Malaysia Airlines’s 6th And Final Airbus A380 Is Now In Storage In France
The national carrier retired its sixth and final Airbus A380 and it’ll be in long-term storage in France.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.
Malaysia Airlines’s (MAS) sixth and final Airbus A380 is now in long-term storage in France and the fates of all returned aircraft are left up to Airbus.
The aircraft, registered as 9M-MNF, arrived at the Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airpot (LDE) on 19 December 2022.
The arrival of the final MAS Airbus A380 in France marks the end of a 10-year relationship between the Malaysian flag carrier and the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
According to Simple Flying, Malaysia welcomed its first Airbus A380 in May 2012 and received its sixth superjumbo plane in March 2013.
The planes were registered as follows:
- 9M-MNA – delivered May 2012, retired December 2022
- 9M-MNB – delivered August 2012, retired November 2022
- 9M-MNC – delivered November 2012, retired November 2022
- 9M-MND – delivered November 2012, retired November 2022
- 9M-MNE – delivered February 2013, retired December 2022
- 9M-MNF – delivered March 2013, retired December 2022
The MAS superjumbo planes had flown to Europe, Australasia, and Asia from its hub at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
At its peak, it flew double daily between Kuala Lumpur and London Heathrow (LHR).
An Airbus A380 plane could carry 494 passengers in three-class configurations – 8 in first class, 66 in business class, and 420 in economy class.
Since the pandemic began, some airlines have mulled over the decision to return their Airbus A380s due to the high operating costs of having four engines per plane.
Air France was the first airline to retire all ten of its Airbus A380s in 2020. Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Hi Fly, and Lufthansa followed suit.
MAS returned its first Airbus A380 on 15 November 2022.
READ MORE: [Watch] Malaysia Airlines Returns First Airbus A380
Recent news indicated that Etihad Airways will reintroduce four of its 10 Airbus A380s for summer 2023.
Do we get new planes?
With the retirement of the Airbus A380, the MAS fleet now consists of six Airbus A330-200s, 15 Airbus A330-300s, six Airbus A350-900s, and 43 Boeing 737-800s.
MAS has ordered 20 Airbus A330neos to replace the aging Airbus A330-200s and -300s as part of the trade to return the A380s.
In addition, MAS is also awaiting the delivery of 50 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
