Etihad Airways’ last Airbus A380 kept in long-term storage, A6-APB, departed Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées Airport in France for Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport on Wednesday, returning the final pandemic-grounded superjumbo to the airline’s home base. The aircraft had spent more than five years parked in France and is due to undergo further heavy maintenance before re-entering commercial service.
The ferry flight followed roughly eight months of preparation work by TARMAC Aerosave in Tarbes. The return closes the chapter on Etihad’s stored A380 fleet, after earlier airframes were brought back into service and one aircraft, A6-APA, was scrapped in 2025 and will not fly again.
Etihad has been rebuilding its premium long-haul capacity with the A380 at the centre of its high-demand network strategy. The type remains important on flagship routes and for premium products such as The Residence, which rely on the aircraft’s large cabin and distinctive layout. After arrival in Abu Dhabi, A6-APB is expected to undergo additional maintenance before carrying passengers again.