An Airbus A380 Grounded for 4 Years Flies Again
This page is translated from the original post "Un Airbus A380 cloué au sol pendant 4 ans vole à nouveau" in French.
- 20/09/2025 10:41
After several years of dormancy, an Airbus A380 has finally taken to the skies again this week.
On September 12, 2025, the former superjumbo Airbus A380 of Hi Fly, registered as 9H-MIP, departed from Tarbes in the south of France to Dresden, Germany, where it will undergo refurbishment before joining a new operator. For aviation enthusiasts, it’s a rare event to witness one of the giants of the sky reborn after nearly four years in storage.
The story of the A380 is one of an ambitious dream. First introduced to the world in 2005 and delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2008, it became the largest passenger aircraft ever built, capable of accommodating over 850 travelers in its maximum configuration. Designed to connect continents, it epitomized the golden age of long-haul air travel, symbolizing comfort, power, and elegance.
The Airbus A380 Still Inspires
The 9H-MIP, in particular, left a mark with its livery “ Save the Coral Reefs ,” worn from 2018 to 2020, celebrating the protection of oceans and coral reefs.
After its retirement by Hi Fly in 2021 and several years spent in a hangar, the aircraft was sold in December 2024 and entrusted to Airline Leasing Group. The new official operator, PB Leasing Aircraft No. 9, based in Malta, has obtained the necessary permits to return the giant to service and is currently preparing it for a new career.
This return highlights a rare yet persistent market for used A380s. Despite the cessation of the Airbus program in 2021 and the gradual retirement of fleets, some superjumbos continue to fascinate and find their place in niche operations, far from traditional routes.
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For enthusiasts and the general public, witnessing an Airbus A380 take to the skies again promises a rare and majestic spectacle. The aircraft is set to write a new chapter, blending history and modernity, audacity and elegance. It signals that some giants of the sky can still inspire dreams, embodying luxury, innovation, and the poetry of air travel.
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