newstodate.aero

Dec 17, 2020 (newstodate): Today marks the last flight with an Airbus A380 by the Portuguese aircraft leasing and ACMI company HiFly.
   HiFly was the 4th European airline and the 14th global operator to fly this aircraft, becoming also the first wet leasing airline operating an A380 and inaugurating its second hand market, but 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.
   HiFly was also the first to convert its A380 to cargo version, removing economy seats to meet the high demands during Covid-19 crisis.  
   As an all-cargo aircraft, the A380 carried up to 68 tonnes and offered 340m3 of volume capacity on flight up to 17 hours.
   HiFly placed the order for the ex-Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 aircraft in September 2017, and took delivery of the aircraft in July 2018.  
   HiFly did not preclude adding more A380 aircraft to the fleet after consolidating the experience with the first aircraft - but the market would it otherwise...