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Singapore Airbus A380 lands in SIN

I landed in Singapore (in a b737 haha) at 1140pm local time (1540 UTC). It was dark but the weather was good. The runway in use was runway 02C. Once landed we followed the green light to our parking bay - F36. Normally we were given bay F30 or F31. Getting a different bay is not abnormal. Once the passanger disembarked, the aircraft cleaners told us to look outside. She said that the aircraft that looks like a Dugong just landed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong.

“The A380?” I aksed.

“Yeah, it looks like a Dugong!” she insisted.

So we looked outside and saw the Airbus moving in to the parking bay not far from us. We were told that the Airbus had some kind of delay. There were suppose to arrive a little bit earlier. As we moved inside the terminal we saw the first few passengers coming out of the maiden flight into Singapore. They were greeted with some kind of flower lei made of orchids accompanied by a group playing some percussion. I didnt see any press, just airport/SIA staff greeting them. I assume the first few one who came out where the first class suite class passangers.

The flight number was SQ380 (someone correct me)

The Singapore Airlines A380
Length: 72.6m x 71m
Height: 24.1m
Engine: 4 x Rolls-Royce 70,000lbs (5.3m)

Max take-off weight: 560 tonnes
Max landing weight: 386 tonnes
Max zero fuel weight: 361 tonnes

Max capacity: 555 persons on board
Singapore Airlines configuration: 491 persons (not sure)

SIA’s Airbus A380 leaves Australia for Singapore
SYDNEY : The world’s biggest airliner left Australia for Singapore on Friday after a storm delayed the return leg of its historic maiden flight by more than two hours.

The Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 set off from Sydney at about 6:15pm local time (0815 GMT) after airport authorities decided the double-decker superjumbo had to sit out a storm front moving through Australia’s largest city.

Earlier, a four-man band playing light jazz had entertained the passengers as they waited to board. Excited travellers took pictures of themselves against a backdrop of the huge aircraft, which was visible on the tarmac.

The Airbus A380, the largest airliner ever built, successfully completed its maiden commercial flight into Sydney on Thursday, heralding a new era in aviation after months of delays and massive cost overruns.

The superjumbo, which can carry more than 850 people in an all-economy class configuration, winged its way into history as 455 passengers enjoyed champagne and caviar on the seven-hour flight.

Most of them were due to make the return trip.

See also: http://www.a380.singaporeair.com/

More facts from the airbus mainpage:

Why create an aircraft such as the A380?
With air travel expected to continue growing, the A380’s ability to carry more passengers and freight will help ease airport congestion by transporting more people and freight without additional aircraft movement.

What will the A380 change for me as a passenger?
The A380 will provide more comfort in every class. This is possible because the A380 offers 50 per cent more floor space but will typically carry only 35 per cent more passengers. Some of the benefits will come as wider seats even for Economy class, some as more spacious aisles and galleys areas to stretch your legs. Regardless of how airlines plan their seats and services, the design of the A380 cabin ensures low noise level throughout and up to 15 per cent more stowage space for your carry-on luggage.
In addition, the cabin will benefit from advanced lighting systems and new standards of in flight entertainment, which will greatly enhance your overall travel experience.
These advances in cabin comfort are particularly important for the long haul routes such as London-Singapore and Los Angeles-Sydney.

How many passengers will I be flying with?
The A380 is designed to carry 555 passengers in a typical seating configuration, including an Economy, a Business and a First class. However most airlines have actually indicated that they may have fewer seats than this. In any case, you will not feel crowded thanks to the width of the two separate widebody decks as each will provide more space for everyone.

Will the economy class also benefit from more space or will it be only for the business and first classes?
The main deck of the A380 is wider than that of any commercial jetliner in operation today. Its extra floor space will benefit everyone aboard and will give airlines new opportunities to create innovative cabin arrangement for the greater comfort of all passengers. Regardless of how airlines arrange their seats and services, even the economy class will be wider. High capacity overhead bins and the latest generation of in flight entertainment will also significantly enhance passenger comfort.

Will it take me longer to board and to retrieve my luggage?
The innovative cabin of the A380 includes a wide dual-lane staircase, which will allow you to board the aircraft in the same time as any other large aircraft, using two standard bridges. Many airports are planning direct passenger access to the upper deck of the aircraft.
The use of longer or linked baggage belts carrousels will ensure that your baggage is delivered in times comparable to today’s.
Passenger convenience for boarding and de-boarding has been carefully considered early on in our consultation with both the airports, which will accommodate the aircraft and the airlines, which will operate it.

How far and where can I fly with this aircraft?
The A380 is designed for long-haul travel and can fly up to 15,000km /8,000 nm non-stop. It will mostly fly on those routes which see the heaviest concentration of large aircraft flights today. Currently 60 major airports around the world are ready for the A380 or preparing to receive it.

Are the ticket fares going to be more expensive on an A380?
The A380’s efficiency and advanced technology will result in a 15-20 per cent lower seat mile costs for the airlines. Therefore, for the same level of comfort and service, on the same route and with the same airline, the ticket fares should be equivalent or possibly less expensive than on any other aircraft.

What impact will a bigger aircraft have on the environment?
The A380 will be an environmentally friendly aircraft, which will produce half as much noise on take-off as its competitor and consume less than 3 litres of fuel per passenger over 100 km, a rate comparable to that of an economical family car. With its greater capacity and unprecedented environmental friendliness, the A380 provides the most economical and socially responsible solution to growing air traffic on key trunk routes.

I want to be one of the first to fly the A380. When will it be operated for the first time and by which airline?
Singapore Airlines will be the first airline in the world to introduce the A380 into commercial service in 2006. The carrier has already launched a ‘first to fly A380′ logo, which - for maximum effect - has been placed between the aircraft’s twin row of windows, one of the new aircraft’s most recognisable features.
To be the first to know about Singapore Airlines’ A380, visit www.A380.singaporeair.com

Which airlines have so far announced firm orders and commitments for the A380?
To date, Airbus has received 154 orders and commitments from 15 customers. These are (in alphabetical order): Air France, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Federal Express, International Lease Finance Corporation, Korean Air Lines, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways International, UPS and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Is the A380 the most technologically advanced aircraft to date?
The A380 combines the very latest technologies for materials, systems and industrial processes. It meets the most stringent international certification requirements. The A380 is not only the most spacious civil jetliner ever built, it is also the most advanced - representing a unique technology platform from which all future commercial Airbus aircraft will evolve.
Each new technology developed, tested and adopted for the A380 has been carefully studied to determine its effects over the lifetime of the aircraft, and has been selected for its proven reliability and long-term benefits.

On another slightly related news:

AirAsia gets the nod for flights to Singapore
Thursday October 25, 2007
By WONG SAI WAN

PETALING JAYA: Now everyone can fly cheap to Singapore. AirAsia got the nod from the Government yesterday to operate two flights daily to the republic.

It is learnt that the Cabinet gave the nod at its weekly meeting. This decision comes a few days after Singapore’s Transport Ministry said that it was keen to see further liberalisation of the air services agreement with Malaysia.

According to sources, Tiger Airways, Singapore?s own budget airline, would also be offered to fly the same route.

?This means that travellers will have a choice of not only one low-cost carrier to Singapore but two. This will surely spark a price war,? an aviation analyst commented.

On average, MAS flies seven shuttle flights a day to Singapore while SIA does it six times daily.

For the shuttle service, which is jointly operated by the two airlines, the price of a one-way ticket is RM167 while an economy non-shuttle one is RM266. Airport tax and surcharges cost RM140.

AirAsia and Tiger Airways are expected to charge about 30% of the non-shuttle fare but will have the usual cheap offers for limited seats. The two low-cost carriers will operate the route between the LCCT at KLIA and the Budget Terminal at Changi Airport.

It was learnt that AirAsia and Tiger Airways would only be allowed to operate the two flights each on off-peak hours. Sources expected the two carriers to start operations in January.

The analyst said the decision would be a big boost to the two airlines as Singapore and Malaysia were two popular international hubs aimed at different markets.

?The cheaper 40-minute flight between KLIA and Changi airports will mean more international passengers stopping in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to make the extra hop to either place.

?AirAsia will benefit more than Tiger Airways because of the regional connections it already has. Couple that with the coming of AirAsia X, they will be able to even pull long-haul passengers from Singapore,? he added.

AirAsia chief executive officer Datuk Tony Fernandes could not be contacted for comment. AirAsia officials said he had flown to Singapore.

Fernandes had been vocal about the reluctance of the two governments to allow budget airlines to operate between the two countries ahead of the Asean open skies agreement, which will come into force in 2009.

Source: TheStar

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