The cockpit layout is very similar to the A330 and A340, and somewhat similar to the older A320. It was designed to make a type rating change easier. The A350 has a different, more modern design but is also made along similar lines.

By contrast there are significant differences between the Airbus and Boeing systems and design philosophies. In very broad terms, on Airbus aircraft the pilot tells the plane what they would like it to do - but it only happens if the computers agree, working to a set of safety constraints which (in theory) prevent stalls, excessive bank angles etc. With Boeing aircraft, the pilot makes the plane do what they want and the system only intervenes if an unsafe situation actually arises.

BA's A380 pilots aren't rated on any other type so there is only a relatively small pilot pool to draw from with 10 aircraft planned in service. Hence if there are routes requiring multiple sets of crew due to sector duration (e.g. SIN) this causes a strain on resources. Pilots are legally only allowed to operate 900 block hours a year, so even if they wanted to they may be unable to work overtime - or BA may need to save hours to allow them to operate according to the roster at other times in the year.