Etihad and Lufthansa A380s Return to Service
Two Airbus A380 superjumbos that had been in long-term storage in Spain since the pandemic are set to re-enter regular commercial service as their respective airline owners respond to rising travel demand. The aircraft, belonging to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Germany’s Lufthansa, departed from Teruel Airport (TEV) on September 13, 2024, after being stored since March and May 2020, respectively.
The resumption of these aircraft is timely, as both airlines anticipate increased passenger traffic and the opening of new routes planned for 2025. The Etihad A380 was the fifth of ten A380s delivered to the airline in October 2015. At 9.6 years old, it joins four other A380s that have already returned to service on Etihad’s flagship routes to London Heathrow (LHR) and New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH).
Upon its return, the aircraft will undergo essential post-storage maintenance and re-entry checks before resuming passenger operations. Etihad has indicated plans to bring more of its stored A380s back into service as demand continues to rise, including upcoming routes to India from Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, Lufthansa’s A380, the airline’s first A380, delivered in May 2010. Now just over 14 years old, Lufthansa operates a total of eight A380s, six of which have already returned to service. The aircraft’s stay in Germany was brief, it took off again, this time heading east to Manila in the Philippines for heavy maintenance checks.
Both Etihad and Lufthansa are expected to have these aircraft rejoin their active fleets before the end of 2024. According to data from ch-aviation, there are currently 151 A380s in active service, while 78 remain in storage, have been retired, or are undergoing maintenance, including the two recently returned to service.
The return of these A380 superjumbos signals a positive shift in the aviation industry, as airlines gradually recover from the pandemic’s impact and adapt to the growing travel demands. As the market stabilizes, the A380’s significant passenger capacity and range make it an invaluable asset for carriers looking to enhance their service offerings and meet customer needs. With increasing travel routes and operational enhancements, both Etihad and Lufthansa are poised to capitalize on the resurgence in global air travel.
Related news: https://airguide.info/?s=Etihad, https://airguide.info/?s=Lufthansa, https://airguide.info/?s=A380