Flight SQ380, the first ever commercial flight of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 landed today at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport. All of its passengers are in agreement: the amount they paid for were well worth it, and that the superjumbo was surprisingly quiet.

Some trivia about the first passengers of the maiden flight:

• The youngest customer is a 10 month-old boy from Singapore
• The oldest is a 91 year-old man, also from Singapore, travelling with his family. His son bought the Singapore Airlines Suites ticket for him in the charity auction;
• Mr Julian Hayward bought the first Suite on the flight, paying US$100,380 for him and a friend to travel from Singapore to Sydney;
• Among passengers is Mr Thomas Lee, from California, who was a passenger on the world’s first Boeing 747 commercial flight between New York and London in 1970.
• Also travelling is Ms Isabelle Chu, a travel agent from Perth, who is flying in both directions on the A380. Ms Chu flew in both directions on the first Singapore Airlines A340-500 flights between Singapore and Los Angeles, and Singapore and New York, non-stop in 2004, with just time for shower between flights. This time, she will enjoy an overnight stopover in Sydney.
• The passengers represent 35 different nationalities, with the largest group being Australians (28%), then Singaporeans (14%), then Britons (11%) and Americans (8%). Those who have come furthest for the first flight are 4 Norwegians.
• The most common first name of passengers is David, with 11.
• The ratio of male to female passengers on board is 7:3.

Source: Singapore Airlines Website

The A380 goes into regular service on the 29th of October between Singapore and Sydney. Flight 221 leaves Singapore at 8:30 in the evening, arriving in Sydney at 7 am the following day. SQ232 from Sydney to Singapore leaves Kingsford Smith Airport at 12:45 pm, touching down in Changi Airport at 5:40 in the afternoon.

Head on to the Singapore Airlines A380 website for a virtual tour of the A380’s interiors. The Sydney Morning Herald has pictures and videos of this momentous event.

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Singapore Airlines received the first commercial Airbus A380 today at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France. The A380 delivery also gives us a glimpes of Singapore Airline’s newest product, the Singapore Airline Suites, as well as improvements in business and economy class.

Business Travel Guru has this to day about the new Singapore Airline Suites:

Elegantly furnished, each of the Singapore Airlines Suites opens up to a plush and luxurious leather seat, which is almost a metre wide (with armrest folded away). 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 utilise the seat as part of the sleeping surface. Lavish Givenchy-designed duvets and cushions ensure customers can drift into peaceful and comfortable sleep. For couples traveling, the beds in the middle two seats can be converted to an optional double bed.

Source: Business Travel Guru

Head on over to the Business Travel Guru blog for the Singapore Airlines A380 cabin pictures. It’s simply amazing. Watch the A380’s journey from the drawing board up to its first delivery over at A380delivery.com

Nina’s note: Yes, I know, yet another A380 post gah

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…and it’s crazy! Crazy I tell you!

The world’s first commercial flight of the A380 will take off from Singapore on 25 October 2007 and return from Sydney on 26 October 2007.

Singapore Airlines is auctioning seats on both legs of the flight on eBay. All proceeds will be donated to charities.

On board, you’ll be the first to experience new standards in comfort and luxury across all three classes of travel. Indulge in masterful culinary delights from renowed chefs Sam Leong (Singapore) and Matthew Moran (Australia), members of the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel.

This is your chance to be a part of history

Source: Singapore Airlines A380 website

Prices for a pair of economy seats starts at $3.80, business class for $38.00, and the new Singapore Airlines Suites for $380. Of course, it has now ballooned to cosmic proportions: economy tickets for $2,000, business class for $11,000, suites for $21,000. I’m used to seeing these figures, but in Philippine Peso and Japanese Yen! Omigod. (Then again, it made me feel a bit better about my eBay & Y!Japan purchases heehee.)

Of course, proceeds of this auction goes to charity, so it’s all good.

Daaamn, now I want to go to either Singapore or Sydney just to get a glimpse of this plane…

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A couple of months ago, I posted a question for you guys regarding which airline would you chose: one where your frequent flier miles are, and one which always top the airline ratings chart. Based on your answers, I made my decision to pick [tag]Singapore Airlines[/tag] over Philippine Airlines on my trip to Melbourne from Manila.

It’s one of the best decisions I ever made.
Read the rest of this entry »

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All I can say is that I love it. I just hope they don’t botch this up. But I’m optimistic they won’t.

Then again, this IS Manila.

OMG, is this going to be a full flight?!

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