Etihad Airways has pulled another Airbus A380 aircraft out of storage, to rejoin its operating fleet.
The Airbus A380 aircraft will resume scheduled services with Etihad shortly.
FIFTH ETIHAD AIRWAYS AIRBUS A380 TO RE-ENTER SERVICE
The Airbus aircraft had been placed in long-term storage in Teruel, Spain, since early 2020.
This was when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the globe, halting travel and forcing airlines to store many aircraft, especially widebody models.
While some airlines stored their A380s, a number of carriers scrapped them entirely, anticipating they would no longer be of much use.
LEAVING STORAGE IN TERUEL
Etihad’s fifth A380 aircraft left Teruel on 13 September 2024, where it has been in storage since March 2020.
It is now undergoing post-storage maintenance and service checks before it can take to the skies again.
ETIHAD AIRWAYS AIRBUS A380 FLEET
The Airbus A380 aircraft (registration A6-APE) was the fifth of ten of the aircraft type delivered to Etihad.
This example entered service with Etihad in October 2015.
In fact, it joins another four A380s that have resumed service in Etihad’s route network.
ALSO READ: Emirates deploys second Airbus A380 to Johannesburg
INCREASING PASSENGER DEMAND
The Abu Dhabi-based carrier is seeing rising passenger demand for its scheduled flights.
Aerotime reports that Etihad Airways intends to return more stored Airbus A380s into service as demand for flights increases.
EX-YU Aviation reports that Etihad is charting ambitious growth through to 2030. It aims to triple the number of passengers carried to 33 million.
Furthermore, it intends to double its fleet to 150 planes and increase its available seat kilometres by around 30% annually over the coming five years.
LAUNCH OF ADDITIONAL ROUTES
Skift reports that Etihad is planning to announce scheduled services on a number of new routes. The publication reports that the airline intends to commence flights on 10 additional routes.
This is according to Arik De, Etihad’s Chief Commercial Officer.
De said the new route offerings will be announced in late November. He said that current plans are to launch nine new routes and to resume flights to one previously served destination.
The airline also intends to introduce the Airbus A380 on some of its routes to India.
