Hi Fly Malta converts A380 to makeshift freighter

Although Airbus cancelled the development of the A380-800(F) without ever having built a single one, ACMI/charter specialist Hi Fly Malta (HFM, Malta Int'l) has now converted its only A380-800 into a makeshift freighter as a part of post-COVID strategic changes.

The Maltese airline, a subsidiary of Hi Fly (5K, Beja), announced that it has removed nearly all 399 economy class seats from both the main and the upper decks of 9H-MIP (msn 6). Following the cabin modification carried out by Lufthansa Technik, the quadjet can now carry nearly 60 tonnes of cargo spread across its bellyhold, overhead lockers, on around one-third of its main deck, and around two-thirds of its upper deck.

Hi Fly Malta has however retained all 60 business class seats and all 12 first class seats onboard the A380.

Hi Fly's A380 is the world's only A380 transferred to a new operator via the second-hand market. The 13.7-year-old double-decker was originally delivered to Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi).
ch aviation