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Emirates reintroduces world's oldest active A380 for short-haul flights

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Emirates reintroduces world's oldest active A380 for short-haul flights
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A6-EDF Airbus A380-861 Emirates | Official Website

Emirates has reintegrated an Airbus A380, identified as A6-EDF, back into service. This aircraft, which is now 19.1 years old, surpasses the average age of Emirates' fleet of superjumbos. A6-EDF marked its return with a round-trip flight between Dubai and Cairo, achieving the status of the world's oldest active passenger-carrying superjumbo. Initially, it was the seventh A380 constructed and the sixth delivered to Emirates, while earlier arrivals have since been retired or stored.

The aircraft, bearing the Manufacturer Serial Number 007, was delivered to Emirates in December 2009. It was stored at Al Maktoum International Airport from March 2020 until December 2023 before being moved back to Dubai International Airport. Prior to resuming service, it underwent maintenance and a test flight on March 26. It is unspecified if the aircraft's interior has been refurbished or remains as it was before the pandemic.

On April 3, A6-EDF operated the flight EK925, departing Dubai at 22:39 and landing in Cairo at midnight. The return flight, EK926, left Cairo at 01:54 and arrived back in Dubai at 06:52. These flights are among the shortest routes served by the A380.

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Older aircraft such as the A6-EDF typically have higher operating costs and weight penalties compared to newer models. Despite this, it continues service, likely influenced by its ownership status and the need for economic viability. According to Flightradar24, its next route will be between Dubai and Jeddah. It is unknown how long A6-EDF will continue to operate on these shorter routes before transitioning to longer journeys.

Among Emirates' 116 A380s, 19 are reportedly parked, with aircraft like A6-EDF featuring in nine different seating configurations. This specific aircraft accommodates 517 passengers, encompassing 14 first-class suites, 76 business-class seats, and 427 economy class seats, making up 82% of its total capacity. This seating configuration is a factor in determining its routes.

As of April 4, its scheduled destinations include Cairo and Jeddah. Combined, these routes average a travel distance of 2,674 nautical miles, which is shorter than the typical Emirates A380 flight path for April. Other A380s built with adjacent serial numbers have undergone various fates, with some being scrapped or donated.

"While it might change, examining Emirates' schedule submission to Cirium Diio shows that the 517-seat layout will fly to the above places from Dubai International in April. As of April 4, A6-EDF's initial destinations (Cairo and Jeddah) are the shortest links. When all 16 routes are combined, they will cover an average distance of 2,674 nautical miles (4,952 km), over a fifth less than Emirates' average A380 route in April," the release noted. "The carrier's older A380s have this configuration, so this lower average is economically advantageous."

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