was very limited. The pattern generally proved to be a flop at Hi Fly, which is why it should leave the fleet by the end of the year. The originally announced addition of further A380s has been canceled.

Emirates does not intend - as mentioned - that the super jumbos will be turned into “preighters”. The cargo hold's payload is considerable anyway, and additional spaces are to be used on the seats and in the overhead bins. The golf carrier also intends to use the machines to transport medical goods and wants to play a major role in the global distribution of vaccines. The A6-EOT, A6-EOU and A6-EOV, among others, are currently underway as auxiliary freighters on various routes. Incidentally, the EOV was a guest in Europe, namely in Amsterdam.