A new Airbus A380 operator could be on the horizon after refurbishment of a previously parked example with links to a UK travel veteran began at Elbe Flugzeugwerlke (EFW) in Dresden.
Although the identity of the business behind the reactivation of the superjumbo is unclear, analysis of registration data and company filings hints at the involvement of a UK company, research carried out by FlightGlobal’s partner outlet AeroTelegraph reveals.
Registered as 9H-MIP – most recently operated by Portuguese wet-lease specialist Hi Fly – the A380 arrived at Dresden airport on the evening of 12 September following a flight from Tarbes in southern France where it had been stored since 2021.
Originally delivered to Singapore Airlines, MSN006 is one of the programme’s earliest examples. It had attracted the interest of UK start-up Global Airlines, with the fledgling carrier even placing a deposit with lessor Doric, the jet’s then owner.
However, the deal was not completed and Global Airlines subsequently moved on to other targets, taking ownership of MSN120 for its operation.
Doric too has no further interest in the superjumbo, telling AeroTelegraph that it sold the aircraft in December 2024.
EFW confirms that it has been commissioned to refurbish the A380 at its Dresden headquarters.
The aircraft is “in very good condition and we look forward to completing the final maintenance work before this fascinating aircraft is put back into service,” it says.
EFW lists a company called ALG as its customer, along with two names, one of which is Greg Thornton. According to his LinkedIn profile, Thornton is the head of a UK-based business called Airline Leasing Group.
UK company registration documents show Airline Leasing Group was incorporated in 2022 and is registered in the small town of White Roding to the north of London; Lady Anthea Thornton is listed as the sole director.
Lady Anthea is the majority shareholder, with Charlotte Thornton-Allen and Perry Tubb holding smaller stakes, the documents show.
According to its Companies House listing, ALG’s activities include the “rental and leasing of equipment for air passenger transport.”
However, industry insiders say ALG will not operate the A380, simply acting as a service provider.
Malta’s aircraft registry shows 9H-MIP is owned by PB Aircraft Leasing No.9, with Roger Allard listed as the sole director and shareholder of that business, according to Companies House filings.
It is one of 16 active directorships currently held by Allard, the majority in the aviation, transport or travel sectors, Companies House records also disclose.
In 2015, the travel magazine Silver Travel Advisor called Allard a “giant of the British travel industry” who wanted to be a pilot as a child but then began his career in a travel agency based on Tottenham Court Road in London.
He later rose to the position of chief executive of All Leisure Group – another ALG – a travel business that entered voluntary liquidation in 2017 after it became unable to pay its liabilities.
All Leisure Group sold the Hebridean Island Cruises (HIC) brand to Allard and partners in 2016; HIC is one of Allard’s many current directorships where he is also majority shareholder.
HIC calls itself a “luxury cruise line” and operates two ships which are “more akin in size and atmosphere to a floating boutique hotel”, it says.
It is unclear what, if any, interest HLC holds in the A380. Allard did not respond to Aero Telegraph’s request for comment.
Until July 2024, Allard was also a director of another UK company called Plane Invest. This describes itself as “the private investment vehicle of Hal Gamble, an aviation industry veteran of more than 50 years’ experience.
“Together with co-investors, Plane Invest acquires high-yielding aircraft as investments on an unleveraged basis with a strategic focus on older assets and regional aircraft.”
Each aircraft investment is “made via a dedicated SPC (Special Purchase Company) with co-investors participating through an equity share”, it says.
It lists its investments as Boeing 737-300s and -400s and the Cessna Grand Caravan.
Hal Gamble was formerly a director and shareholder of PB Aircraft Leasing No.9 until his resignation and share sale earlier this year.
An employee of Plane Invest, who did not wish to give their name, told FlightGlobal there was “no link at the moment” to PB Aircraft Leasing No 9. However, they declined to answer further questions or put FlightGlobal in contact with any of the directors.
FlightGlobal and AeroTelegraph jointly collaborated on this story. Additional reporting by Dominic Perry in London.
