The Australian airline Qantas reached an important milestone in its fleet renewal program this week by returning to service the last Airbus A380 that had been stored since the beginning of the pandemic.
The aircraft, registered as VH-OQC, landed in Sydney on December 2, ending almost six years out of service.
The A380 had been withdrawn from operation at the beginning of the global health crisis and remained stored for long periods, including a cycle between June 2021 and November 2025 in Abu Dhabi. During this period, the aircraft underwent a D-Check inspection, received a new landing gear and had its entire cabin fully refurbished.
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According to Qantas, the restoration required more than 100,000 work hours, with parts transported by land, sea and air to meet the project’s needs. The process is part of the airline’s plan to modernize and reintroduce its A380 fleet as international demand continues to grow.
The tenth and final jet now reactivated officially returned to service on January 1, when it will begin operations on the Sydney–Dallas route. The aircraft will also be used on flights to Singapore and Johannesburg, remaining until then as a spare aircraft to support the airline’s network during the holiday peak.
Qantas highlights that the A380 remains a highly requested aircraft among passengers. In the past year, more than 1 million travelers flew on the airline’s superjumbo, which continues to see strong demand for high-capacity aircraft on its international routes.
Source and images: Qantas Newsroom | Instagram @Qantas. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
