Etihad returns last grounded A380 to service
Etihad Airways has brought its final stored Airbus A380-800 back into service, with the aircraft ferried from Lourdes-Tarbes to Abu Dhabi after nearly six years parked.
Etihad Airways has returned its last grounded Airbus A380-800 to service, the airline said. The aircraft had been parked at Lourdes-Tarbes Airport in France since December 2020. After nearly six years there, it flew to Abu Dhabi a few days ago and is expected to resume commercial operations shortly.
The jet was Etihad's first A380, a -861 variant with serial number 166. It made its maiden flight on June 16, 2014, after rolling off the production line in Toulouse. It initially flew under the French test registration F-WWSS before being assigned A6-APA for delivery. Etihad ordered ten A380-800s at the 2008 Farnborough Airshow, aiming to strengthen its Abu Dhabi hub and compete with other Middle Eastern carriers.
The cabin has 486 seats in four classes: nine First Class apartments, 70 business class seats and 405 economy seats, plus The Residence, a suite for one or two passengers that sits at the top of the airline's premium offering.
Sources
- flightradar24.comEtihad returns its final A380 to service