Singapore Airlines to launch Airbus A380 Flights to London in March
31.1.2008 (Asia Travel Tips)
Singapore Airlines has confirmed it will fly the world’s largest passenger aircraft
– the Airbus A380 – on the Singapore-London route, from 18 March 2008, after the
airline takes delivery of its third A380 by mid-March. The inaugural flight will
be the first-ever A380 commercial service to Europe.
The first A380 flight to London, SQ 308, will leave Singapore’s Changi Airport
on Tuesday, 18 March 2008, at 0900 hrs and arrive at London’s Heathrow Airport
at 1505hrs (all times local).
On the same day, the aircraft will return to Singapore, operating as SQ 319,
departing Heathrow at 1855hrs, arriving back into Singapore at 1535hrs on Wednesday,
19 March 2008.
Thereafter, the Singapore Airlines A380 will commence regular scheduled services,
operating SQ322 daily on the Singapore-London sector from the evening of Tuesday
18 March, and on SQ 317 for the return leg from 19 March.
Singapore Airlines is the first airline to fly the A380. The British capital
is the airline’s second A380 destination after the launch to Sydney in October
2007.
"The A380 will provide a capacity expansion on the popular Singapore-London route.
For the first time, an aircraft larger than the B747-400 will fly this route,
thereby meaning more seats without the need for more frequencies to what is already
one of the world’s busiest airports," said Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President
Marketing and Regions, Mr Huang.
The Singapore Airlines A380 seats 471 passengers in three classes – 12 in the
luxurious Singapore Airlines Suites, 60 in the Business Class, configured in a
spacious 1-2-1 layout on the upper deck, and 399 in Economy Class.
Singapore Airlines currently has two A380s in service, a further 17 on firm order
and options on six more.