ABU DHABI- Etihad Airways (EY) has seen another Airbus A380 retire, as aircraft A6-APA is now being dismantled and transformed into collectible items for enthusiasts. The jet last operated commercial services out of London Heathrow Airport (LHR) before the pandemic paused its flying career.
Aviationtag has confirmed that the fuselage of A6-APA will be repurposed into thousands of key tags, ensuring the aircraft’s legacy continues even after its withdrawal from the Abu Dhabi International Airport AUH based fleet.
Etihad’s First A380 Meets Its Final Chapter
A6-APA was Etihad Airways’ first Airbus A380, but the 150th A380 produced. The aircraft completed its maiden flight in June 2014 and entered commercial service in December that year, launching operations with an inaugural trip to London Heathrow Airport LHR.
The jet left passenger service in March 2020 when the UAE suspended operations during the COVID-19 shutdown. It was ferried to Tarbes in France for storage later that year and remained inactive until its recent teardown.
Before scrapping, records show A6-APA accumulated 26,663 hours across 2,982 cycles, averaging almost nine hours per flight.
Aviationtag has taken aluminum and GLARE composite sections from the fuselage to create two editions of key tags. The company expects roughly 11,000 tags to be produced, each starting at 39.95 euros. The GLARE versions will be thicker due to the layered composite structure, Simple Flying flagged.
Fleet Status and Future Operations
Etihad originally operated ten Airbus A380s. Seven aircraft are now active again, with A6-APC joining A6-APA in permanent retirement. Another unit, A6-APB, remains stored but is forecast to reenter service.
Data for November 2025 shows 172 planned A380 rotations from Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH). These operate to London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Singapore (SIN), and Toronto (YYZ). London leads with 82 flights for the month, followed by the other three cities with 30 each.
Etihad’s A380 stands out for its use of the forward upper deck, where the airline installed The Residence. This private three room suite offers a living space, a separate bedroom with a double bed, and an exclusive bathroom equipped with a shower.
Beyond The Residence, the upper deck houses ten first class suites, a 70-seat business class cabin, and a dedicated bar between the premium sections.
The main deck offers 405 economy seats arranged in a 3 4 3 layout, giving the aircraft a total configuration tailored for long haul travel.
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