SAVING SUPER JUMBOS
The Airbus A380 was once the flagship of many airlines, but only 144 out of 254 produced are in active service. Babak Taghvaee visits the Tarbes aircraft storage facility to find out how it is keeping the superjumbo alive
For unknown reasons, this ex-Malaysia Airlines A380, EI-HKD (c/n 089) (formerly 9M-MND) has sustained left wingtip damage
ALL IMAGES BABAK TAGHVAEE
Ex-Air France A380, F-HPJH (c/n 099), can be seen here in a partially dismantled state at Tarbes in December 2023
UK start-up Global Airlines purchased 9H-MIP (c/n 006) from Doric Asset Finance in May 2023. Seen here in December 2023, the jet is still being prepped for its return to service
Since Airbus ended serial production of the A380 in 2021, the supply of spare parts has become a primary concern for those airlines still flying the superjumbo. The type’s largest operator, Emirates, has already begun the process of cannibalising its retired A380s and using the parts to keep its existing fleet airworthy. Those that don’t have any retired or stored examples rely on companies such as Tarmac Aerosave, which recycles widebody passenger aircraft after their withdrawal from service.