Etihad’s First A380 Gets Second Life As Limited-Edition Luxury Watches

The aircraft, registered A6-APA and delivered in 2014, had been grounded since March 2020 before Etihad confirmed its dismantling as part of a broader fleet rationalisation. Now, instead of disappearing quietly into recycling yards, parts of the jet’s fuselage and components are being upcycled into high-end Swiss-made timepieces, each carrying a traceable link to the iconic double-decker.  

Iconic Superjumbo Turned Into Timepiece  

AIM’s special-edition series uses sections of A6-APA’s original skin and material in the watch cases, preserving details like patina and paint where possible. Each numbered watch is positioned as a storytelling object, connecting owners directly to Etihad’s A380 era and the aircraft that was also the 150th A380 ever delivered.  

Sustainability Meets Luxury Collecting  

The project reflects a growing trend of sustainable luxury, where upcycling aviation and automotive parts into design objects adds scarcity and narrative value. For Etihad, it also softens the optics of scrapping a relatively young 11-year-old aircraft by showcasing how the jet’s legacy lives on in premium memorabilia rather than just spare parts and scrap metal.  

Key Highlights  

• Etihad’s first Airbus A380, A6-APA, has been scrapped after years in storage  
• UAE-based AIM Watches is creating a 380-unit luxury watch series from its parts  
• Each watch incorporates authentic A380 material, with individually numbered pieces  
• The aircraft was Etihad’s inaugural A380 and the 150th A380 delivered by Airbus  
• Upcycling the jet into watches blends sustainability, aviation heritage and luxury  

Sources: Aviation A2Z, AIM Watches, DjsAviation, Aviationtag coverage and related aviation reports