Airbus A380 9H-MIP flies again after years in storage and heads for new operator

The Airbus A380 registered as 9H-MIP has returned to the skies after spending nearly four years in storage. On September 12, the former Hi Fly aircraft was ferried from Tarbes, France, to Dresden, Germany, where it is undergoing refurbishment by Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) before resuming commercial service under a new operator.

The superjumbo had been idle since 2021, when Hi Fly withdrew it from operations. Its sale was finalized in December 2024 by Doric Asset Finance, the previous owner, according to Flight Global.

The aircraft is now linked to Airline Leasing Group (ALG), a UK-based provider founded in 2022 by Greg Thornton, although records show it will not be flown directly by ALG. Instead, the Malta aircraft registry lists PB Leasing Aircraft No. 9 as the operator, led by industry executive Roger Allard.

Coral reef livery

The 9H-MIP is remembered for its distinctive coral reef preservation livery, worn between 2018 and 2020 as part of an environmental campaign during its Hi Fly tenure. Technical checks in Dresden have confirmed the aircraft remains in sound condition, with final maintenance nearing completion.

The A380 had also attracted attention from startup Global Airlines, which announced ambitious plans to build a fleet of superjumbos for routes such as London–New York. The company even received one aircraft and carried out a handful of special flights, but later placed the jet back into storage, leaving its future uncertain.

The reactivation of 9H-MIP underscores the limited but ongoing market for second-hand A380s. Despite being the largest passenger aircraft ever built, with capacity for more than 850 travelers in an all-economy layout, only 251 units were produced before Airbus ended the program in 2021. While most operators have retired or reduced their fleets, isolated efforts like this show the type still holds appeal for niche operations beyond traditional airline service.

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Ricardo Meier

Creator of the website that started in 1996 as a magazine. He also writes on Brazilian websites AUTOO, MOTOO and MetrôCPTM.

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