Airbus A-380 Rollout

[cdnvic]

Airbus rolled out the new A380 today and she's a beaut!!!!

Should be able to fly in one by next year if all goes to plan. I for one will go out of my way to fly in it, watch it, etc.....

Ok Boeing..... hurry up with the dreamliner!

http://www.airbus.com/

cv

[chingy_]

two thing about the A380, good and bad,

good- it carry more people with comfort and relax more room to move around.

bad- once it go down you have 200 more dead

in this kind of age faster is better (dreamliner)

[NarrLing]

What about the long queues at immigration and check-in?

[cdnvic]

What about the long queues at immigration and check-in?

sucks, but worth it to fly on that beauty....

Then again... I like flying on anything!

(except Air Transat )

cv

[taxexile]

its huge !! they'll never get the bugger off the ground !

[buadhai]

its huge !!  they'll never get the bugger off the ground !

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You know, I still think that every time I see a 747 take off. Just too ###### big to fly. But, up she goes....

I have to agree that flying on the A380 will be a mess unless they get check-in, security screening, boarding and immigration straightened out.

At first I was upset when NE put a 757 (instead of a 747) on the Saipan/Narita route. But after I realized how much shorter the security and immigration and other queues were, I changed my tune.

[flackjacket]

The age of the dinosaur is over! This is a 21st centuary aircraft so it is bound to be mechanically safer. Immigration- two examples, London Heathrow is completing Terminal 5 designed to handle AB 380.

Dubai- no sooner had they finished the "new" terminal than they were starting to build the AB 380 terminal. Dubai quotes that they could handle 5 AB 380 simultainously- they certainly have the available work force to do it!!

[TizMe]

From Todays Sydney Morning Herald

The Sydney to London route is tipped to be the world's first to host the Airbus A380 super jumbo, which is expected to be operating by the middle of next year.

The aircraft was being unveiled at the Airbus factory in Toulouse yesterday, and the first airline to take delivery of one, Singapore Airlines, has indicated that it plans to deploy it on the so-called Kangaroo route.

Citing increased difficulties in gaining additional slots into London's Heathrow Airport, Singapore Airlines says the larger aircraft will allow it to meet increased passenger numbers on the route without the need to boost flights.

Airbus forecasts that 60,000 A380 movements at Heathrow each year will allow 10 million more passengers to pass through the airport without the need for additional flights.

Designed to comfortably fit 555 passengers on long-haul flights, the A380 has 50 per cent more floor space than a Boeing 747.

Qantas is expected to follow Singapore Airlines' lead after it takes delivery of its first A380 next year. Emirates, Thai Airways and Virgin Atlantic are also expected to use the aircraft into Sydney.

Sydney Airport says it will spend $100 million building new aerobridges, strengthening runways and widening taxiways to accommodate the new aircraft. With a wingspan of 80 metres, the A380 is more than 15 metres wider than a Boeing 747.

At least 60 airports worldwide are preparing to take the aircraft, including Melbourne, which has been lobbying hard to leapfrog Sydney in attracting the first A380 services into Australia. Melbourne will close its main runway in April for upgrade work.

Sydney Airport's spokeswoman, Shannon Kliendienst, said the airport would be A380-ready by early next year.

Despite the publicity surrounding the showing of the first fully assembled A380, the aircraft will now undergo months of testing.

Airbus has already assembled four A380s, which will all be used as test aircraft, with the first test flight scheduled for March.

There are 139 firm orders for the aircraft, 12 of them for Qantas, 10 for Singapore Airlines and 45 for Dubai-based Emirates.

No airline has indicated whether the A380 will lead to cheaper airfares, given that Airbus says the aircraft is 12 per cent more fuel efficient (per passenger) than a 747.

[TizMe]

Does anyone know if Thailands New International Airport will be able to handle an A380?

[chingy_]

the new Thai airport yes.

[Diggerbasher]

I wonder if all that extra weight was allowed for in the runway construction!!Isn't the airport sinking already or is that an urban myth.

[jackr]

its huge !!  they'll never get the bugger off the ground !

Huge wings means a massive amount of lift coupled with 4 harry-the-bastard engines...bet she can stay up on one motor alone!

[ProfessorFart]

I'll bet that Economy class will still be cramped and &lt;deleted&gt; with all the gimmicks being aimed at the Business class and above travellers.

[ProfessorFart]

Good point rav.

[chico]

wait 5 to 10 years and you will have casinos, beauty shops and anything to make some extra bucks on most planes!

How long did it take the cruise lines to realize that?

the first casinos on cruise ships came around 89/90, and since years you cannot find any cruise ship without it, - not talking about beauty shops, bar revenues, gift shops - everything for some extra money!

[_Echinochloa_]

What about the long queues at immigration and check-in?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Use your Thai Elite Card.

[britmaveric]

Nice plane, but I'll wait a while before flying this one! Think Boeing has the right idea - faster/more fuel efficient beats bigger anyday especially when you are talking long haul flights.

[xbusman]

I think the A380 is going to end up the white elephant of the skies. Not many airports can handle the 380 and its just too many people crammed together. The new Boeing is going to have lower pressure and more humidity in the cabin. Not a hard choice for consumers. Also appears that the 380 is pretty far over weight which will probably negate the cost savings of hauling that many people.

[Rinrada]

wait 5 to 10 years and you will have casinos, beauty shops and anything to make some extra bucks on most planes!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cant really see that happening.

When I get on a long haul all I want is a decent seat (big one) a wee television to play with,good earphones,reasonable scram,something (interesting)to read,lots and lots and lots of Beer,G&T,a cheeky little red wine and maybe a glass or 3 of Champers ................not beauty treatments,shoe shines or even a dip in the upstairs spa pool.

A big budgie like this one will have 800 odd seats (bums on ..for the use of) 20 or so tutsies (trolly dollys) to ogle at and hopefully the airlines will flog return tics Lon-Bangers at around £100 a throw...(Thai Squeezy Jet)

I could visit every weekend... roll on next year

[els17]

Think Boeing has the right idea - faster/more fuel efficient beats bigger anyday especially when you are talking long haul flights.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have to correct u there, the new A380 is actually more fuel efficient than the 747...also has a capacity to fly futher/farther ......

Hope BKK will be able to cope since I read that Thai Air has already put in an order of 6. Mind by the time they will actually dispose of the planes (probably not before 2007), they should have had plenty of time to get the new airport ready....

Personally I am all for it. I think it will be great and hope long distance flying will get cheaper and more comfortable, because it can't get more crammed than a 747.

[Thaddeus]

There's still one important question.

Will it have a smoking room?

[dclaryjr]

Think Boeing has the right idea - faster/more fuel efficient beats bigger anyday especially when you are talking long haul flights.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have to correct u there, the new A380 is actually more fuel efficient than the 747...also has a capacity to fly futher/farther ......

Hope BKK will be able to cope since I read that Thai Air has already put in an order of 6. Mind by the time they will actually dispose of the planes (probably not before 2007), they should have had plenty of time to get the new airport ready....

Personally I am all for it. I think it will be great and hope long distance flying will get cheaper and more comfortable, because it can't get more crammed than a 747.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But the 747 isn't what Boeing is banking on. Their betting on their new plane (7E7?) which will have more range and allow for more direct flights.

[Axel]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

O doubt it, but Virgin Air intends to install double beds.

[els17]

But the 747 isn't what Boeing is banking on. Their betting on their new plane (7E7?) which will have more range and allow for more direct flights.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, my mistake. Haven't actually heard of a new plane by Boeing so completely misinterpreted former poster.

So when will it be out?

Cheers

[dclaryjr]

But the 747 isn't what Boeing is banking on. Their betting on their new plane (7E7?) which will have more range and allow for more direct flights.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry, my mistake. Haven't actually heard of a new plane by Boeing so completely misinterpreted former poster.

So when will it be out?

Cheers

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Commercial service in 2008

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/7e7/background.html

[Guest fj2003]

What about the long queues at immigration and check-in?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

always nice to come up negative first

[Rinrada]

Boeing ...WHO?

C"Mon Thai........ Buy one ...NOW.........Bangers and mash to LOS.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said:

"The A380 is the most exciting aircraft in the world and is a symbol of economic strength, technological innovation and a dedicated workforce."

He took the opportunity to pay tribute to the dedication and skills of workers in the UK and across Europe.

"The A380 is the result of unprecedented co-operation between the four countries and today was the culmination of many years of hard work.

This is a day of which we can all be truly proud

and ....

Rolls-Royce of the UK was the first engine manufacturer to come on board the A380 programme.

Joining Airbus for the Reveal celebration, its Managing Director, Airlines Business Charles Cuddington said: "I’m tremendously impressed by the sheer scale of the aircraft and I’m extremely proud to see four Rolls-Royce engines featuring prominently.

The Trent 900 is the A380’s launch engine, entering commercial service with Singapore Airlines in 2006.

The thrust range means the Trent 900 will be able to power a fleet containing any A380 variant. In addition to Singapore Airlines, four other airlines have selected the Trent 900 - Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic.

http://www.airbus.com/events/a380_reveal/event/index.asp

[Phil Conners]

Huge wings means a massive amount of lift coupled with 4 harry-the-bastard engines...bet she can stay up on one motor alone!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Airliners are generally designed to be able to continue a takeoff with the loss of one engine. This generally means the twin-engine planes generally have much higher thrust than the quad-engine planes. This is the case with the 747 and 340, probably also with the 380.

Curios to try it, but I won't be on it first year in service

[chingy_]

the Airbus A-380 give me the creep

[pyros]

The A380 is THE replacement for the old Boeing 747 . Boeing knows they were too late for a own replacement because Airbus was allready picking in the orders . That is why Boeing changed their stratigy on a faster plain rather then a bigger . The faster plain ( Dreamliner ) will certainly have it's public but a ticket on this one will be more expensive then the ones for a A380 . The A380 will be the long range machine for the normal ( not rich ) people who just want to get there at a reasonable price , the Dreamliner will be the one for the richer people for a faster connection . Remember that the 747 is allready at least 25 years on the market and the A380 will cut the maintance and fuel cost by a huge amount over a 747 and will as a extra bring more passenger over .