Qantas has returned its final Airbus A380 to service, completing a multiyear effort to restore its superjumbo fleet. The aircraft, named Paul McGinness, arrived in Sydney on Dec. 2 after nearly six years out of commercial operation.
The 17-year-old jet – registered as VH-OQC – had been in storage since March 2020, when the Australian carrier grounded its superjumbo fleet due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, it sat dormant at a few facilities, including Victorville, California, and Abu Dhabi.
The aircraft underwent extensive work following long-term storage during the pandemic. Qantas said the project represented the largest maintenance program in the airline’s 105-year history, involving more than 100,000 engineering hours across multiple facilities.
Tasks included landing-gear replacement, structural inspections, systems testing, a full cabin refurbishment, and certification flights.
10 A380s
With its return, Qantas now has all 10 A380s back in service. The aircraft will operate as an additional spare during the holiday period before transitioning into scheduled flying. Beginning Jan. 1, it will support daily A380 service on the Sydney–Dallas/Fort Worth route.
The restored aircraft features the airline’s standardized four-class layout with 14 First, 70 Business, 60 Premium Economy, and 341 Economy seats. Updates include refreshed cabin interiors and an upgraded upper-deck lounge consistent with the rest of the renewed A380 fleet.
Qantas said its A380s carried more than one million passengers in the past year.
Before the pandemic, Qantas had 12 A380s in service. Two have since been retired, according to Cirium Fleet Analyzer data.
