Finally: Airbus Fuselage on Its Last Journey to Germany’s Serengeti-Park

(eap) After 1,515 days, the time has finally come: the fuselage of a decommissioned Airbus A310, which Serengeti-Park in Hodenhagen had purchased from the German Air Force four years ago for conversion and re-use as a themed restaurant, will be relocated to the Lower Saxony park in the coming days. The opening of “Leo’s Cockpit Restaurant”, which will offer 148 seats inside (on the aircraft’s original seats), had originally been planned for 2022. However, the project could not be implemented until now due to environmental objections from the Hanover region concerning a 1.8-kilometre section of the planned transport route. While all removable parts of the Airbus, weighing a total of 79 tonnes, have already been delivered to Hodenhagen, the final heavy transport of the dismantled aircraft from Hannover Airport to the park could not take place as intended due to a missing permit.

Following the development of a new transport procedure – employing a special method designed to protect the trees lining part of the route – the Hanover region granted approval for the transport in June of this year. This Sunday, the impressive heavy haulage operation is scheduled to begin, with the 114.6-tonne convoy making its way towards Serengeti-Park mostly along the A7 motorway at walking speed. Upon arrival at the park, planned for next Wednesday (29 October), the fuselage will be lifted from the transport frames onto its final position the following day (30 October). Afterwards, the nose, wings, tail units, landing gear and engines will be reattached, allowing the actual conversion work to begin. The restaurant is expected to open in late summer 2026. ■