After 6 years in storage, Qantas has welcomed its tenth and final A380 back to Australia (or specifically Sydney). Over its 2,000 days away from Australia, crews carried out a full maintenance check and gave the cabin a makeover.
From now until the new year, it will be used as an ‘operational spare’ on the international network. That means that it will be providing extra cover in case there is an issue with other aircraft over the Christmas period.
Following that short period, Qantas will use the aircraft to boost international capacity. From January 1, 2026, Qantas will be switching the Sydney – Dallas flights to a daily service.
Inside the aircraft, passengers will notice the changes to bring it into line with the other A380 aircraft. Starting from the top, First retains its 14 suites but brings in the new finishes. Business Class has received more of a makeover and expansion, with the A380 getting 70 seats (and a refreshed upper-deck lounge.). Premium Economy moves to 60 seats while Economy’s 341 seats receive new cushions, covers, and entertainment updates.
Of course, if you can git into First, you’ll see additional product changes rolling out over the next six months. These changes will see elevated dining, new Aesop amenity kits, Bollinger champagne and redesigned pyjamas.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace says
We know our customers love our A380 aircraft and last year our superjumbo fleet carried over 1 million people on our international network. The return of our final A380 means we can offer even more seats on popular long-haul routes to destinations like Dallas, Singapore and Johannesburg.
Bringing an A380 back into service after nearly six years in storage is no small feat. Teams of engineers around the globe came together to complete more than 100,000 hours of work to prepare the aircraft for flying again, from extensive checks to heavy maintenance, landing gear replacement, a full cabin refresh and assessment flying, with parts shipped by land, sea and sky
