ABU DHABI, UAE – In a striking visual amid otherwise empty skies, a Lufthansa Airbus A380 departed from Zayed International Airport (AUH) today, marking the only commercial movement in UAE airspace following a sweeping regional shutdown.
The aircraft (registration D-AIMK) is performing a positioning flight to Munich (MUC). Unlike standard commercial service, the double-decker superjumbo is flying without passengers, carrying only essential flight crew as it relocates to Lufthansa’s German hub.
A Deserted Aviation Hub
The flight comes during an unprecedented suspension of air traffic across the United Arab Emirates. Following a weekend of escalating regional tensions—including military strikes and retaliatory missile activity—the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) implemented a “partial and temporary” closure of its skies.
Major carriers, including Emirates and Etihad, have extended their flight suspensions leaving thousands of travelers stranded and the world’s busiest international corridors silent.
Why the A380 is Flying
While scheduled passenger services remain grounded, aviation authorities occasionally grant one-time clearances for “ferry” or “positioning” flights.
