Hydrogen powered engines is another option under consideration – where the main by-product would be a water (which, as it happens, may have negative consequences at high flight levels).

The technology could be made to manufacture a hydrogen jet engine, although there are two problems. Firstly, the storage of hydrogen I think is around 1:15 so for 1 tonne of H you would need 15 tonnes of storage infrastructure (quite a problem where space is somewhat limited at airports.

Secondly, similar to other ‘clean’ fuels, it is not carbon neutral. Unless the H is generated through the likes of a wind farm (which would take a long time), the H would have to be generated through means of e.g. a fossil fuel power station.

So to back up Schorsch’s point, the best savings at the moment (I reckon) will have to be made through more efficient aircraft and engine design before any major breakthroughs are reached in the fuelling area.

Symon

This is excellent news. A lot have people have said for a long time that BA would go with the A380, but it’s still interesting to see it actually happen! Good luck to them with their first Airbus widebody, it will look good in BA livery.

I reckon it’s true though, with other large countries carriers flying the A380 BA almost had to step up to remain one of the big players in the industry. I am keen to see the first U.S. order – maybe Northwest or U.S Airways?

The B747 are supposed to go. As it looks now, the B747-8 is out of the race completely. BA apparently will replace part of its B747-fleet with A380 (have ordered 12 + 7 options). The rest to be replaced by large capacity twin jets, those are
B777-300ER
B787-1000 (still paper)
A350-1000 (still paper)

Has the larger capacity B787-1000 not been re-designated the B787-3?

Seeing as the WHOLE World likes to pick at things…..do you not think if Ryanair added all these additional, optional charges to the original price of the ticket people would THEN complain that Ryanair have bumped their prices up? You’d also get people complaining they’re paying for things they don’t need (on a low cost service). People can’t win now-a-days 😎 I’m with you on this one Paul!

Symon

First set of ‘tickets’ now on sale

Here are the first lot of ‘tickets’ for the very first A380 SIA flight:

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150155467151

For around (I think) £125,000 you will get…..

Your choice of Suites
» Two (02) Complimentary First Class* round trip tickets to Singapore to complete your journey
» Two (02) certificates to confirm you and your travelling companion are the first commercial passengers on the A380, personally presented to you both by your Captain
» BMW 7 Series limousine transfers to and from your First A380 Flight in Singapore and Sydney on the day of your flight for you and your travelling companion
» Personalised assistance throughout the pre-flight process
» An invite to the breakfast send-off party of the world’s first A380 commercial flight
» An exclusive inflight experience, including inflight dining options specially designed and presented inflight by Master Chefs of the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel, Matt Moran and Sam Leong
» Two (02) commemorative premium goodie bags
» Two (02) nights’ complimentary accommodation in Singapore**
» Complimentary dinner for two (02) in Singapore on the night before the flight at “My Humble House”, Sam Leong’s award-winning restaurant
» One (01) night complimentary accommodation in Sydney when you arrive
» Invites to the Singapore Airlines A380 welcome function in Sydney
» Complimentary lunch for two (02) in Sydney the next day at “Aria”, Matt Moran’s award-winning restaurant, adjacent to Sydney’s stunning Harbour Bridge and Opera House
» You and your travelling companion will join Singapore Airlines as guests for the historical delivery of the first A380 by Airbus, at their headquarters in Toulouse, France, on Monday 15 October 2007. Travel will be provided by Singapore Airlines from your nearest Singapore Airlines gateway to Toulouse, France, with two (02) nights accommodation in Toulouse, and special admission to an event that will only occur once: the first ever delivery of the A380, at Airbus’ brand new delivery centre
» One (01) limited edition 1:100 A380 model in Singapore Airlines livery (a professionally produced model measuring 2m x 2m)
» The knowledge that your personal contribution to the charitable causes supported by this First Flight auction will make a real and substantial difference

I will put in a bid for the “normal” tickets when they come up, but can’t see any chance of actually winning a bid!

I can understand that music might be a little distracting in security control areas and queues.

When I was working for a certain security company at a certain aiport (3 guesses as to who!), our department had an iPod that staff would regularly update that was played in the search area.

It certainly didn’t distract us from our work – if anything it cheered us up and helped us work better! It was indeed interupted with any announcements. The only problem with it was it was left on random so sometimes we got Xmas music furing the summer.