LONDON (AFP) — Airbus's A380, the world's biggest passenger plane which promises a new dimension of space and comfort for travellers, was due to land in London on Tuesday on its first commercial flight to Europe.
The Singapore Airlines jet, as tall as a seven-storey building and with about 50 percent more cabin space than its rivals, was carrying 449 passengers enjoying increased legroom and state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment.
Airbus says the superjumbo represents "a new generation of aircraft," but green groups are less enthusiastic, warning the environmental benefits of high capacity planes will be outweighed by increasing demand for air travel.
Flight SQ308 took off from Changi airport in Singapore at 9:19 am (0119 GMT) Tuesday and was scheduled to arrive in London just before 3:00 pm (1500 GMT) after more than 13 hours in the sky.
Passengers boarding the plane spoke of their excitement, particularly over the super-luxury comforts available to those who can afford what Singapore Airlines brands "a class beyond first".
This features 12 suites with full-length beds behind sliding doors, sheets by French designer Givenchy and flat-screen televisions.
"I am looking forward to the suites," said Briton Bertuccio Ginomr, who owns a cosmetic business.
"This is my second time on the A380 and the suites are awesome."
Isabelle Chu, an Australian travel agency boss, paid 2,800 Singapore dollars (2,028 US) for a return trip in economy class and has been on several inaugural flights on new routes with Singapore Airlines.
"I would describe it as an expensive hobby but it is better than buying an LV bag," Chu told AF, referring to the luxury Louis Vuitton brand.
Airbus says that the A380 burns 17 percent less fuel per seat than other big airliners, adding that this will reduce the carbon footprint of each passenger.
"This is the most significant step forward in reducing aircraft fuel burn and resultant emissions in four decades," it said in a statement on its website, which also described the plane as "a new generation of aircraft".
But Richard Dyer, transport campaigner for British-based environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth, said that the plane should not be described as eco-friendly.
"The benefit of increasing plane capacity to accommodate more passengers will easily be outweighed by the rapid growth in flights," he said.
"New technology alone will not solve aviation's impact on climate change."
Last week Queen Elizabeth II opened a new, fifth terminal at Heathrow that will handle growing capacity at one of the world's busiest airports.
Singapore Airlines trumpeted the plane's arrival in London with glossy ads in British newspapers Tuesday, showing air hostesses and men dressed in bowler hats and suits parading before the Houses of Parliament.
The airline will use the A380 on daily flights between London and Singapore from Tuesday.
The A380's first commercial flight was in October last year. Its development by Airbus was plagued by serious cost overruns and delivery delays of as much as two years.
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