See which engines power the Airbus A380, their take-off thrust per engine and combined, and why figures differ between variants.
The Airbus A380-800 is powered by four high-bypass turbofans: either Rolls-Royce Trent 900s or Engine Alliance GP7200s. Each is in roughly the 70,000–80,000 lbf (311–356 kN) take-off-thrust class, and a typical four-engine installation is rated close to 300,000 lbf (about 1,330 kN) in total.
Which engines are fitted to the Airbus A380?
An individual A380 has four engines from the same family; Trent 900s and GP7200s are not mixed on one aircraft. The engine selection is reflected in the aircraft’s variant designation.
| Engine family | Manufacturer | A380 application | Representative take-off thrust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trent 900 | Rolls-Royce | A380-841 and A380-842; Trent 970/972-series ratings | Roughly the mid-70,000s to 80,000 lbf (about 334–356 kN) per engine, depending on the rating quoted |
| GP7200 | Engine Alliance | A380-861; principally the GP7270 | About 74,700 lbf (332 kN) per engine for the GP7270 |
Engine Alliance is a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney. Our breakdown of Airbus engine manufacturers explains how these companies fit into the wider Airbus range.
Both choices are high-bypass turbofans, so most of their thrust comes from air accelerated by the large front fan rather than solely from the hot exhaust core. Our explanation of how turbofan engines generate thrust covers that process without duplicating it here.
Why is there no single A380 thrust figure?
Published A380 engine thrust figures differ because they may describe different engine marks, certification conditions or nominal ratings. Figures rounded to 70,000, 75,000 or 80,000 lbf can therefore refer to the same broad engine class without being directly comparable.
- Engine variant: Trent 900 and GP7200 marks have different certified ratings.
- Rating basis: A nominal model rating, an uninstalled test figure and an installed aircraft rating are not always stated on the same basis.
- Atmospheric conditions: Available net thrust changes with temperature, pressure, altitude and forward speed.
- Selected take-off mode: Crews commonly use an approved reduced-thrust or FLEX take-off when runway length, weather and aircraft weight permit. Full rated thrust is not required for every departure.
Thrust is expressed in pounds-force or kilonewtons, not shaft horsepower. The distinction is covered in our guide to aircraft engine power and thrust measurements.
How much thrust do all four A380 engines produce?
Four A380 engines provide approximately 300,000 lbf, or about 1,330 kN, of combined maximum take-off thrust for a representative installation. Using the broader published rating range gives a theoretical total of roughly 280,000–320,000 lbf (1,245–1,424 kN).
That multiplication is useful for scale, but it is not the thrust produced throughout a flight. The engines develop substantially different net thrust at climb and cruise conditions, while the cockpit presents parameters such as commanded thrust and engine speed rather than a live pounds-force total.
Do all four A380 engines have thrust reversers?
No. Only the two inboard engines—numbers 2 and 3—have thrust reversers; the outboard engines continue to use fixed nacelles during landing.
A mistake we often see in A380 simulation is assuming that four forward-thrust engines must mean four operating reversers. An accurately modelled A380 should deploy reverse thrust only on the inboard pair, while spoilers and wheel brakes provide the rest of the deceleration.