The Airbus A380 superjumbo jet is experiencing a resurgence despite its previous struggles.

The A380, which first flew commercially in 2007, surpassed the 747 as the world's largest passenger plane. It has four engines and can carry over 800 people depending on the airline's cabin layout. The plane's large seating capacity was seen as crucial in reducing overcrowding at major airports such as London's Heathrow, New York's JFK, and Chicago's O'Hare.

The decline in orders for four-engine aircraft coincided with the emergence of more fuel-efficient planes, such as Airbus' A350 and Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. According to Mike Stengel of AeroDynamic Advisory, the A380's unit costs are attractive when filled to capacity, but consistently filling 550 seats is more challenging than filling a 350-seat wide-body. Despite its end to the A380 superjumbo program 12 years after its launch, Airbus has seen a resurgence in the A380's popularity, with several airlines pulling planes out of retirement during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The A380, the world's largest passenger plane, is expected to continue flying for the next two decades, according to Airbus. The aircraft is still being operated by 10 airlines, including Emirates, Lufthansa, Etihad Airways, and British Airways. CNBC examines the history and future of the A380 in a video.