Singapore Airlines A380: Travel In A New Light

Singapore Airlines A380: Travel In A New Light

Today, Singapore Airlines enters a new era in long-haul air travel, with the formal handover of the world's first A380 at Airbus headquarters in southern France.

The handover took place at the Henri Ziegler Delivery Centre, Toulouse, at a ceremony attended by over 500 people, and officiated by Chief Executive Officers Tom Enders (Airbus), Sir John Rose (Rolls-Royce) and Chew Choon Seng (Singapore Airlines).

The first delivery marks the culmination of an engineering project unrivalled in the aerospace industry. The A380 is the largest passenger plane ever built and the first completely new design of a passenger aircraft in decades.

Components have been built in plants around the world before being brought together for assembly at key Airbus facilities in Europe. Final assembly took place in Toulouse, France, while the painting of the livery and installation of the aircraft cabin took place in Hamburg, Germany.

Singapore Airlines first announced its intention to become an A380 customer in September 2000, with an order for 10 A380s and options on a further 15. That firm order was increased to 19 in July 2006. At catalogue prices, the commitment to the 19 firm orders, including engines and spares, is in the order of US$5.7 billion.

Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines will power the first 10 aircraft in the Singapore Airlines order. An engine selection has not yet been made for the subsequent nine aircraft.

Since the order was announced, Singapore Airlines has completed the enormous task of preparing for the entry into service of the new super-jumbo. Every aspect of the aircraft's operations - engineering, catering, cargo and baggage loading and unloading, passenger embarkation and disembarkation, flying operations and every aspect of customer service on board - has been redesigned to accommodate the extra passenger capacity, while maintaining operating efficiency.

In addition, a number of new cabin products have been developed, after a detailed consultation exercise with frequent travellers, which began as far back as 2001. The new cabin products were unveiled in late 2006 and are being rolled out on all new aircraft across the Singapore Airlines fleet.

Today, Singapore Airlines unveils some new innovations, unique to the A380 .

The Singapore Airlines A380 is configured with 471 seats in three classes: Economy, Business and the new Singapore Airlines Suites, a class beyond first.

The aircraft will enter commercial service on Thursday 25 October 2007, with a special return flight between Singapore and Sydney. The majority of seats on this flight were sold at auction on eBay, the global online marketplace, and all of the proceeds from the auction are being split among charities in Singapore, Sydney and a global humanitarian organisation.

Then, on Sunday 28 October 2007, the A380 will commence scheduled service between Singapore and Sydney on one of the three daily flights in each direction.

The delivery of subsequent aircraft will allow for the introduction of the A380, also on one of the three daily flights between Singapore and London's Heathrow Airport from the first quarter of 2008.

During the last few years, Singapore Airlines has joined with Airbus, and other A380 customers, to work with the world's major airports to ensure they are A380-ready. The support of the airport communities has meant many airports, to which A380s will operate, are now ready, or in the final stages of becoming so.

Singapore's Changi Airport, which will be home to the Singapore Airlines A380 fleet, was the first to be ready, and when the new Terminal 3 opens early next year, 19 gates across the three terminals will be fully A380-ready, including having aerobridge access to both decks.

Singapore Airlines is particularly delighted to recognise the impressive operating capabilities of the A380, demonstrated since the aircraft's first flight in April 2005.

Fuel burn is considerably lower, on a seat-mile basis, than today's large aircraft. This offers operating airlines real efficiency benefits, while also mitigating the environmental impact of flying. Emissions per passengers are the lowest of any aircraft.

The A380's noise emissions prove that big aircraft are not necessarily noisier. New technology, new design, airframe construction and engines all aid in making the A380 the quietest large passenger jet ever built. Onboard, the cabin amenity is substantially improved, with significantly lower cabin noise throughout.

Travel in a new light, aboard the Singapore Airlines A380.

Singapore Airlines A380: Comfort, Space And Luxury

Singapore Airlines today unveiled the luxurious cabin interior on its new Airbus A380. The cabin was revealed for the first time at the aircraft delivery in Toulouse, France.

The Singapore Airlines A380 is configured with 471 seats in three classes, with 12 Singapore Airlines Suites - a cabin class beyond first - on the main deck, 60 Business Class on the upper deck, and 399 Economy Class seats, across both decks. This new cabin design ensures that the A380 will deliver unprecedented comfort, space and luxury to Singapore Airlines customers.

The design process began over five years ago, with some of the airline's most frequent travellers invited to participate in workshops to help the airline understand what was most important to customers on a new aircraft.

Some of the new cabin products have already made their debut, to global acclaim, on Singapore Airlines new Boeing 777-300ER long-haul aircraft

Coupled with the service of the Singapore Airlines award-winning cabin crew, the A380 will provide customers in all three classes with a luxurious travel experience.

Singapore Airlines Suites

Unrivalled exclusivity and privacy await the privileged customers who fly Singapore Airlines' newest cabin product, aboard the Airbus A380.

Introducing the Singapore Airlines Suites, a class beyond first, providing the ultimate in luxury and privacy.

Setting a new standard in ultimate premium air travel, the Singapore Airlines Suites features a bold and unique cabin concept where each Suite is the customer's private cabin in the sky. Behind its discrete sliding doors is a spacious and truly personal area, with lavish furnishing and finishes.

"Developed with our most valued and distinguished customers in mind, the concept of the Singapore Airlines Suites is nothing less than ground-breaking in the luxury travel market," said Mr. Yap Kim Wah, Singapore Airlines' Senior Vice President Product and Services.

"Singapore Airlines Suites customers can look forward to a flight with an unprecedented level of personal space, in their very own private cabin in the sky. The exquisite new product offerings, together with the special service from our world-renowned cabin crew, will delight the most discerning of our customers."

The new Singapore Airlines Suites were designed by leading French luxury yacht designer Jean-Jacques Coste, whose designs cleverly utilise space to make the flight experience even more luxurious.

Elegantly furnished, each of the Singapore Airlines Suites opens up to a plush and luxurious leather seat. In a perfect marriage of classic style, ergonomics and technology, each seat is upholstered by world-renowned Poltrona Frau in the finest leather, with an elegant pumpkin finish.

The seat is fully adjustable, with a simple-to-use electronic control panel to accommodate a variety of sitting and lounging positions.

For those who want to sleep, a full-sized flat bed, with plush mattress, is built into each individual Singapore Airlines Suite, and does not utilize the seat as part of the sleeping surface.

Lavish Givenchy-designed duvets and cushions ensure customers can drift into peaceful and comfortable sleep.

The intelligent design of the full flat bed not only offers customers the choice to rest in their preferred sleeping positions, but also allows them to sit or lounge in bed as they might in the comfort and privacy of their own home.

Work or rest, Singapore Airlines Suites offers complete choice

For customers who need to catch up on work on board, their Singapore Airlines Suite can be transformed into a stylish office in the sky. Each Singapore Airlines Suite includes a chaise lounge for companion seating, ambient and mood lighting, luggage stowage space and a personal coat closet.

In addition to working in complete privacy, each Singapore Airlines Suite comes furnished with a generously wide and height-adjustable table which can function as a workstation, meeting table or large dining table.

Customers with laptops can tap into the in-seat power supply, while customers with just a thumb-drive can also get work done by plugging into the USB ports and utilizing the comprehensive suite of office tools available on KrisWorld; Singapore Airlines' award-winning inflight entertainment system.

KrisWorld: the biggest show in the sky just got bigger

Customers can sit back and be entertained, catching up on latest blockbusters, top-quality movies and TV programmes on the sleek 23-inch personal high-resolution widescreen LCD, mounted on the wall in each Suite. Or listen to a large selection of CDs on the accompanying premium headsets.

The new KrisWorld offers a wide selection of 100 movies, more than 180 TV programmes, a library of 700 music CDs, 3D games and more, with full audio and video on-demand. A new suite of office applications allows a customer to simply plug in a USB thumb-drive to save and edit files.

KrisWorld combines business with entertainment and information to provide customers the ultimate travel experience.

The Gourmet Experience

Along with the top of the range product offerings, customers can wine and dine on board as they would in a world-class restaurant, with the flexibility to choose when and what to eat.

Sumptuous gourmet offerings feature among a wide choice of meals, including those exclusively designed by top chefs on the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel, such as Gordon Ramsay (UK), Georges Blanc (France), Matt Moran (Australia) and Sam Leong (Singapore).

These meals are accompanied by a range of the best old world and new world wines, champagnes and spirits selected by Singapore Airlines' panel of renowned wine experts.

The fine dining experience is further enhanced with the use of fine bone chinaware, full-sized crystal ware and silverware, also designed by French fashion house Givenchy.

Inflight Amenities
Completing the luxurious experience is the exclusive Ferragamo amenity kit which will be presented to Singapore Airlines Suites customers on long haul flights. Exclusively available on the A380, the amenity kit features the latest fragrance, F by Salvatore Ferragamo, Ferragamo lip balm, hand cream and facial mist.

The Singapore Airlines Suites is truly a class beyond first and will set new standards as the ultimate luxury inflight experience for those who expect nothing less ... exclusively on the new Singapore Airlines A380.

Business Class

Customers can look forward to experiencing the world's widest business class seat on the Singapore Airlines A380. Designed by James Park Associates (JPA) of the UK and manufactured for Singapore Airlines by Koito of Japan, the seat has already won acclaim since being fitted to the Airline's Boeing 777-300ER fleet last year.

Because of the increased cabin width on the A380, the seats will be even larger. Measuring 86 centimetres (34 inches) in width, the Business Class seat can be transformed into a comfortable full-flat bed for a good night's sleep. Innovative design of the bed enhances sleeping comfort, and also allows customers to lounge in bed to watch TV or eat, as they might at home.

Seats in the Business Class cabin are arranged in a forward facing, four-abreast (1-2-1) configuration that offers all customers direct access to the aisle. The fixed back shell on every seat can be extended to the sides for greater personal privacy.

Other features include a 39-centimetre (15.4-inch) LCD screen fully equipped with USB ports and in-seat power, exclusively designed bedding and dining-ware by Givenchy, enlarged dining table that is height-adjustable, as well as trolley bag stowage under the seat.

Economy Class

The new Singapore Airlines Economy Class seat offers greater comfort through improved seat design and the use of new, lighter and thinner materials. The new seats, designed and built by Weber (USA), provide more personal space, legroom and knee-room.

Customers can catch the latest movies on KrisWorld on a larger 27-centimetre (10.6-inch) screen in each seat. A USB port is also available at each seat to allow customers to access the enhanced functionalities on KrisWorld.

Other intelligent features include the non-intrusive reading light installed underneath the seatback screen, personal storage space for spectacles and small personal items, a coat hook, foot rest and in-seat power supply.

General Cabin Amenity

Besides the spaciousness of the cabin, its low cabin noise inflight, and special lighting features in the Singapore Airlines Suites and Business Class, conveys a sense of serenity and relaxation.

A Passenger Corner is specially created for Business Class customers, for them to pick up snacks between meals and socialize during the flight. Also featured on the aircraft are larger, more luxuriously furnished and brighter lavatories in the Business Class and Singapore Airlines Suites cabins.

Food & Beverage

New and exciting menus for all three classes on the A380 are created by top chefs from the Airline's International Culinary Panel, including Sam Leong from Singapore, Matt Moran from Australia, Gordon Ramsay from the UK, and Georges Blanc from France.

Wines are selected by the Airline's panel of world-renowned wine experts; Karen MacNeil from the United States, Steven Spurrier from the United Kingdom and Michael Hill-Smith from Australia.
The gourmet experience is further enhanced by the use of exclusive Givenchy-designed service ware in the premium cabins.

FACT SHEET: Singapore Airlines A380
Aircraft Range: Approx. 7,100 nautical miles
Engines: 4 Rolls Royce Trent 900
Aircraft Capacity: 471 passengers

ENDS

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