Two years ago, Hifly Malta was the world's first charter and ACMI provider to fly an Airbus A380. The carrier saw great potential at the time and even intended to lease further units. In the beginning things went very well and the machine was even used on short-haul routes, for example to fly holidaymakers home from Rhodes.

However, the corona pandemic changed everything. Now Hifly decided that the A380 project will end. As a result, the Maltese subsidiary will flee its only superjumbo, the 9H-MIP. The leasing contract will not be extended, the company confirmed. In the meantime, attempts were made to fly cargo with the ex-Singapore Airlines A380. It was even the only “cargo plane” of this type in the world. Like many airlines in the crisis, Hifly tried to use passenger aircraft as freighter, but with the Airbus A380, the success was very limited.

Hifly Malta was the only Maltese A380 operator and will return this sample to the Lessor before the end of the year. The fate of the aircraft is uncertain, because ironically, the 9H-MIP is the only A380 so far that has been allowed to take on a “second life” as a used aircraft. Hifly wants to replace the capacity with another A330.