Etihad reactivates another Airbus A380 and plans to send it to Japan
November 25, 2025
With the planned reintroduction of Etihad’s eighth A380 back into commercial service after an extended period of storage, the airline has announced that Tokyo Narita Airport will become the carrier’s latest A380 destination in summer 2026.
The Japanese capital will join London Heathrow (LHR), Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG), Singapore Changi (SIN) and Toronto Pearson (YYZ) as Etihad’s fifth A380 city from 16 June 2026 as the carrier returns its superjumbo fleet to commercial service after several years.
Etihad and the Airbus A380
Etihad originally took delivery of ten A380-800s between April 2015 and May 2017. The aircraft were subsequently grounded in 2020 as the pandemic took hold, with Etihad management stating that they were too big for the airline and it was unlikely that the A380 would return to flying status for the carrier.
However, five years on, and seven of the A380s are already back in service, serving four destinations from Etihad’s global hub at Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi. With the introduction of an eighth airframe, Etihad will be sending its A380s to another Asian city, joining Singapore.
Etihad’s Airbus A380 heads to Tokyo
The iconic double-decker passenger jet will begin operating between Abu Dhabi and Tokyo Narita International (NRT) on 16 June 2026, in time for the peak summer 2026 travel season. All flights will operate daily from that date.
“The increased capacity opens up the UAE’s capital to more Japanese travellers, whether as a stopover or a destination to explore,” said an airline statement.
The flight schedules published by the airline will see flight number EY800 depart Abu Dhabi at 21:15 and arrive at Narita at 12:45 the following day. The return flights (EY801) will leave Tokyo at 1800, arriving back in Abu Dhabi at 02:20. All times are local.
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said, “As we bring our latest A380 back into service, we’re delighted to introduce our remarkable aircraft to Japan.”
“Our guests consistently tell us they love the onboard experience. Our attentive cabin crew delivers dedicated service to every passenger, whether they are travelling in Economy, Business, First or The Residence, our three-room suite in the sky.”
“We’ve seen strong demand from customers for more seats to Japan, and the A380 allows us to deliver that. The aircraft is particularly well-suited to this route, given the importance of business travel between the UAE and Japan, two nations with deep economic and cultural ties. Japan has always been a favourite destination for our guests, and this move reinforces our commitment to the market.”
The four classes of service on Etihad A380s
Etihad’s A380s all feature a unique four-class configuration seating 496 passengers. Alongside the two ‘Residence’ suites, the cabin also has nine first-class apartments that feature a spacious leather lounge chair and a separate ottoman that transforms into an 80-inch lie-flat bed. First-class guests also have access to an onboard shower room.
Also on the A380’s upper deck, there are 70 business class studios where passengers also have access to ‘The Lobby’, a serviced lounge and bar area located between the first and business class cabins.
In Etihad’s economy class cabins, there are 68 extra legroom seats, offering an additional four inches of space, along with 337 economy smart seats. According to the carrier, “these seats are designed for maximum comfort, boasting Etihad’s signature fixed-wing headrests and large pillows.”
Read more: These airlines have the best economy passenger experience on the Superjumbo
Etihad’s restored confidence in the A380
The move to reintroduce another A380 to active flying status comes following the carrier’s announcement in September 2025 that another two of its stored A380s would be returning to service by 2027, bringing the total number of active aircraft to nine.
The first aircraft to return to service was A6-APG in March 2023 on the Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow route.
According to reports at the time, the next two aircraft scheduled to rejoin the fleet are registered A6–APB and A6–APC, aged 10.7 years and 10.6 years, respectively.
While both aircraft have been in long-term storage at Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrenees Airport in France since 2020, both are expected to return to passenger flying.
Reports said that A6-EPC will be the first to return in June 2026 (thereby allowing the commencement of the Tokyo route) while A6-APB is being prepared to return in January 2027.
The airline’s tenth and final A380, registered A6–APA, is being dismantled at Teruel Airport in Spain and will not fly again.
With the planned return of its last two A380s to commercial service, Etihad clearly has renewed confidence in its fleet of superjumbos. Not only is the carrier displaying bullishness towards the continued growth in global travel demand, but also in the A380’s ability to remain profitable operating on key trunk routes.
Featured image: Markus Mainka / stock.adobe.com
