Home / International / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
1st Airbus A380 set for Singapore delivery
Adjust font size:

Looking to make a financial and credibility comeback, Airbus is scheduled to deliver its first A380 superjumbo commercial jet Monday.

 

The double-decker jet, the world's largest passenger plane, is to take off from the southwestern city of Toulouse, Airbus' headquarters, for delivery to Singapore Airlines.

 

 

Airbus President and Chief Executive Thomas Enders called the handover "a major milestone for the A380 program" in a statement released by the company Friday.

 

Five Airbus CEOs have come and gone while numerous delays in the A380 program resulted in massive write-offs and a restructuring plan that foresees 10,000 job cuts over four years -- not to mention billions of dollars in lost profit.

 

Such delays have also damaged Airbus' reputation, and US rival Boeing Co. grabbed the top sales spot in 2006.

 

The A380's inaugural commercial flight has been set for October 25 from Singapore to Sydney. Singapore Airlines has auctioned all seats on the first flight on eBay, raising about US$1.25 million for charity.

 

John Leahy, Airbus' chief salesman, suggested that the A380's problems will be over once the plane gets into commercial service.

 

"When this airplane is out flying, my marketing job will get a lot easier," he told The Associated Press in an interview last week.

 

The A380 includes glamorous features such as a cocktail bar complete with water fountain and a duty-free lounge. Some airlines will offer passengers the chance to freshen up with a shower.

 

(Xinhua News Agency via agencies October 16, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous
China Archives
Related >>
- THAI Threatens to Cancel Airbus A380 Order
- Airbus A380 to Conduct US Test Flights Next Week
- A380 Touches down at LAX
- Airbus Order Still Valid: Malaysia Airlines
- Airbus Hows off 380 in America
- A380's Low Flights Open HK Airshow
- Airbus A380 to make China debut late October
Most Viewed >>
> Korean Nuclear Talks
> Reconstruction of Iraq
> Middle East Peace Process
> Iran Nuclear Issue
> 6th SCO Summit Meeting
Links
- China Development Gateway
- Foreign Ministry
- Network of East Asian Think-Tanks
- China-EU Association
- China-Africa Business Council
- China Foreign Affairs University
- University of International Relations
- Institute of World Economics & Politics
- Institute of Russian, East European & Central Asian Studies
- Institute of West Asian & African Studies
- Institute of Latin American Studies
- Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
- Institute of Japanese Studies