Flight of the superjumbo: British Airways takes delivery
of its first new £270million Airbus A380 as it touches down
at Heathrow
- - Airbus A380 touched down in Heathrow from Toulouse this morning
- - Bigger, more spacious, more comfortable, quieter than jets it replaces
- - First of a double-decker dozen of A380s ordered by British Airways
- - Comes ahead of fleet going into service in Autumn
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British Airways today took delivery of its new double-decker ‘superjumbo’ which airline bosses say will herald a new era for the nation’s flagship airline.
BA says passengers will find its new £270million Airbus A380 bigger, more spacious, more comfortable, quieter and ‘greener’ than the ageing Jumbo jets it replaces – with fresher in-flight air to boot.
This morning the giant of the skies touched down at Heathrow in London, waved on by cheering BA staff who welcomed its arrival.
The plane is the first of a dozen of A380s ordered by British Airways ahead of the model going into service in the autumn.
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Homecoming: The Airbus A380 resplendent in distinctive BA livery dwarfs houses as it comes into land at Heathrow Airport, London
Feat of engineering: The huge plane, pictured at Heathrow this morning, will carry 469 passengers across First, Business and Economy classes
BA behemoth: The A380 superjumbo captain puts the plane's many wheels down in preparation for landing today
BA behemoth: The A380 superjumbo captain puts the plane's many wheels down in preparation for landing today
Good day for BA: Tricia Dowdell, 50 From Ascot, left, Sarah Kiff, 47 from Croxley Green, centre, and Julie Coker, 47 from Hayes, right, await the new arrival at Heathrow
Welcome party: From left to right, Graziella Buttaci, 26 from Surrey, Ruth Forbes, 29 from Beaconsfield, Delilah Legdlai, 40 from London Esha Sakon, 39 from Sandhurst and Laura Keeping, 40 from St Albans wve their flags to welcome the plane
British Airways today has taken delivery of the new double-decker 'superjumbo' which airline bosses say will herald 'a new era' for the nation¿s flagship airline - the A3B0
BA says passengers will find its new £270million Airbus A380 bigger, more spacious, more comfortable, quieter and 'greener' than the ageing Jumbo jets it replaces - with fresher in-flight air to boot
It is part of the airline’s wider five-year £5bn investment plan to refresh its fleet with 52 new aircraft including the Airbus’s new rival Boeing 787 dubbed the ‘plastic plane’.
British Airways chief executive Keith Williams was at Airbus’s factory in Toulouse today to sign for hand-over and delivery of his first new A380 plane before flying in it with a small group of journalists - including myself - to BA’s main engineering base at London’s Heathrow Airport.
VIEW FROM THE AIR: RAY MASSEY
'You've never seen a bigger smile on the face of a captain', said the relieved skipper of British Airways' new superjumbo over the speakers as he set down the wheels of the 575 tonne leviathan on Heathrow's hallowed tarmac with a touch as light as a feather.
Captain James Basnett landed BA's new double-decker Airbus A380 - flight BA 9158P for positioning flight- touching down bang on time at 10.30am after a smooth and eerily quiet one and a half hour flight from the Airbuse factory in Toulouse.
No pressure. But aboard the £270million plane with the call sign Speedbird 380 he did have his boss and fifty VIP passengers plus a few journalists like me, scrutinising his every move.
There were cheers on board as the wheels hit the ground without a bump. And even louder cheers from outside when 380 BA staff welcomed the plane to its new UK hangar.
The new double-decker superjumbo – whose high-tech British-built wings support up to 100,000 UK jobs - will be shown off alongside a Boeing 787 Dreamliner at the Hatton Cross site.
British Airways is also the first airline in Europe to operate both the Airbus A380 and the rival Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the first two of which landed at Heathrow last week.
The vast superjumbo planes can theoretically carry up to 800 people – provided all the passengers are squeezed into narrow economy-sized seats.
But British Airways’ new A380s is making do with just 469 passengers across four classes of cabin classes – with lucrative First and Business class passengers paying a hefty premium for the privilege.
The airline has announced that the first long-haul return flight from London Heathrow to Los Angeles on September 24 is priced from £621 in economy to £2,550 in business and £3,799 in First, while the first Hong Kong return on October 22 is priced from £688 in economy to £2,499 in business and £5,800 in First.
Legroom is 31 inches in economy, 38 inches in premium economy, there’s a 6ft-long bed in business class (Club World) and a luxurious 6ft 6 inch-long bed in First Class.
But BA add that the new economy seats have been cleverly designed to be thinner-backed and hollowed out to increase seating space for passengers.
In addition, Airbus points out that the A380 has 50 per cent more floor-space than a Boeing 747 Jumbo jet – but the number of passengers is just 30 per cent more – meaning each one has more space.
First class passengers have 14 seats at the front of the main deck and enjoy nearly a third more ‘personal space’ and 60 per cent more personal stowage.
Global icon: The A380 comes into land with London's skyline in the background
Giant: British Airways' first Airbus A380 superjumbo next to a sister Airbus A320 having arrived on its delivery flight
Arrival: The British Airways Airbus A380 prepares to touchdown at Heathrow this morning for the first time
Touchdown: The £270million A380 lands at Heathrow for the first time as the airline takes delivery of its first of 12 new planes
Arrival: Captain James Basnett landed BA's new double-decker Airbus A380 touching down bang on time at 10.30am after a smooth and eerily quiet one and a half hour flight from the Airbuse factory in Toulouse
Arrival: BA staff celebrate outside at Heathrow as the A380 parks up for the first time outside its airbase
Pilot: The cockpit of the new A380 plane which has touched down at Heathrow for the first time
Up top: Inside the cockpit of the A380. The plane has two pilots, although on longer flights four will be used
The vast double decker superjumbo planes can theoretically carry up to 800 people - provided all the passengers are squeezed into narrow economy-sized seats
BA add that the new economy seats have been cleverly designed to be thinner backed and hollowed out to increase seating space for passengers
BRITISH AIRWAYS' NEW A380
Cost: £270million ($400m)
Length: 72.7m (238 feet 8 inches)
Wingspan: 79.8m (261 feet 10 inches)
Height: 24.1m (79 feet)
Top speed: 587mph
Seats: 469 seats (14 First, 97 business, 55 premium economy, 303 economy)
Range: 9,755 miles
Max take-off weight: 560 tonnes
Pilots: Two to four (depending on length of flight)
Cabin crew: 22
Number in BA fleet: First of 12 on order
(Three arrive this year and five more in 2014).
(Three arrive this year and five more in 2014).
Legroom:
- 31 inches in economy
- 38 inches in premium economy
- 6ft long bed in Business class (Club World)
- 6ft 6 inch long bed in First Class
- 31 inches in economy
- 38 inches in premium economy
- 6ft long bed in Business class (Club World)
- 6ft 6 inch long bed in First Class
Manufacturer: Airbus Industries, Toulouse
Engines: Four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines built in Derby.
Engines: Four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines built in Derby.
Wings: Built at Airbus factory in Broughton, North Wales.
Part of British Airways’ five-year £5bn investment plan to refresh the BA fleet with 52 new planes over five years.
Business Class (called Club World by BA ) has 44 seats on the main deck, and 53 seats on the upper deck. Premium economy has 55 seats on the upper deck, while the reminder travelling economy can choose seats on both the main and upper deck.
The airline has ordered 12 A380s for delivery by 2016 of which three will arrive this year followed by a further five in 2014. But it had to raise the roof of its hangars at Heathrow by around 12 feet to accommodate the new superjumbos.
BA said the new aircraft’s innovative design means it is twice as quiet as a Boeing 747 Jumbo jet on take-off – and four times quieter on landing which may help placate some residents around Heathrow.
It is also 16 per cent more fuel efficient per seat than a Jumbo Jet, and claims to be the ‘greenest’ passenger jet in the sky.
British Airways chief executive Mr Williams said: ’These aircraft are the start of a new era for British Airways. Over the next 15 months, we will take delivery of new aircraft at the rate of one a fortnight as we put ourselves at the forefront of modern aviation.’
‘The A380 is a fantastic aircraft and an excellent showpiece for British engineering. Our customers are going to love the space, light and comfort on board.’
Mr Williams said: ’We are investing £5billion in improving our products and services across the board, whether that is in new aircraft, lounge upgrades, enhanced catering or changes to our short haul product. Renewing our aircraft fleet is a significant part of this.’
He added that some of these aircraft will replace older members of our fleet, and will also allow it to grow its worldwide network and offer customers new and exciting destinations.
Airbus president and chief executive Fabrice Bregier said it was 'a very proud moment' to see the A380 in the livery of British Airways.
He added: 'It is a special day for UK industry too. A significant proportion of this amazing aircraft was designed and built at Airbus UK sites in Filton and Broughton, as well as at our many partners’ facilities across the country.’
All BA’s A380s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines built at Derby which means up to 40 per cent of the value near £300million cost of each superjumbo – or around £120million - is ‘British made’.
Airbus said that over its lifetime of the A380 plane will contribute £15billion to the UK economy with the Rolls-Royce engines adding another £11billion.
But while it may be BA’s first superjumbo, it is the 106th to be delivered with rivals such as Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas Air France and Lufthansa getting in first.
Airbus points out that the A380 has 50 per cent more floor-space than a Boeing 747 Jumbo jet - but the number of passengers is just 30 per cent more - meaning each one has more space
Legroom is 31 inches in economy, 38 inches in premium economy, there¿s a 6ft long bed in business class (Club World) and a luxurious 6ft 6 inch long bed in First Class
BA is now is embarking on a complex training programme with pilots and cabin-crew at Manston Airport in Kent. Customer service trials are taking place at Heathrow, and short-haul flying for both aircraft within the UK.
However the A380 has not been without its teething problems.
Last month air investigators said a mid-flight engine explosion on a Qantas A380 in 2010, which prompted the airline to ground its fleet, was triggered by a poorly built oil-pipe. Rolls-Royce later agreed to pay £58million in compensation.
And last year there were concerns about cracks found in parts of the hi-tech British-built wings.
Mile high club: The surprisingly spacious toilets in the new A380 plane which is more than double the size of a traditional airline restroom. BA have said they chose to put two large toilets on the plane instead of showers like on the Emirates Airbus
Smart: The spacious new First Class seats on board the A380 Airbus. The BA planes have 14 first class seats on board
Plush interior: The bar area of the new A380 plane which touched down at Heathrow, west London, for the first time today
The airline has announced that the first long-haul return flight from London Heathrow to Los Angeles on September 24 is priced from £621 in economy to £2,550 in business and £3,799 in First
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