Exactly 15 years ago on April 27, 2005, the world’s largest commercial aircraft performed its maiden flight.
This is Airbus’ video of the first flight:
On that day, the Airbus A380 took off from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport at 10:29 A.M. local time and landed back in Toulouse 3 hours and 54 minutes later.
This Airbus A380, registered as F-WW0W, had a takeoff weight of 421 tonnes or 928,300 lbs. This was the heaviest of any civil aircraft at this time.
Read Airbus’ press release, which was posted the day of the A380’s maiden flight: https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2005/04/a380-world-s-largest-commercial-aircraft-successfully-takes-to-the-skies.html
Eventually, Singapore Airlines became the first operator of the Airbus A380 on October 25, 2007, which flew its inaugural revenue flight from Singapore to Sydney.
As of April 2020, there are 15 Airbus A380 operators:
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- Qantas
- Air France
- Lufthansa
- Korean Air
- China Southern Airlines
- Malaysia Airlines
- Thai Airways
- British Airways
- Asiana Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Etihad Airways
- Hi Fly
- All Nippon Airways
Emirates is the world’s largest operator with 115 aircraft in its fleet and 8 on order. The aircraft is a key player in fueling the airline’s Dubai hub
Hi Fly is the smallest operator of the Airbus A380 with just one of the aircraft. The charter airline was the first airline to receive a second-hand A380, which came from Singapore Airlines.
15 years ago however, the A380 was an engineering marvel with a potent future of bringing capacity to routes like never before.
Now, however, the A380 is expected to end production by 2021 once Airbus finishes the final Emirates A380.
As we continue through COVID-19, Airbus A380s have been grounded around the world.
- British Airways sent most of its A380s to Châteauroux Airport in France
- Air France flew several A380s to Telruel for long-term storage.
- Just yesterday, Singapore Airlines flew four A380s to Alice Springs, Australia.
- All Nippon Airways has deferred its final A380 delivery by months.
China Southern Airlines is the only A380 operator at the moment. The airline is operating weekly flights from its hub in Guangzhou to destinations such as Chengdu, Amsterdam, London, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Sydney, and more.
Image Credits
Singapore A380: 9V-SKS | Airbus A380-841 | Singapore Airlines | Alexis Boidron | JetPhotos
Hi Fly A380: 9H-MIP Airbus A380 Hi Fly | Airbus A380-841 Hi Fly s/n 006 F… | Flickr
I’m sure many of you have flown the A380 over these past few years. This aircraft may be the most impacted aircraft as a result of COVID-19 and its end appears to be imminent. However, we all have our memories of flying and spotting the A380.
If you feel like it, post your pictures or tell your experiences of the A380 below.
