Etihad said the A380’s return, flying to and from Heathrow, would support its operations during "the busy summer travel period" throughout July and August.

“The aircraft adds much needed capacity connecting Abu Dhabi with London Heathrow and allows us to build our network and increase frequencies across the network," said Etihad chief executive Antonoaldo Neves. "With a surge in demand for travel over the summer, the return of our much-loved A380 comes at the perfect time."

Tuesday’s flight (EY11) departed Abu Dhabi at 2.05am, arriving in Heathrow at 6.45am UK time ahead of a scheduled return to Abu Dhabi at 9.30am (flight EY12).

Etihad will deploy its A380 on flights EY11 and EY12 from Tuesday, and on EY19 and EY20 from the start of August. Flight EY19 departs Abu Dhabi at 8.25am, arriving Heathrow at 12.50pm UK time, while the return – flight EY20 – departs Heathrow at 2.50pm, arriving Abu Dhabi at 12.40am local time (+1).

Etihad’s A380 features 405 economy seats, 68 economy spaces with an additional four inches leg room, and 337 economy smart, as well as 70 business studios and nine first apartments.