Malaysia Airlines to return inactive A380s to Airbus by 2023

Malaysia Airlines Bhd, an airline unit of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), is planning to return all six of its Airbus A380 to Airbus by 2023, according to a report by the New Straits Times.

The Malaysian flag carrier reached a deal with the European airline manufacturer in August 2022 to acquire 20 A330-900Ns, and returning the superjumbos formed part of the negotiations, the paper said, citing sources.

All of Malaysia Airlines’ A380s, which were used on select routes to Europe, Australia, and within Asia, have been parked since 2020 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When Malaysia Airlines underwent restructuring in May 2021, it revealed that it was exploring ways to dispose of its Airbus A380s. In July 2021, the airline launched a tender for the sale of its six Airbus A380s, however, it did not seem to attract any serious interest.

“The plan is for them (Airbus) to take back all the aircraft (A380) by the end of this year. It’s up to them what they want to do with the aircraft,” one source told the New Straits Times.

“The discussion is ongoing. It’s a work in progress,” the sources said, adding that the aircraft would be delivered to Airbus once the location is decided.

In a statement provided to ch-aviation, Malaysia Airlines said that, “Malaysia Aviation Group plans to retire and exit A380 by the end of 2022. However, the terms related to the deal with Airbus remain confidential.”

Airbus also told the New Straits Times that the details of the deal were confidential.