A380 Completes First Service to Europe

A Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 takes off on the huge new jetliner's first-ever commercial flight to Europe. The flight, SQ308, flew non-stop from Singapore to London and will operate on the route daily. Credit: AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

LONDON (AP) — An A380, the world's largest passenger jet, touched down at London's Heathrow Airport Tuesday afternoon, completing the plane's first-ever commercial flight to Europe.

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ308 touched down at 2:51 p.m. (1451GMT), about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. There were 449 passengers on board.

Its arrival — shown live by the British Broadcasting Corp.'s News24 — was heavily anticipated in Britain.

Singapore Airlines took out two-page advertisements in national newspapers touting the London to Singapore route and the airline said British aviation minister Jim Fitzpatrick and business minister Pat McFadden were on hand to welcome the superjumbo.

"It is a privilege to be here to witness its first ever commercial flight to not just the U.K., but to Europe," McFadden said in a statement put out by the carrier. He said the plane was quieter and cleaner than existing commercial aircraft.

Singapore Airlines hosted a send-off event for passengers at the country's Changi Airport to commemorate the double-decker plane's European commercial debut. Passengers took pictures and helped themselves to breakfast before boarding.

"I booked an extra ticket just for this experience," said Christian Ernst, 25, of Germany, who made a special stopover in Singapore on his way from South Korea to Frankfurt. "I'm very excited to be on the first flight of the A380 to Europe."

The A380, as tall as a seven-story building, can seat more than 800 passengers in an all-economy class configuration. Singapore Airlines has opted for 471 seats in three classes — 12 Singapore Airlines suites, 60 business class and 399 economy class seats.

Each luxury suite is equipped with sliding doors, a 58-centimeter (23-inch) LCD TV, a full bed and a leather seat. Two of the suites can be joined to provide double beds.

747's reign as biggest jumbo ended 

Powered by four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines, the A380 ends the nearly 37-year reign of the U.S.-made Boeing 747 jumbo jet as the world's most spacious passenger plane. The 747 jumbo jet generally carries about 400 passengers.

Airbus, the European manufacturer of the A380, says the new plane is the most fuel efficient and quietest passenger jet ever built, from inside and outside.

"I'm really interested in this technology," said Ernst, a mechanical engineering student who booked an economy seat on the main deck. "I've also visited the production line in Hamburg."

Singapore Airlines took delivery of the jet, the carrier's third, at the Airbus delivery center in Toulouse, France, last Tuesday and will fly it daily between Singapore and London.

Currently, the plane's sole operator, the carrier has deployed its two other A380s on daily services between Singapore and Sydney. It has firm orders for a further 16 such planes.

Singapore Airlines will also start flying another A380 jet, its fourth and yet to be delivered, on its Singapore-Tokyo route from May 20.

The first A380 was delivered to Singapore Airlines on Oct. 15 — 18 months behind schedule because of wiring problems and after billions of dollars in cost overruns for Airbus.

Dubai-based Emirates will become the second airline with the plane when it takes its first delivery in August.

Associated Press Writer Gillian Wong in Singapore contributed to this report.

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