While most airlines with A380s have been permanently retiring them, Qantas, which was widely expected to follow that path too, has now indicated it will re-activate its entire fleet of 12, although not soon, likely only by 2024.
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce told an aviation summit that “We think we will reactivate all of the A380s.” The planes have been stored in California since early in the pandemic, and speculation was that if any returned to service it would be only the few that had recently gotten an interior upgrade.
For now, Qantas is using its Boeing 787s as its international flagship as it begins flying non-domestic flights again; the 787s are heavy on business-class seats where the airline hopes to reap serious revenue. Other than its new ‘Trans-Tasman Bubble’ with New Zealand, Qantas will not resume international flights until October.
The A380 fleet stored in California has been given indoor storage and constant maintenance so they can be quickly recalled to duty. In his remarks, Joyce said “Now if demand comes back earlier, we can reactivate the A380s within three to six months.”
