Global Airlines’ first Airbus A380 aircraft has taken off on a flight from Scotland to Germany, where the aircraft will undergo heavy maintenance at Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), a joint venture between Airbus
and ST Engineering.

Flying for heavy maintenance

The Global Airlines
A380, registered as 9H-GLOBL in Malta under Hi Fly Malta’s air operator’s certificate (AOC), departed Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) at 11:29 local time (UTC +1) for Dresden Airport (DRS).

According to Flightradar24, the quad-engine jet landed in Dresden, Germany, at 14:49 local time (UTC +2).

Global Airlines Airbus A380 rendering

Photo: Global Airlines

Interestingly, a Hi Fly Malta Bombardier Challenger 604, registered as 9H-MIR, had also departed Prestwick and landed at Dresden Airport (DRS) at 14:33.

There, the aircraft will undergo heavy maintenance in accordance with the agreement signed by Global Airlines and EFW, according to the carrier’s statement.

“Today is the result of many months of hard work. Seeing this aircraft begin all necessary maintenance, mandatory inspections, and component replacements at EFW’s prestigious facilities is momentous for us.”

Global Airlines added that it has taken another step toward launching commercial operations in 2025. Previously, the airline had planned to begin flights in 2024.

Returning to servicing A380s

For EFW, this will mark the company’s return to provide maintenance services for the A380. When the maintenance organization and Global Airlines signed their agreement for the former to maintain the latter’s double-deckers on September 23, the German company said that,

“In addition to Global Airlines, EFW has received A380 MRO orders from other customers and will expand its A380 maintenance activities from 2025 onwards.”

At the time, Jordi Boto, the chief executive officer (CEO) of EFW, said that with the company’s extensive experience servicing the A380
, EFW was excited to reestablish its maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) activities for this aircraft type.

“We look forward to supporting our new customer, Global Airlines, with its first A380 and seeing more aircraft of this type back in the sky.”

James Asquith, the CEO and founder of Global Airlines, reiterated in the announcement that this was another step toward launching commercial operations.

“We’ve overcome significant hurdles over the past 12 months, and we are now very much advancing our proposition, partnerships, team and operational readiness and our partnership with EFW is the latest giant leap forward.”

Returning A380s

According to planespotters.net, 9H-GLOBL, which was previously operated by China Southern Airlines
, had been stored at Mojave Air & Space Port (MHV) between December 21, 2022, and April 30.

On May 1, following a long trek from California to Scotland with its landing gear down, the A380 reached Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK), where it had remained before being moved to Dresden.

Over the past couple of years following the pandemic, airlines have begun returning their A380s back to commercial service due to increasing travel demand and aircraft delivery delays from Airbus and Boeing.

Lufthansa Airbus A380 flying

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

For example, Lufthansa
recently ferried an A380, registered as D-AIMB, from Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) to Frankfurt Airport
(FRA) following heavy maintenance.

The aircraft returned to Germany on September 30 after it spent the whole summer in Manila. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft arrived in the Philippines on June 2.

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