Airbus Delivers First A380

[Matt Molnar]

Airbus delivered its first A380 superjumbo, to Singapore Airlines (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/15/business/airbus.php)

Bloomberg News, International Herald Tribune, The Associated Press
Published: October 15, 2007


TOULOUSE, France: Airbus finally delivered its first A380 superjumbo jet Monday - a critical step for the European planemaker in its efforts to rebound from a string of troubles.

Singapore Airlines took delivery of the double-decker jet, the world's largest passenger plane, almost two years late.

Singapore Airlines' A380 superjumbos will feature private rooms with double beds for first-class passengers. Each of the planes will be fitted out with 12 first-class suites. More... (http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/15/business/airbus.php)

[Three Forty]

http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pr ... ivery.html (http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/07_10_15_a380_singapore_delivery.html)

[SengaB]

Great news! I look forward to seeing more of them in the near future!


Senga

[Three Forty]

Before the end of the year we will know who bought the corporate A380 8)

[SengaB]

Looks like some out our Arab friends might be turing in their A340-200s and 747SPs soon!

VP-BIG
A7-LRG
A6-OMG
N380XL (saudi lease)

Senga

[Three Forty]

Looks like some out our Arab friends might be turing in their A340-200s and 747SPs soon!

VP-BIG
A7-LRG
A6-OMG
N380XL (saudi lease)

You forgot A9C-, A4O-, V8-... :lol: Oh and of course P4-...

[Chris102]

Will Singapore be using their new A380 for flights to/from JFK?

[flyboy 28]

Will Singapore be using their new A380 for flights to/from JFK?

No. They're planning use for LHR-SIN-SYD. Air France is planning for Paris-JFK.

[Iberia A340-600]

Will Singapore be using their new A380 for flights to/from JFK?

Eventually they plan to run the A380 on the SIN-FRA-JFK route however it is speculated that the 777-300ER will be used instead.

[stuart schechter]

Jürgen Thomas, the retired head of the large aircraft division at Airbus in the late 1990s, whom some call the father of the A380, said, "It's like giving away your first daughter."

Does anyone find that kind of odd? Yet funny that he would say that.

[Delta777LR]

Nice to finally see the the first Airbus A380 being delivered.

[moose135]

It's about damn time!

[Nonstop2AUH]

Goodies on the microsite:

http://www.a380delivery.com/

[Matt Molnar]

Airbus A380: In Business at Last (http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2007/gb20071015_622639.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5)

Designer linens and silverware, private suites if you're willing to pay, legroom complaints from the peanut gallery—is the Singapore debut a success?

by Carol Matlack

It has private suites furnished with Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries and Givenchy linens and tableware. Even in economy class, there are USB ports at every seat and a choice of 100 movies to watch. Is the Airbus A380, as its manufacturer insists, "a whole new way of flying"? Some Singapore Airlines (SIAL.L) passengers are about to find out.

Nearly two years behind schedule, the A380 finally will enter commercial service this month, flying between Singapore and Sydney. The mega-jet, which carries a list price of $320 million but typically sells for less than that, has drawn crowds around the world in recent months, during test flights and visits to air shows. But its interior design was kept top secret until Oct. 15, when Singapore Airlines threw open the doors for visitors after formally taking delivery of the plane from Airbus in Toulouse, France.

Singapore is known for pampering travelers, and there's plenty of luxury on board this jet. The most distinctive feature: a first-class cabin comprising 12 suites concealed behind folding doors. Inside, the suites have either single or double beds—with Givenchy cushions and duvets—and a separate seat and table. "Customers can look forward to a flight with an unprecedented level of personal space, in their very own private cabin in the sky," says Yap Kim Wah, Singapore Airlines' senior vice-president for product and services. More... (http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2007/gb20071015_622639.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5)

[Nonstop2AUH]

SIA has with the suites certainly upped the ante on superpremium cabin services...Got to wonder if EK (largest 380 customer) is going to try to top this; knowing the Dubai mentality I think we can expect at least something comparable. A while back I read someplace (can't find it now) that EY was considering an onboard 'smoking lounge' but that might have been one of those conceptual exercises like Virgin's spa or casino or whatever SRB was going on about.

[Midnight Mike]

Congrats to Airbus :)

[Winglets747]

Check out these great cabin photos:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... class.html (http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/10/15/218541/pictures-singapore-airlines-shows-off-airbus-a380-suites-class.html)

It almost looks like a hotel room. :shock:

Also, some information on the delivery schedule and SQ's plans for them:


Airline CEO Chew Choon Seng said the first aircraft would be put on the Singapore-Sydney route, and as the second and third arrive in January and February 2008 they will be deployed for a daily service on Singapore-London.

The fourth aircraft, due in April, will serve Tokyo. SIA will then see two aircraft delivered to competitors before its fifth and sixth examples are deployed on its services to Hong Kong and San Francisco.