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TOULOUSE, France : It was a moment that has been some two years in the making.
But finally on Monday, after delays and internal problems, Airbus delivered its first A380, the world's largest commercial aircraft, to launch customer Singapore Airlines.
It was handed over in a glittering ceremony in Toulouse, France in front of 500 guests, half of them international media, where the spotlight was on a plane that could very well change the way we fly.
From the start of the ceremony, it was clear who the star of the show was.
The quieter, more fuel-efficient plane remains the jumbo answer for airlines looking for solutions to fly passengers efficiently on congested and popular routes.
But beyond the ceremony, a lot is riding on how this first plane performs in commercial service later this month.
After being beset by insider trading scandals and no big, new customers in two years except for British Airways, Airbus is hoping its performance will inspire a second wave of orders from uncommitted carriers.
Thomas Enders, CEO, Airbus, said: "You have those who want to see the aircraft really take to the skies and how it operates and come in the second wave."
Despite the problems, the A380 has captured public imagination since the idea was introduced at the turn of the century.
And for the first time, Singapore Airlines revealed what its new First Class would look like in the more spacious interior.
Designed by French luxury yacht designer Jean-Jacques Coste, the almost one-metre suite opens up to a full flat-sized separate bed.
There are a dozen first class suites, and one of the unique things about them is that it is completely enclosed. And when a passenger goes to bed at night, the bed is a completely flat bed structure that separates from the seat.
And for a couple, there is a separate option of having a double bed.
But passengers could end up paying higher fares, with SIA having said previously that ticket prices could go up between 10 to 20 percent.
Chew Choon Seng, CEO, Singapore Airlines, said: "As with all businesses, we have to recover our cost to stay in business for the longer term, and a lot of our expenditure today is on jet fuel. But with the A380, the unit cost will come down and, hopefully, that will translate into more competitive pricing."
The A380's first commercial flight departs from Singapore's Changi Airport to Sydney on 25th October. - CNA/ch
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