One of the Airbus A380s retired during the COVID-19 pandemic has returned to the air to begin a second career, this time as a flying test aircraft for the European manufacturer.
The aircraft, registered 2-JAYN and formerly operated by Malaysia Airlines as 9M-MNF, departed Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées Airport in southern France on July 16 for Shannon Airport, Ireland. Flight tracking data shows the ferry flight lasted 1 hour and 46 minutes, marking the aircraft’s first transfer since completing maintenance work in France.
The 13-year-old A380, manufacturer serial number (MSN) 114, will now be repainted into Airbus colors before entering the next phase of its conversion into a dedicated flight test platform.
MSN114 first flew in October 2012 and entered service with Malaysia Airlines in March 2013. The aircraft remained with the carrier until the airline grounded its entire A380 fleet during the pandemic. After several unsuccessful attempts to sell the six superjumbos, Malaysia Airlines reached an agreement under which Airbus took back the aircraft as part of the order for 20 A330-900neos.
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The aircraft was ferried to Tarbes for storage in December 2022, where it remained parked at Tarmac Aerosave. Airbus later transferred ownership to Airbus Financial Services and assigned the Irish registration 2-JAYN.
The return-to-flight process began last year with maintenance tests and a ferry flight to Abu Dhabi, where the aircraft underwent heavy maintenance and modifications at Etihad Engineering before returning to France earlier this year.
Airbus has confirmed that MSN114 will replace the A380 test aircraft registered F-WWOW, which has supported certification and development campaigns for nearly two decades. The newer aircraft is expected to become the manufacturer’s primary flying laboratory for evaluating new technologies, systems and cabin concepts throughout the remainder of the A380 program’s operational life.
Unlike certification aircraft used during development of a new model, Airbus flight test aircraft continue operating long after production ends. They provide an airborne platform for validating upgrades, testing equipment, supporting certification of new systems and conducting research programs that cannot be fully replicated on the ground.
Although A380 production ended in 2021, the fleet is expected to remain in airline service for decades, particularly with Emirates, making continued flight testing an important part of the manufacturer’s long-term support for the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
