The A380 (capable in its various configurations of carrying
between 550 and nearly 1,000 passengers) will provide a totally new flying
experience. Airbus describes its new creation as a "cruise ship of the
skies", conjuring up images of the days when the great passenger liners
plied the Atlantic. Business travellers might have the use of beds and possibly
showers. There will be a thickly carpeted salon, a wide staircase, an upper
dining area, a gym, duty free shopping areas and maybe a casino. Passengers,
particularly those travelling in first and business classes, will have more
space to walk about than offered in the present generation of wide bodied
aircraft. In the initial version, the A380-100 will be able to carry 555 passengers
in a 3 class cabin configuration, over distances up to 7,650 nautical miles.
The A380 is scheduled to make its first flight in 2004 and enter service in
late 2005. Emirates is to be a launch customer for the A380, and other airlines
including Singapore Airlines, Qantas Airways and Virgin Atlantic have placed
orders. The A380-100 will offer 17 per cent lower seat operating costs compared
with the Boeing 747-400 according to Airbus, while providing up to 35 per
cent more seats and 350 nm more range.
