Worlds Largest Plane
Posted by Jackie Hewett on Thu 25th October 2007 at 07:33 PM, Filed in Travel News
Nicknamed the ‘Superjumbo’, the Airbus A380 took its first commercial flight today (25th October 2007) from Singapore to Sidney for Singapore Airlines. The flight today was configured for 455 passengers, some paid thousands to be on the first flight. However, this double-decker, four engine (Rolls Royce Trent 900) plane can be configured to take 853 passengers (and 20 crew) on a wholly economy basis. The A380 now steals the title of largest passenger plane in the world from the Boeing 747 with 50% more space.
The plane has been in design since the early 1990’s, but it was in December 2000 that build really took off with the Airbus board voting on the final design to fulfil 55 orders. According to its manufacturers the A380 is the most fuel efficient and quietist passenger jet ever built, with cabin noise allegedly 50% lower than most passenger aircraft.
The Singapore craft has been fitted with 12 ‘suites’, 2 of which can be joined to provide double beds (your best opportunity to join the mile-high club?). The suites have sliding doors, leather seats, flat-screen tv, laptop connections and a separate bed that folds against the wall. It also has 60 business class seats that can turn into wide flat beds, a business class bar area, and 399 economy seats with 2 inches greater leg and knee room that their 747’s.
Double beds on Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines plan to use the A380 for the ‘kangaroo route’ (London-Singapore-Sidney) and have further plans to use it between Singapore and San Francisco via Hong Kong and direct to Paris and Frankfurst. Other airlines planning to use the A380 include:
Qantas - from Melbourne and Sydney to Los Angeles
Air France - between Paris, Montreal and New York
Emirates - have ordered some for delivery in September 2008.
Lufhansa - have ordered 15
Virgin Atlantic – are rumored to be incorporating some interesting passenger features such as casino, a gymnasium and showers
So, there will be quite a few opportunities to get your place on board one.
Whether or not this craft is here to stay I guess will depend upon whether or not it will be possible to consistently fill it up to make it economically viable. Airbus obviously has belief in their new baby, and predicts it will reach some 3,400 flights a day. Currently some 80% of jumbo flights connect just 37 airports around the world and Airbus believes that 70% of the A380 flights will be between only 25 airports. It may relieve some of the strain on London Heathrow allowing for increased capacity without the need for another run-way and to its advantage, during take-off the A380 can be heard over half the area of the 747 and over a third smaller area on landing, which has to be a good thing.
But is this plane ‘green’? Well, arguably more people travelling together on fewer flights makes environmental sense. Conversely, it is possible that more people will be encouraged to fly as the plane is likely to help keep ticket prices low. Only time will tell.
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