Hi Fly is planning the phase out of it’s Airbus A380 at the end of the lease term later this year, following almost three years of successful operations worldwide. The decision to not extend the initial agreed lease period came as a consequence of the covid-19 pandemic, that drastically reduced the demand for very large aircraft.

Hi Fly belongs to the very exclusive club of only 15 airlines to ever operate the A380, the largest and most advanced aircraft of all times. This aircraft was a testimony to how far human being can go in developing something so extraordinary.

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 Airbus A380 will be replaced in the Hi Fly fleet by additional Airbus A330’s, a smaller and more adequate aircraft for current market conditions.

A380 Tribute

If our A380 has touched you as it has touched us, for all the work and raising awareness all over the world… If you have seen it, if it was part of your history somehow, please show us your love.

Send us your tribute message to a380tribute@hifly.aero and share your 9H-MIP memories with stories, photos, collage, artwork, paint-stained hands… the sky is literally the limit!

All messages will be showcased on the A380 mural (at our Headquarters in Lisbon) until the last day of this iconic aircraft at Hi Fly service, then they will be placed inside a box and fly onboard 9H-MIP on its final lap with us.

Airbus A380 joined Hi Fly’s fleet in 2018.

Hi Fly was the 4th European airline and the 14th global operator to fly this magnificent aircraft, becoming also the first wet leasing airline operating an A380 and inaugurating its second hand market.

The iconic model aligned perfectly with the company’s sustainability concern, being able to carry more people with less impact on the environment as it combined mass passenger transportation with efficient technologies, resulting in a lower carbon footprint per passenger and per kilometer.

The Hi Fly A380 supported Mirpuri Foundation’s “Save the Coral Reefs” campaign and carried the message across the five continents, raising awareness for an unprecedented fight to stop the destruction of our oceans. The livery was comprised of one side painted in dark blue displaying destroyed corals, contrasting with a light blue on the other side representing a pristine ocean, with images of colorful and healthy marine life.

This campaign was also showcased for more than 400,000 visitors at the famous Farnborough Air Show 2018 and Paris Air Show 2019.

The “Save the Coral Reefs” aircraft was a record breaker:

– Was the first A380 to connect London to New York

– Operated the longest nonstop domestic flight in the world, from St. Denis to Paris

– It’s Marketing campaign received a double award from the magazine Global Transport Finance

– Was the first to land in Wuhan, China, following the coronavirus outbreak

– Completed an around the world humanitarian mission which lasted four days, starting and ending in Beja, Portugal. Covered 31047 km in a flight time of 33 hours and 45 minutes with stops in Tianjin and Santo Domingo.

Hi Fly’s A380 was the first to be converted to cargo version, removing economy seats to meet the high demands during covid-19 crisis. Was able to carry 68 tons and offered 340m3 of volume capacity. Plus, it could fly direct for over 17 hours. This combination of volume, payload and range made it unique for cargo transportation.

The aircraft made a show with a fly-by over Lisbon Airport and also Algarve, where Locals and beach vacationers were able to spot the king of the skies, drawing attention to its environmental message “Save the Coral Reefs” A380 was one of the most photographed and loved by spotters all over the world.

And was the first A380 to land in:

• Beja (23/07/2018)
  • Oslo (2/08/2018)
  • Reunion (25/08/2018)
  • Diass (14/04/2019)
  • Antananarivo (30/06/2019)
  • Cairo (7/07/2019)
  • Caracas (14/07/2019)
  • Buenos Aires (23/07/2019)
  • Dalaman (23/09/2019)
  • Enfidha (24/09/2019)
  • Las Palmas (27/09/2019)
  • Santo Domingo (16/05/2020)

At Hi Fly service, the aircraft visited 53 different airports, in 33 countries and 4 continents.

1. Abidjan
   2. Abu Dhabi
   3. Antananarivo
   4. Athens
   5. Baku
   6. Bangkok
   7. Beja
   8. Boston
   9. Buenos Aires
   10. Cairo
   11.Cancún
   12. Caracas
   13. Châteauroux
   14. Copenhagen
   15. Dalaman
   16. Diass
   17. Dresden
   18. Enfidha-Hammamet
   19. Farnborough
   20.Glasgow
   21. Hamburg
   22. Hanoi
   23. Istanbul
   24. Istres
   25. Jeddah
   26. Kuala Lumpur
   27. Larnaca
   28. Las Palmas
   29. London Gatwick
   30. London Stansted
   31. Madrid
   32. Malta
   33. Manchester
   34. Montréal
   35. New York
   36. Nice
   37. Orlando
   38. Oslo
   39. Palma de Mallorca
   40. Paris-Châlons Vatry
   41. Paris-Charles de Gaulle
   42. Paris-Le Bourget
   43. Reunion Island
   44. Rome
   45. Santo Domingo
   46. Seoul
   47. Shangai
   48. Singapore
   49. Stockholm
   50. Tarbes
   51. Tianjin
   52. Toulouse
   53. Wuhan

Of the 15 current A380 operators in the world, Hi Fly was the first airline in Europe and second worldwide in number of landing destinations. This accomplishment was achieved in only two years.

Video:

Top Copyright Photo: Hifly (Malta) Airbus A380-841 9H-MIP (msn 006) (Mirpuri Foundation) FAB (Antony J. Best). Image: 942855.

Hi Fly aircraft slide show:

 

 

 

Hi Fly has unveiled its new paint scheme on its first Airbus A380. The carrier has brought the new type to Farnborough.

The A380 is painted in a two-sided scheme.

Above Copyright Photo: Hifly (Malta) Airbus A380-841 9H-MIP (msn 006) (Mirpuri Foundation) FAB (SPA). Image: 942854.

The airline made this announcement:

Hi Fly is supporting the Mirpuri Foundation campaign “Save the Coral Reefs” by painting one of its aircraft with a special-themed livery, aiming to reinforce worldwide the message of sustainability and protection of the seas.

Above Copyright Photo: Hifly (Malta) Airbus A380-841 9H-MIP (msn 006) (Mirpuri Foundation) FAB (Antony J. Best). Image: 942855.

The airline joined the project in cooperation with Mirpuri Foundation, Hi Fly’s principal sustainability partner and AkzoNobel, that provided the coating to personalize the project. The chosen aircraft was an Airbus A380-800, the biggest commercial aircraft in the world, which is now painted on both sides, one side in dark blue displaying destroyed corals contrasting with a light blue side representing a pristine ocean with colorful and healthy marine life.

“A big cause requires a big answer and now, the biggest commercial aircraft on the planet will be the one carrying this big message around the globe”, says Paulo Mirpuri,President of both Hi Fly and Mirpuri Foundation.

With this initiative, Hi Fly is raising awareness for this unprecedented campaign to fight the destruction of coral reefs. If no action is taken, these beautiful ecosystems will disappear by 2050. With 50% of the world’s corals already gone, action needs to be taken immediately and awareness is the first step.

Airbus made this announcement:

Hi Fly, a Portuguese company with an all-Airbus fleet has become the first operator of a second-hand A380. It’s a move that marks the beginning of a new era for the program and demonstrates Airbus’ continued commitment to the passenger favorite double-deck widebody airliner.

The A380 program is young – the first aircraft entered into service in October 2007 – and so when msn 006 came off lease after 10 years of airline operation, its lessor looked for support from Airbus in finding a new operator.

Leasing arrangements

After discussions with the lessor and potential customers, a deal came together with Hi Fly, a specialist in ‘wet lease’ operations, also known in the aviation industry as ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance). The company will lease the aircraft and crew to airlines who, for example, need to replace a grounded aircraft or want additional short-term capacity to meet passenger demand.

Commenting on the aircraft’s delivery in July, Hi Fly President and CEO Paulo Mirpuri said: “We welcome the arrival of the Airbus A380 in our fleet and we are extremely happy with the market reaction so far on this new availability in our wet lease product offering.” He also praised the aircraft’s comfort and environmental performance.

All Other Photos: Hi Fly.

Hifly (Malta) aircraft slide show: