Etihad Engineering has completed a six-year heavy maintenance check on an Airbus A380 aircraft for its return to service.
The MRO prepared the A380 for its return to service at its facility in Abu Dhabi, carrying out the removal, inspection and installation of the full aircraft cabin.
The Etihad A380 features The Residence, nine First Apartments and 70 Business Studios on the upper deck and 405 Economy Smart Seats.
The facility is located adjacent to Abu Dhabi International Airport and according to the company it is the largest commercial aviation MRO facility in the Middle East, spread across a total site area of 550,000 square metres.
Rear spar modifications, frame modifications, removal, inspection and installation of all four engines, and the inspection and servicing of a wide range of sophisticated components were all part of the check.
Haytham Nasir, Senior Vice President – Airframe Services at Etihad Engineering, said: “The Etihad Engineering team has built formidable experience and expertise over the years on the A380 platform, having carried out the world’s first 12-year check on an A380 as well as complex structural modifications, landing gear changes, cabin refurbishment and numerous heavy maintenance programmes for customers from Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the Far East.”
David Doherty, Vice President – Commercial, added: “The Etihad Airways A380 fleet features one of the most luxurious, award-winning guest experiences and we are as excited as the airline in bringing the aircraft back to the skies this summer. We have delivered the first A380 of the Etihad Airways re-entry into service programme and work has begun on the next input in the nose-to-tail project at our facility.”
