China Southern ends A380-operations
On 6 November 2022, China Southern conducted its final Airbus A380-flight and has now officially ended operations with the type. The final flight was carried out by A380 B-6139 (088), which flew as CZ328 from Los Angeles (CA) to Guangzhou. The semi-final flight was carried out on 4 November 2022 by B-6140 (120), when it flew as CZ308 from Amsterdam to Guangzhou.
The retirement of the A380 doesn't come as a surprise, as it was already announced in February of this year.
The airline has operated the A380 for just eleven years, after welcoming its first aircraft on 12 October 2011. In total, China Southern Airlines had a fleet of five A380s, which are now currently at:
- B-6136 (031), parked at Mojave (CA) since 24 February 2022
- B-6137 (036), parked at Mojave (CA) since 24 February 2022
- B-6138 (054), parked at Guangzhou since 12 October 2022
- B-6139 (088), parked at Guangzhou since 7 November 2022
- B-6140 (120), parked at Guangzhou since 5 November 2022
It's expected that the final three A380s that are currently at Guangzhou will join the other two for storage in the US soon.
Photo by Anton Homma.