The rise and fall and rise again of Qantas A380 VH-OQA

Qantas’ A380 -OQA returned after an explosion and now it’s defied the odds to beat COVID-19. Hannah Dowling charts Nancy-Bird’s comeback

Qantas revealed in 2021 that it had decided to bring 10 of its 12 flagship Airbus A380 aircraft back into passenger service, leaving question marks around which two jets would never seat another passenger. At the time, Australian Aviation passed the torch to our readers, who largely believed that VH-OQA would be the first A380 to be retired from the Qantas fleet, given its age and historical significance.

Many could instead see OQA moved to a suitable preservation location, such as the HARS Museum in Albion Park or the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach. However, as it turns out, it takes more than a pandemic to end VH-OQA. Far more.