Emirates, along with Falcon Aircraft Recycling, has launched an initiative to upcycle and recycle the first retired A380 aircraft.
The initiative will help in reducing the environmental impact of the deconstruction process and will also reduce landfill waste.
Aircrafts that have been retired are usually flown to remote locations and left there, after being stripped for parts.
Only profitable components are recovered with a large portion of the aircraft and materials going into landfills or are left to sit idle for years.
Items used in aircrafts are difficult to recycle or dispose of, due to the fire retardant fabrics and composite materials.
After being flown for the last time, the aircraft was brought to its base where the Falcon Aircraft Recycling team will begin the process of carefully breaking down the aircraft.
Wings Craft and Falcon Aircraft Recycling will design and manufacture unique collectables and retail items from the materials and parts recovered from the aircraft, which will then be sold in phases over the coming months.
A portion of profits from the sale of the items will go towards the Emirates Airline Foundation.
Sir Tim Clark, President at Emirates Airlines said, “We are delighted to partner with Falcon Aircraft Recycling on this first-of-its-kind project. That all repurposing activity will be fully executed in the UAE also speaks to the strong aviation eco-system and capabilities that the nation has built up in its short history. Through this initiative, our customers and fans can take home a piece of aviation history while saving valuable materials from landfill and contributing to a charitable cause through the Emirates Airline Foundation. It’s an elegant and fitting retirement solution for this iconic aircraft and our flagship.”