A Lufthansa Airbus A380, registered as D-AIMK, is seemingly inching closer to returning to service, as the airline promised to bring back a number of aircraft of the type by summer 2023.
The aircraft in question has been in storage since March 13, 2020. The Airbus A380 was later moved from Munich International Airport (MUC) to Teruel Airport (TEV) in Spain on May 5, 2020. The Spanish airport became one of the primary storage spaces for many A380s throughout the pandemic, including all 14 of Lufthansa’s (LHAB) (LHA) double-decker aircraft.
While it sold six out of its 14 Airbus A380 jets, the eight remaining aircraft have been in storage at TEV. Planespotters.net data designates them as being in storage, after the aircraft were brought to the airport between May 2020 and September 2021.
Back to life: @lufthansa #A380 D-AIMK coming out of storage today @aeropuerteruel @TeruelAirport, ferried to FRA tomorrow credit Bardehle/Vidicom #avgeek pic.twitter.com/JxI520e7hc
— Andreas Spaeth (@SpaethFlies) December 1, 2022
In June 2022, the German airline announced that it would bring back the Airbus A380 by the summer of 2023, presumably anticipating a huge influx of passenger demand for the upcoming peak travel season.
“In the summer of 2023, we not only expect to have a much more reliable air transport system worldwide. We will be welcoming you back on board our Airbus A380s, too,” read the carrier’s announcement at the time.
Lufthansa was approached for comment.
Recently, the airline announced plans to hire 20,000 employees.