A380 comes to Sydney for passenger proving flights

The double-decker Airbus A380 is heading back to Australia next month to conduct passenger “proving” flights.
The promotional visit comes ahead of the start of commercial service by Singapore Airlines later this year.

Singapore is due to become the first airline to receive the A380 in October and intends to begin flying it on the Sydney route shortly afterwards.

The giant aircraft has been plagued by production difficulties that have delayed its delivery by two years.

But SIA spokeswoman Kate Pratley said the airline was unaware of any changes to schedule.

“It looks like this time around it’s going to happen and there is no change to the first flight – it is still Singapore to Sydney,” Ms Pratley said.

“It’s not too far away now and it’s coming.”

Airlines that have bought the plane remain enthusiastic about it, saying that it is expected to meet or exceed its promised specifications.

Several, including Qantas, have increased their orders. The latest to do so was Emirates, which this week announced it would take four more A380s – an improvement in the carrier’s strained relations with the European manufacturer.

Emirates will be the world’s biggest operator of the superjumbo. The new order boosts its fleet of A380s to 47.

Emirates will use the planes to help cope with big increases in passenger numbers – 15 million people a year are expected to visit the Gulf state by 2015.

Qantas has ordered 20 planes, with deliveries due to start next year and continue through to 2015.

The European manufacturer has so far sold 160 planes to 14 airlines and chief operating officer John Leahy told reporters in India this week that he expected that to jump to 176 this year.

Airlines such as Qantas, Singapore and Emirates are kitting out their long-haul aircraft with luxurious new seats and features that will see passenger numbers significantly below the 55-seat optimum specified by Airbus for a three-class configuration.