Category: A380

Today the Airbus A380 has launched the company’s alternative fuel research programme by becoming the first commercial aircraft to fly with a synthetic liquid fuel processed from gas (Gas to Liquids – GTL) in a three hour flight between Filton, UK and Toulouse, France. The aircraft (F-WWDD) is wearing a new slogan painted on the fuselage, “Greener. Cleaner. Quieter. Smarter.”

The A380, today’s most fuel efficient airliner, is powered by Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines, while Shell International Petroleum is providing the Shell GTL Jet Fuel. The Airbus tests are running in parallel to the agreement signed in November 2007 with Qatar Airways, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Fuels, Qatar Science & Technology Park, Rolls Royce and Shell International Petroleum Company to research the potential benefits of synthetic jet fuel processed from gas. The findings of the tests will benefit the consortium’s research.

Under Airbus’ overall alternatives fuels research programme, this is the first step of a long-term Airbus testing phase to evaluate viable and sustainable alternative fuels for the future. GTL could be available at certain locations to make it a practical and viable drop-in alternative fuel for commercial aviation in the short term. GTL has attractive characteristics for local air quality, as well as some benefits in terms of aircraft fuel burn relative to existing jet fuel. For instance, it is virtually free of sulphur. Synthetic fuel can be made from a range of hydrocarbon source material including natural gas or organic plant matter made by a process called Fischer-Tropsch.

Testing GTL today will support future second generation bio-fuels, but which are not presently available in sufficient commercial quantities. Airbus will study viable second generation bio-fuels when they become available.

Source: Airbus

Singapore Airlines (SIA) today announced that the first A380 flight to London will take off on 18 March, after the Airline takes delivery of the third A380 into its fleet by mid-March. The world’s largest passenger aircraft departs London later the same day for the return journey.

Customers on these flights will receive personalised certificates, exclusive premium giveaways and limited edition Singapore Airlines A380 souvenirs. They will also get to savour gastronomic treats created by two renowned chefs from Singapore Airlines’ International Culinary Panel – Sam Leong of the Tung Lok Group in Singapore and British culinary legend, Gordon Ramsay.

These flights mark the commencement of daily A380 services between Singapore and London and is also the first-ever A380 commercial service to Europe.

The first A380 flight to London, SQ 308, will leave Singapore’s Changi Airport on Tuesday, 18 March 2008, at 0900 hrs and arrive at London’s Heathrow Airport at 1505 hrs (all times local).

On the same day, the aircraft will return to Singapore, operating as SQ 319, departing Heathrow at 1855 hrs, arriving back into Singapore at 1535 hrs on Wednesday, 19 March 2008.

Thereafter, the Singapore Airlines A380 will commence regular scheduled services, operating SQ322 daily on the Singapore-London sector from the evening of Tuesday 18 March, and on SQ 317 for the return leg from 19 March.

Seats on A380 services, including the inaugural flights, are open for sale. Those who wish to be part of this landmark experience may purchase tickets via the Singapore Airlines website, singaporeair.com, or through their travel agents.

Customers who hold ticketed bookings on flights to be operated by the A380 will be automatically accommodated on the new aircraft without any change required to their tickets. Customers holding bookings, but not yet ticketed, may need to check if there have been changes to their fares as a result of the aircraft change.

SCHEDULE OF SINGAPORE AIRLINES A380 FLIGHTS TO/FROM SINGAPORE AND LONDON

Inaugural A380 flight – Tuesday 18 March 2008 only

Flight number	Date	Departure Time	Arrival Time
SQ 308 Singapore-London	18 March 2008	0900 hours	1505 hours
SQ 319 London-Singapore	18 March 2008	1855 hours	1535 hours next day

Scheduled A380 services (Northern Winter 2007/2008)

Flight number	Commencement date	Departure Time	Arrival Time
SQ 322 Singapore-London	Daily from 18 March 2008	2320 hours	0525 hours next day
SQ 317 London-Singapore	Daily from 19 March 2008	1100 hours	0740 hours next day

Scheduled A380 services (Northern Summer 2008)

Flight number	Commencement date	Departure Time	Arrival Time
SQ 322 Singapore-London	Daily from 30 March 2008	2330 hours	0555 hours next day
SQ 317 London-Singapore	Daily from 31 March 2008	1155 hours	0745 hours next day

Australian flag carrier Qantas is going to do an Airbus A380 route proving flight next week. The A380 used for the flight will be the development aircraft MSN007, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines. MSN007 is equipped with an Airbus-designed full passenger cabin in a three-class layout. Visited cities will be Los Angeles (USA) and Sydney (Australia).

Schedule in detail:

• November 28, 11:45 am (Pacific Time), arrival from Minneapolis (MSP) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Runway 25L
• November 29, 7:30 am, departure for a demonstration flight over Southern California with 150 passengers invited by Qantas and Airbus. Returning back to LAX at 9:30 am on Runway 25L.
• November 30, 8:00 am departure to Sydney (SYD), piloted by a joint Airbus-Qantas flight crew, from Runway 25L.

(This page will be updated as soon as further details emerge.)

Source: Los Angeles World Airports