The world's largest passenger aircraft today landed at Heathrow on its first
commercial flight into Europe and was greeted by a water cannon salute from
fire crews.
The Airbus A380, a vast superjumbo double decker, made the journey from
Singapore Changi to Heathrow in 13.5 hours, carrying 471 passengers, and
landed at Heathrow shortly before 3pm - 15 minutes early.
The passengers, many of whom did not expect to be on the inaugural A380 London
flight when they made their flight booking, have received personalised
certificates from Singapore Airlines.
One, Mark Barden, 45, from Southampton, flew out to Singapore to be on today’s
inaugural flight - then after just eight hours in the Far East, flew back.
Others had booked the tickets intentionally after the announcement was made in
late January about the London debut.
There are also eight passengers onboard who intend to fly straight back to
Singapore, so they can claim to have been the first passengers to fly both
flight sectors.
Singapore Airlines is the first airline to operate the A380, although they
will become a more common feature of the skies over the coming year.
The next carriers to begin using the A380s are Qantas from this summer and
Emirates from December 1. British Airways is due to receive its first A380
in 2012, while Virgin Atlantic will use them on flights from 2013.
The Singapore Airlines aircraft is split into three cabins. First class has 12 "suites"
with 23-inch television screens, double beds and a sliding door to the
compartment for privacy. Business Class has 60 lie-flat beds and in economy
there are 399 seats with seat-back screens and above-average legroom.
The Singapore Airlines flight SQ308 left Singapore Changi at 9am and taxied to
Heathrow's Terminal 3 on arrrival, where more than £450m has been spent on
facilities to handle the new aircraft, including double decker air bridges
and widened instrument landing systems.
Other passengers onboard today's flight included aviation enthusiast Mark
Wright, 45, a photographer from Wollaston, Northants. “I have long been an
aviation enthusiast and was really keen on Concorde although I was never
fortunate to fly on it.
“I saw the A380 when it came to Farnborough in 2006 and thought it looked
terrific. I was particularly impressed with the wings. They were amazing.”
Another onboard was Londoner Howard Long, 42, flying on the A380 for the first
time. Mr Long, from South Kensington, who describes himself as a freelance
IT troubleshooter, said he had first glimpsed the A380 when it made a
non-passenger flight to Heathrow two years ago.
He went on: “It was a bit spooky to actually be at Terminal 3 when the plane
came in. I thought it would be really good to go on it and was boasting to
some of my friends that I was going to be on the flight only to hear that
some of them were travelling on it as well.“
He is a member of the First To Fly group, who number around 20, some who have
been on previous history-making Singapore Airlines flights such as the
world’s longest commercial flight from Singapore to New York in June 2004.
Members of the group, who describe themselves as “dedicated nutters”, were
well represented on the very first A380 commercial flight which was operated
by Singapore Airlines and which flew from Singapore to Sydney last October.
At long last Europe is back in the driving seat, once again producing world beating great 'planes.Congratulations!
Ron Vokes, Blackheath, London
Just back from Far East (not on A380). Five flights, 30 hours total airborne, all in 12 days. Misery. I fly professionally but I hate air travel as a passenger. Not heard others says this, but in my opinion, we don't need bigger aeroplanes we need faster ones. Can't believe journey times are the same as they were years ago. Such as waste of time.
G. Tough, Northampton, UK
First of all, well done to Airbus for making the biggest flying machine of mankind. It's awesome and unbelieveable. Secondly, Airbus has make air travel so comfortable. I dread travelling in a 747 from now onwards especially in Economy class.
Nick, London, UK
So let me get this straight: these people would choose to fly for 14 hours - and then back again! - so they could say they did? 'Nutter' doesn't being to describe it. I hope the in-flight movies were worth it.
Will Duffay, London,
Can't wait untill this becomes a regular flyer to our skies, Not one for long haul I think this giant will tempt me.
PG
P, crosshands, Wales, UK
Cor!
Fred, Bristol, UK
"There are eight passengers onboard who intend to fly straight back to Singapore, so they can claim to have been the first passengers to fly both flight sectors."
That's not big and it's not clever.
Jamie, Edinburgh,