Gulf carrier Etihad Airways pledged to bring back the Airbus SE A380 superjumbo, joining a small group of airlines choosing to revive the mammoth jet after it had appeared doomed at the height of the Covid crisis. The return of the A380 at Etihad comes as a particular surprise after the Abu Dhabi-based company had insisted it saw little likelihood of a role for the thirsty four-engine model, especially after dropping its global hub strategy to focus more on local markets. Etihad plans to deploy four of the double-deckers next summer on flights to London Heathrow, freeing up capacity to bring back more destinations and add frequencies elsewhere, it said Friday. Its A380s are particularly luxurious, fitted with nine first-class berths featuring a leather lounge chair and an ottoman converting into an 80.5-inch long bed. Premium passengers will be able to upgrade to the even more luxurious three-compartment Residence. “The move follows a surge in demand for air travel across the airline’s network and customer feedback for the return of one of the most remarkable commercial flying experiences in the sky,” the carrier said. Etihad’s decision to bring some of its 10 A380s out of mothballs comes after Deutsche Lufthansa announced in the summer that it would revive superjumbo flights next year. The German firm said the decision was partly related to delivery delays for newer models including the Boeing Co. 777X. <br/>