The A380: 5 Big Years

On the fifth anniversary of the Airbus A380’s maiden commercial voyage – a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to Sydney – KARAMJIT KAUR highlights five superlatives about the superjumbos in Singapore Airlines' fleet.

It debuted to much fanfare on October 25, 2007, carrying passengers from across the world who had bid for a seat on the historic Singapore Airlines A380 flight from Singapore to Sydney. Close to S$2 million (US$1.59 million) was raised for charity in the process. Five years on, Singapore Airlines has 19 A380s flying to 10 destinations worldwide. Here are more awesome statistics about the largest passenger plane in the world.

#1 More than 9 million passengers have flown on Singapore Airlines’ A380s in the past five years. During that period, the superjumbos clocked approximately 240,000 flying hours and 24,000 flights. The Singapore-London route is Singapore Airlines’ busiest A380 sector, with three daily flights on the superjumbo.

#2 It takes a crew of 33 about 45 minutes to tidy up the interior before each flight – from checking the seat pockets and vacuuming the floors, to cleaning lavatories and removing litter. Meanwhile, the plane is loaded with blankets for every customer along with international cuisine for the meal service. The 35 bar items (excluding the wines) and 91 store items – including biscuits, coffee and tea – are also replenished.

#3 Singapore Airlines’ A380s come in two configurations: 11 of the double-decker jets have 471 seats each, while the remaining eight have 409 seats each. The aircraft with fewer seats features an all-Business Class upper deck while the other has a higher proportion of Economy Class seats spread across two decks. Both configurations include 12 Suites. Exclusive to the Airline’s A380 aircraft, these private spaces come with full-flat beds that are separate from the seats, a chaise lounge for companion seating and even a personal coat closet.

#4 From the ground to the tip of its tail, the aircraft is 24.1m high, as tall as five full-grown giraffes standing atop each other. And from end to end, the A380 is as long as two blue whales – 72.6m. Weighing in at 361 tonnes without fuel, it takes a total of 22 wheels to move.

#5 Running the length of the aircraft are more than 500km of electrical cables that provide power for everything from flight controls and cabin lights to lavatory functions and inflight entertainment. Singapore Airlines’ inflight entertainment system KrisWorld has more than 1,000 on-demand options including over 140 movies. Passengers can also surf the Internet and send text messages in the air on selected aircraft.

Milestones

Five landmarks in the A380’s relationship with Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport, the Airline’s home base.

SEP 2000 Singapore Airlines announces its order for 10 A380s, which makes it the first in the world to fly the new superjumbo. Another nine A380s were later added to the order.

JUL 2005 Changi Airport, Singapore Airlines’ home base, is ready for the A380. Modifications to accommodate the mammoth plane include widening aircraft runways, taxiways and parking areas; expanding passenger boarding rooms; and lengthening baggage claim belts.

OCT 2007 Singapore Airlines receives the “keys” to the world’s first A380 at a ceremony at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France on October 15. The event is witnessed by about 500 guests who are treated to a light and sound show before the aircraft – dressed in the Airline’s livery – is unveiled. The plane lands at Changi Airport two days later.

FEB 2009 Singapore Airlines carries its millionth A380 passenger, 16 months after the Airline’s inaugural Singapore-Sydney flight. The number of superjumbos in the Airline’s fleet has grown to six, and they fly to three destinations – Sydney, London and Tokyo.

OCT 2012 Changi Airport is one of the world’s busiest A380 hubs, handling about 230 A380 flights a week. It has 19 gates across three terminals that are equipped to serve the superjumbo.

Source: Silverkris

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