INFO THE DEPECHE. More than €300,000 raised at A380 parts auction in Toulouse

While the A380 excites its passengers, the craze for the world’s largest commercial aircraft is also present among collectors and aviation enthusiasts. This is attested to by the auction of parts for one of Emirates’ A380s which took place over three days last October. According to our information, he raised almost 320,000 euros. Of the 379 lots auctioned, around 350 found buyers and many saw their prices rise. What’s more normal? The device, unique in many respects, has not been produced since December 2021. Acquiring a piece of history costs money.

Very expensive parts

If the business class bar, sold for 15,200 euros, was the most expensive lot sold, many other items also reached peaks. The rear cone of one of the reactors, for example, was bought for 5,000 euros. One of the two pilot sticks was sold for 4,000 euros. A fan blade fetched €3,500 and a pair of business class lamps €3,000. As for the orange overalls worn by Airbus test pilot Claude Lelaie during the first flight of the A380, it was sold for 10,000 euros. Now it can be considered a Haute Couture garment.

Of the 500 pieces offered for sale, however, some were more accessible. Luminous panels EXIT and their translation into Arabic خروج, for example, cost a few hundred euros. Ditto for one of the A380’s emergency ropes that allows pilots to evacuate the device from the cockpit or first-class seat occupancy marks.

160,000 euros donated

Of the €320,000 raised during this sale, Airbus recovers around half. In fact, the costs relating to the preparation of the objects, their storage and their transport to the auction room must be deducted. It is also necessary to subtract the costs related to communication to promote the event, without forgetting the costs of selling. Of this remaining 160,000 euros, the European aircraft manufacturer has donated 70% to the Airbus Foundation to finance its humanitarian initiatives, or around 110,000 euros. The remaining 30%, 50,000 euros, was allocated to the AIRitage association, which works to safeguard the aeronautical heritage.