The first time I saw the Singapore Airlines’ A380 that arrived in London on
Tuesday it was being assembled by Airbus in Toulouse.
Rather, it was be reassembled by Airbus because wiring problems on the first
batch of planes meant the company had to rip out 400 kilometres of wire in
each aircraft and start again.
This delayed the double-decker A380 superjumbo by two years so I was eager to
see how the final model looked, and how it flew.
After writing negative stories about the A380 and its production delays for
the past two years it is encouraging to report that this aircraft is very
impressive.
Obviously the size catches everybody’s attention. At over 500 tonnes at
takeover and with two full decks of seating it is a miracle of engineering.
The Singapore Airlines flight that landed in London had 471 people onboard in
three classes but it didn’t feel overwhelmingly crowded. The first time most
passengers will realise that there are so many people onboard is when they
all clog up immigration and customs at the same time.
Singapore’s first-class suites, with their double beds, have become famous but
at £6,800 for a return not too many of us will ever travel that way.
So what of business class and economy? I sat in business class on the first
flight into London along with 59 others and we took up most of the upper
deck of the aircraft.
Singapore really have improved their business-class offering and the seats are
so wide they could almost fit two. The television screens are wide and the
inflight entertainment system includes Microsoft Word and Excel software
applications.
As usual Singapore’s service is perfect and the vast amount of space in
business class gives the cabin a sense of peace and quiet. British Airways'
business class can sometimes feel a bit cramped with 8 seats across the
width of a 747 while Singapore has just four seats across the wider A380.
Of course, economy is where the majority of us end up and there are 399 seats
on Singapore’s A380. The good news is that the seats are wider at 19 inches
rather than 17 inches on 747s but there is no such thing as a truly
comfortable economy class and the A380 does not change that.
Singapore has different mood lighting in each economy cabin, which does help
break up the visual sense of being on such a large plane. Most of the
economy seats are on the main deck with a small cabin at the back of the
upper deck, behind business class. Downstairs is probably the place to be in
economy as the aircraft is so big that the walls in the middle are almost
vertical, which gives passengers the feeling that they are in a normal room
rather than in a tube. This is surprisingly effective and the main cabin
does feel more “airy” than other aircraft – as long as you forget how many
people are breathing that air.
However, what caught my attention more than anything about the A380 is how
quiet it is. Even during takeoff the noise is minimal and that will be good
for both passengers and for everybody on the ground.
The A380’s arrival in London is very significant for the future of flying as
it marks the start of the superjumbo age. Air travel is now within reach of
millions of Chinese and Indian families and the A380 will be the plane that
transports them all.
It may have had a difficult birth but the A380 has a bright future.
An impressive aircraft but dont tell Simon Jenkins,he will have a fit.
That apart, it adds to the case that IF global warming has a significant link to carbon emissions then the only answer lies in technology.
If us Brits stop using cheap flights there are a few billion who will not.
robert everitt, wolverhampton,
Having listened to live music in Hong Kong's vast departures area, watched rugby on high definition screen and been waited upon with charm and efficiency, we later arrived at Heathrow. The carpet was threadbare and taped where split, there was nowhere to sit at 4.40 in the morning as we waited for a train (engineering works over Easter) and one out of six toilets was capable of use, there being absence of locks or more commonly full of faeces. The staff were sitting around with high visibilty coats, the screech of metal chairs on tiles being their contribution to our return to these lands. What a welcome for visitors! Discerning people soon spread the word back home.
W.M. Sansom, Peterborough, UK
When the A380 first came out, I am thrilled and overwhelmed with the seer size. This aircraft has made everybody in this world go " WOW ". Airbus has made this possible with the biggest flying machine and Hi-Tech aircraft. I pray to God that Airbus will receive more orders from world airlines coming months ahead. I will be taking more flights on A380 than 747. That is for sure.
Nick, London, UK
Alvin, As a Brit living in Malaysia I use AirAsia for domestic and regional travel and do not consider it a cheap airline. With 150 Airbus 320s delivered/ordered how can it be? I shall be using AirAsia X to take me back, on holiday, to UK at half the price of the more traditional airlines. Remember, Tiger Air, in Singapore, is a 'cheap' airline owned by the Singapore government, just as is Singapore Airlines.
Brian Everett, Penang, Malaysia
As a Singaporean I am proud of this, and also the fact that Singapore Airlines is a proper airline, not some cheap rubbish like easyjet or Ryan Air.
Alvin, Manchester,