First Qantas A380 returns to Australia after almost 600 days overseas

A familiar sight graced Sydney’s skies this afternoon as an iconic aircraft returned to Australia for the first time in almost two years.

For the first time in almost two years, a Qantas A380 plane has touched down on Australian shores after spending the best part of the pandemic grounded in Germany.

The aircraft Hudson Fysh, named after one of the airline’s founders, left Australia 593 days ago. It touched down at Sydney Airport around 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, having flown across the world from Dresden.

It was in storage for much of the past two years, though Qantas engineers continued to carry out regular inspections on it.

Six of Qantas’s A380s have had an interior redesign, featuring a new premium upper deck and brand new seats in the Business and Premium Economy cabins.

The remaining aircraft will be refitted before they return to service.

A Qantas A380 returns to the skies and flies in over Sydney Harbour. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Qantas Chief Pilot Captain Richard Tobiano said it was a sign that international travel was genuinely around the corner.

“The A380 is a fantastic aircraft and we are very excited to welcome it home today. The early return is symbolic of how quickly demand for international travel has bounced back and this aircraft will play a key role in preparing our crew to return to A380 flying operations in the new year,” he said.

“Many of our crew have found other jobs during the pandemic, doing everything from working in vaccination hubs and hospital wards to driving buses and tractors, and painting houses.

“Over the next few months, pilots will undergo an extensive retraining period including simulator sessions, training flights and classroom courses to prepare for takeoff.”

Qantas said in a statement that demand for flights from London to Sydney has been strong in recent weeks.

There has also been an increased demand for flights from Sydney to Los Angeles.

Closer to home, Qantas has had almost half a million domestic bookings in the past two weeks, compared to around 20,000 in a two-week period in August.

Meanwhile, Jetstar’s recent international sale saw 75,000 seats sold in 72 hours.

The 485-seat A380 is the only aircraft in the Qantas fleet that offers a First Class cabin, premium Neil Perry multi-course dining experience, and Martin Grant designed First Class PJs.