Aircraft wet lease specialist Hi Fly has unveiled its first Airbus A380 superjumbo, painted with a special coral reef theme.
The carrier is supporting the Mirpuri Foundation “Save the Coral Reefs” campaign, with one side painted in dark blue displaying destroyed corals, contrasting with the other side showing a light blue “pristine ocean with colourful and healthy marine life”.
Commenting on the livery, Paulo Mirpuri, president and CEO of Hi Fly, and president of the Mirpuri Foundation, said:
“A big cause requires a big answer and now, the biggest commercial aircraft on the planet will be the one carrying this big message around the globe.”
The group said that “With 50 per cent of the world’s corals already gone, action needs to be taken immediately and awareness is the first step”, adding that “if no action is taken, these beautiful ecosystems will disappear by 2050”.
Hi Fly has acquired two second-hand A380 superjumbos which were returned by Singapore Airlines following the end of their lease period. The aircraft are configured with 471 seats.
The group becomes the 14th operator of the A380, the 4th in Europe (joining British Airways, Lufthansa and Air France), and the first wet lease airline to fly the aircraft.
Mirpuri said the market reaction to wet lease opportunities for an A380 had exceeded expectations, stating that:
“We already have many carriers lining up to be the first to sign for this A380’s availability.
“We’ve received hundreds of requests, and potential uses could be for an A380 operator which has one of its aircraft undergoing scheduled maintenance checks; as well as airlines that want to test an A380 on their operations…even to uses that I originally didn’t think about, such as around-the-world tours.”
