Spoiler ALERT, Etihad ready to restart A380s: this is an end-of-year bang

When the pandemic broke out in spring 2020, the airlines, the hardest hit in these 20 months of bans and variants, grounded their entire fleets, launched drastic cost-cutting plans and banned the least efficient and oldest planes.

The choice fell on the four-engine aircraft fleet: the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A340 and A380. Some companies have sent their own fleets into the desert. They have done so, for example. Virgin Atlantic with its B747s, itself decision made by British Airways. The A380, the giant of the skies, was pensioned immediately by Air France, while other companies waited to make the final decision. So in recent months we have seen the iconic Double-decker planes fly again with British Airways, Singapore, we have seen the Qantas ads and even surprise that of Qatar.

However, the news that arrives today, revived by some specialized sites, is the most surprising of all: Etihad reportedly ready to restart engines of 6 A380s compared with 10 in the fleet as of January 202o.

Why it is special news

Etihad in the mid-2000s tried to chase Emirates, to distinguish itself from what the Dubai offers on board its fleet of A380s.. And he thought of going big, especially to offer something even more exclusive than the on-board shower and bar.

Today we know how it turned out, partly because of adventures such as with Alitalia and Air Berlin, Etihad is not sailing in good waters and its size is nowhere near that of EK.

Here were born the cabins called "The residence," which is a real three-room apartment in the skies of Abu Dhabi, London, New York, Sydney, Paris or Seoul.

The apartment has a bathroom with shower, private bedroom and, as if that were not enough, a stay separate where to work, relax or eat a meal from the a la carte menu.

The suite can accommodate up to 2 people with an entire staff, thanks to the VIP Travel Concierge who is at the service of guests throughout the trip, from when the limousine takes them to the private lounge at the airport until they board the plane.

Luxury at high altitude

First class is located on the upper deck at the front of the aircraft that accommodates up to 9 private cabins, including the incredible "Residence", a real suite 3-room.

Imagine having guests and seating them in a refined living room with leather armchairs and champagne, only the living room is located at 10,000 meters Of height.

The experience is a mixture of comfort e luxury, the travel kit includes a little bit of everything: pajamas, slippers, perfume, toothbrush, various lotions, and some Etihad-branded Bose headphones.

For dinner, the menu is varied, champagne e caviar in abundance and one chef on board so that passengers don't miss anything. For the showers  just make a reservation, so that in turn whoever wants can use it, unless we are guests of the Residence, in which case the shower is all for us.

All surrounded by staff always available and ready to respond to the needs of guests. Unfortunately, however, all this will soon fade away.

"We expect 2021 to be a very difficult year, while 2022 will be a transition year. In 2023, however, we expect a slow return to pre-Covid passenger numbers.

We made the strategic decision to park the A380s, it is very likely that they will no longer operate with Etihad."

Tony Douglas, CEO of Ethiad Aviation Group

This is the statement that today seems to have been "rethought": Etihad Will take the A380s back into the sky and this is good news to say goodbye to 2021 and hope for a better 2022.

• A380