Air France prepares to begin A380 decommissioning process

Air France will return a first Airbus A380 to its lessor in February. The aircraft is currently being repainted in Malta in preparation for being handed back to lessor Dr Peters, says Air France. But the carrier adds that the aircraft will briefly return to service after painting and operate a last commercial flight on 1 January. Peters says it is scheduled to receive a second A380 from Air France in 2020. The German lessor's DS Aviation fund has leased a total five A380s to the French flag carrier. The remaining three aircraft's leases expire in mid-2021, mid-2022 and mid-2024. Air France has 10 A380s and disclosed earlier this year that all of them would be retired by 2022.<br/>