SYDNEY (AFP) - The Airbus A380, the largest airliner ever built, successfully completed its maiden commercial flight Thursday, heralding a new era in aviation after months of delays and massive cost overruns. The superjumbo, a gigantic double-decker that can carry more than 850 people, winged its way in style as 455 passengers enjoyed champagne and caviar on the historic flight from Singapore to Sydney.
Those aboard exploded in three rounds of cheers and applause as the aircraft touched down. Air traffic controllers, who guided the massive plane as it taxied to a stop, called it "the big fella".
"It was a textbook landing, just a beautiful landing by the Singapore Airlines crew," aviation expert Ian Holland said as the seven-hour and seven minute-long flight came to an end.
Travellers from around the world booked their seats on the maiden flight in an online charity auction, with one Briton paying 100,000 dollars to be among the first to fly the largest passenger plane ever constructed.
"It's like a party on board," said top-bidder Julian Hayward, who confessed to being "pampered and spoiled" in his super-premium seat as flight attendants plied the debut passengers on flight SQ380 with gourmet food and drink.
The passengers were full of praise for the aircraft's whisper-quiet engines and the luxury features installed by Singapore Airlines, the launch customer for the new aircraft.
"It was smooth, the plane is much bigger than other planes -- even in economy there's more space," said Johann Albrechtr from Austria, who paid 3,500 dollars for his one-way economy ticket.
The giant plane, so large that 72 cars could fit on each of its wings, can carry up to 853 passengers -- but Singapore Airlines (SIA) has opted instead for a more luxurious set-up with a maximum of 471 seats.
Those include 12 "suites" which have been at the centre of SIA's marketing campaign -- compartments featuring a full-length bed behind sliding doors, sheets by French design house Givenchy and flat-screen televisions.
For Thursday's inaugural flight, suites passengers were offered Dom Perignon Rose 1996, caviar and a menu including duck breast and black cod.
But the lavish celebration could not disguise what was a long and bumpy take-off for Airbus, which was 18 months late in delivering the plane to SIA and suffered an estimated six billion dollars in cost over-runs.
The delay embarrassed the European manufacturer, a bitter rival of US firm Boeing.
SIA chief executive officer Chew Choon Seng called the flight "a new milestone in the timeline of aviation" but said that the party atmosphere surrounding the flight had not erased the memory of the delays.
"I wouldn't say forgotten," he said.
Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation managing director Peter Harbison said Airbus executives would be thrilled as they watched the troubled plane begin its commercial life from their headquarters back in France.
"There will be some very happy Airbus people watching pictures now in Toulouse," he said.
Some analysts have warned that the gigantic aircraft is a "white elephant" but others insist it will revolutionise the industry.
The plane will remain in Sydney for 23 hours before taking many of the same passengers on the return journey to Singapore. Regular service to Sydney will begin on Sunday.
Superjumbo service on the Singapore-London route will start in February, and Japan could come later, according to SIA executives.
Rival Boeing has put its energies into developing a midsized airplane, the 787 Dreamliner, which has secured at least 710 orders.
In contrast, Airbus has 180 firm orders and commitments to buy the superjumbo.
Dubai-based Emirates has ordered 55 A380s, making it the leading client on a list of predominantly Asian, European and Gulf-based customers. Qantas will get the A380 next year for use on its Los Angeles route.
-front.jpg)
