When the world’s largest passenger airliner took to the skies 10 years ago Monday, the double-decker jet was hailed as the next generation in air travel.
The specs of the Airbus A380 were -- and remain -- impressive in scope: a maximum seating capacity of 853; two passenger decks equal to three single tennis courts; and a take-off thrust equal to the horsepower of 2,500 family cars.
Designed specifically to eclipse its main competitor and reigning king of the skies, the Boeing 747, the A380 was hailed as a game changer in the industry when it took off on its maiden flight across southwest France April 27, 2005.
While the 747 was known as the jumbo jet, the A380 would up the ante in superlatives and take up the nickname Superjumbo.
A decade later, more than a dozen airlines operate 156 of the so-called Superjumbos, shuttling about 3 million passengers a month to 45 destinations around the world.
Here are some other factoids about the A380, which remains the largest civil aircraft in the world, 10 years after making its maiden flight:
-An A380 takes off and lands every 4 minutes.
-The A380’s maximum seating capacity is 853 versus 660 on the 747-400.
-The maiden A380 flight took place in Toulouse, while the first commercial flight was operated by Singapore Airlines in October 2007.
-Emirates has the largest fleet of Superjumbos with 59, followed by Singapore Airlines (19), Lufthansa (13) and Qantas (12).
-Airbus claims its A380 is the quietest cabin in the sky, registering half the noise of the 747-400.
-Passengers on the A380 get 15 percent more stowage space for cabin baggage compared to the 747-400.
-Economy class cabins are configured to fit 11 passengers in a row and offer 18-inch seats compared to 10-abreast rows on the 747 with 17-inch seats.
-More than half of the A380’s capacity is within the Asia-Pacific region.
Source: Relaxnews
GMT 08:14 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Taliban militants 'searched for foreigners'GMT 08:44 2018 Monday ,22 January
Chinese, Russians shore up Middle East tourismGMT 06:47 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Assad regime promotes Syria as a 'tourist' destinationGMT 12:27 2018 Saturday ,20 January
US Supreme Court to take up case on Trump's latest travel banGMT 06:16 2018 Friday ,19 January
Airbus gets early 2018 jump on rival BoeingGMT 06:10 2018 Thursday ,18 January
China's aircraft carrier sails by Taiwan as tensions growGMT 07:31 2018 Wednesday ,17 January
Airbus warns A380 programme at riskGMT 07:16 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Ritz-Carlton to re-open after holding royalsMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©