Portuguese airline Hi Fly has announced it will phase out its only Airbus A380 after just three years in operation.
According to the business, the decision not to extend the initial agreed lease period was in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which it said has “drastically reduced the demand for very large aircraft”.
The Airbus A380 is set to be replaced in the Hi Fly fleet by additional Airbus A330s, which the airline stated are “smaller and more adequate” for current market conditions.
Hi Fly is one of only 15 airlines to have operated the A380.
“This aircraft was a testimony to how far human beings can go in developing something so extraordinary,” Hi Fly noted in a statement.
“Above all, the iconic 9H-MIP ‘Save the Coral Reefs’ was inspiring, and carried this responsible message to hundreds of millions of people in the four corners of the world.”
The airline’s announcement follows Emirates’ decision to retire one of its A380s, with the move accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis.
However, Emirates said it had already intended to retire the plane prior to COVID-19, due to the upcoming requirement for heavy maintenance on the aircraft.
