Airbus A380 MSN 114 Returns to Life After Nearly Three Years
After nearly three years of inactivity, MSN 114, the 100th Airbus A380 built, has turned its transponder on. This marks a significant step in the aircraft's journey following its storage and eventual return to Airbus.
MSN 114, originally delivered to Malaysia Airlines in 2013, was grounded in 2020 due to the pandemic. The airline attempted to sell its A380 fleet but later returned them to Airbus.
Stored in Tarbes, France since December 2022, the aircraft recently performed a rejected take off and a maintenance test flight on 25 September 2025. Following this, it was ferried to Abu Dhabi on 1 October 2025 for additional maintenance at Etihad Airways' facility. After the maintenance, Airbus plans to use MSN 114 as a future flight test aircraft and later for VIP operations.
MSN 114, once a part of Malaysia Airlines' fleet, has re-entered service after a long period of storage. Its future role as a flight test aircraft and VIP transport signals a new chapter for this historic aircraft.
