An Airbus A380-800 that was one of the first superjumbos to be delivered to launch customer Singapore Airlines in 2008 has been released from storage after five years.
The A380, registered 9H-MIP or MSN006, was previously operated by Hi Fly Malta and famously showcased the eye-catching ‘Save the Coral Reefs’ livery between 2018 and 2020.
However, in 2020 the aircraft, owned by Doric Asset Finance, was withdrawn from service and has since spent time at multiple locations, including France and the UAE, in storage.
On September 16, 2025, Germany-based EFW, a company owned by Airbus and ST Engineering, announced that it was welcoming a new A380 customer for servicing.
In a statement EFW wrote: “EFW and our new customer ALG, represented by Gregory Thornton and Martyn Anderson, are proud to announce the arrival of MSN006, their first A380 to be serviced in Dresden, on behalf of their client.”
The company added: “The aircraft is in a very good condition, and we are looking forward to completing the final maintenance tasks before this fascinating aircraft will return to operation.”
Data from Flightradar24 showed that the A380 flew from Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport (LDE) to Dresden Airport (DRS) on September 12, 2025.
Interestingly, the original statement from EFW said that the A380 that arrived for maintenance is “neither related to Global Airlines nor Hi Fly”. This part of the statement was later deleted.
AeroTime has emailed EFW to ask if the company can provide clarity regarding the information it published.
From the information AeroTime has available the aircraft has indeed been operated by Hi Fly and it has been previously linked with the British startup carrier Global Airlines.
Regardless, it is an exciting development to learn that one of the earliest A380s delivered to an airline is being given a new lease of life.
Hi Fly has previously operated a different Airbus A380-800, registered 9H-GLOBL, on behalf of Global Airlines during several high-profile transatlantic flights.
During its time with Singapore Airlines the A380, registered 9V-SKC, spent around 10 years flying passengers.
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September 17, 2025, 19:00 (UTC +3)
A spokesperson for EFW has told AeroTime that there is a new owner of the A380 (9H-MIP or MSN006). The new owner is not Global Airlines.
EFW are representing the new customer.
September 18, 2025, 12:25 (UTC +3)
A spokesperson for Global Airlines told AeroTime: “MSN006 was one of the first aircraft we looked to acquire, but that deal did not progress, as we turned our attention to MSN120, a much newer aircraft, for our successful first flights programme. However, as we love to see A380s back in the sky, and as MSN 006 will always be an early part of the Global story, we were pleased to support its recent repositioning to Dresden by providing parts it required to take flight.”
They added: “Aviation is a family and the A380 is a special aircraft so when operators and owners can help one another, it’s important to do. Global is progressing the acquisition of other A380s.”
