Singapore Airlines will be the first carrier to receive delivery of the Airbus A380 jet. The aircraft is planned for handover by Airbus on Monday, October 15, at a ceremony in Toulouse, France. The largest passenger plane ever built will then make its commercial debut on October 25.

It will be configured with 471 seats in three classes: Economy, Business and the new Singapore Airlines Suites: a class beyond First.

Within a few days of delivery, the aircraft will fly to Singapore’s Changi Airport: the world’s first A380 home airport. There will be a short period set aside for crew and ground staff familiarization.

World aviation history will be made when the Singapore Airlines A380 makes its First Flight—SQ380—to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport on Thursday, October 25, and return to Singapore on Friday, October 26.

Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chew Choon Seng, said the delivery would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the aviation industry.

“Everyone at Singapore Airlines is keenly anticipating the delivery of this new plane, and our people are working hard on final preparation for its entry into service. The first flight promises to be one of the most exciting occasions in aviation history.

“We are overwhelmed by the support of the community—from all over the world—for the charity auction. And I would like to thank the many partners and service providers that have followed the lead of our fuel supplier, ExxonMobil, and eBay, in donating their services for the First Flight’s charitable causes.

“While occasions like this are few and far between, we hope this enthusiasm generates support for very worthwhile causes,” Mr. Chew said.

Seats across all three classes will be auctioned on the global online marketplace, eBay. There will be plenty of seats put to auction, allowing many opportunities for travelers keen to be part of history to join the First Flight experience.

For the new Singapore Airlines Suites, the A380’s First Flight will be the first ever occasion to fly on what will be a product that totally redefines luxury in the sky.

Entry into scheduled service will commence on the Sydney route soon after the First Flight. A further announcement will be made on this in due course.

Charity Auction Starts 27 August

The auction of seats on the First Flight will commence on Monday, August 27, 2007. Seats in all three classes will be sold progressively, across both legs of the flight. Bids will be staggered to finish at various times over a period of just over two weeks, with the auction cycle being completed on September 10, 2007.

The auction will be for single, double and multiple seats in each class.
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