Airbus' A380 Superjumbo
First Commercial Flight
After a delay of almost two years, the first Airbus A380 took off for Singapore on Thursday, Oct. 25, with 455 passengers on board. The Singapore Airlines plane left Changi Airport at 8 a.m. (midnight Wednesday GMT).
Beyond the 747
The superjumbo can carry more than 500 passengers in a three-class configuration, which is an increase of more than 100 passengers over its rival, Boeing's 747. Airbus' new aircraft boasts two passenger decks and first-class suites with proper beds. In an all-economy configuration, the plane could carry more than 850 passengers.
Queen of the Skies
Tests and trials have been carried out on the A380 since the it was flown to Changi Airport from Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 17. Flight enthusiasts agree that it is the biggest development in aviation history since the Boeing 747 debuted in 1970. Singapore Airlines chief executive officer Chew Choon Seng referred to the jet as the "new queen in the sky."
Worth $100,000?
Passengers paid between $560 and $100,380 to be on the first flight, bidding for the tickets as part of a charity auction. The top bidder was Julian Hayward (38) a Briton living in Sydney who paid more than $100,000 for a pair of first-class suites. The oldest passenger is Leong Lou Teck, a 91-year-old Singaporean whose son promised his father three years ago he would take him on the inaugural flight. The youngest is a 10-month-old boy, also from the city-state.
Luxury Suites
Singapore Airlines fitted the aircraft with 12 suites, 60 seats in business class and 399 in economy. The air carrier will start its regular service on Oct. 28.
Atmosphere-Friendly -- for a Plane
The Airbus A380 is expected to be used for long-haul routes and will release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and offer the lowest cost per passenger of any aircraft in operation. So far, Airbus has received 200 requests for the plane.