Qantas’ refurbished Airbus A380 aircraft, Paul McGinness, arrived in Sydney following what the airline says was the largest maintenance check in its 105-year history — more than 100,000 engineering hours spanning global facilities.
The jet will act as an operational spare over the Christmas period before enabling daily A380 flights on the Sydney–Dallas route from 1 January 2026, increasing international capacity on one of Qantas’ longest sectors.
All 10 A380s have now been restored with full cabin upgrades, including refreshed First suites, an updated upper-deck lounge, and additional premium seating. The return of the final aircraft will support growth on major long-haul routes such as Dallas, Singapore and Johannesburg.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said customer demand for the superjumbo remains strong, noting the fleet carried more than a million passengers last year. Wallace described the aircraft’s restoration — which included heavy maintenance, landing-gear replacement and test flying — as a significant feat of engineering.
As part of its A380 programme, Qantas will also introduce new First-class amenities, enhanced dining and upgraded inflight products on the superjumbo fleet.