AVIATION

Singapore Airlines celebrates 1000th A380 flight

Singapore Airlines made aviation history again operating its 1,000th A380 commercial flight.

The Singapore Airlines A380 has performed remarkably during its almost-ten months of commercial service, clocking 8500 flying hours and carrying almost 400,000 customers.

Strong load factors are validation from customers of the Singapore Airlines A380 cabin product.

The A380 features the Singapore Airlines Suites, a class 50 luxurious it offers customers their very own private cabin in the sky;

The new Singapore Airlines Business Class, showcasing the world’s widest seat in its class; and the new Singapore Airlines Economy Class, which promises greater comfort through the use of intelligently designed features.

To meet continuing demand from customers, Singapore Airlines has stepped up training for crew, so that more are qualified to operate the A380 in the coming years. To date, 140 pilots and 2,000 cabin crew have been trained to fly and serve onboard the aircraft.

Emirates Airbus A380 debuts on US West Coast

Emirates Airline showcased its new, double-decker Airbus A380 in San Francisco and Los Angeles last week as part of a number of exclusive tours of the aircraft that were planned for the United States.

Each city offered a two-hour flight, hosted by Emirates, San Francisco and Los Angeles International Airports following the inaugural launch of the aircraft from Dubai to New York’s JFK Airport on August 1st, 2008.

Delivering a message from California State Govenor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barbara Kaufman, Director of Schwarzenegger’s San Francisco office said, This event is not only a momentous occasion for Emirates and for our Golden State, but it is also an historic moment in the history of aviation.

My congratulations go to Emirates on your accomplishments and your beautiful A380 as you help mark a new era in technological advancements, environmental consciousness and passenger comforts.

I’m excited for what the future holds for all those involved in this endeavor and for the friendships strengthened between our two lands.”

The events offered guests an opportunity to tour the aircraft which features 489 seats in a three-class configuration (14 first class seats, 76 business class seats and 399 economy class seats).

Guests also enjoyed Emirates’ award-winning on-board amenities including the airline’s new Shower Spas and onboard lounges, as well as premier service aboard the airline industry’s most fuel efficient aircraft.

Emirates instals inflight mobile phone services on Boeing 777-300

Emirates has again proved itself an aviation industry pioneer after becoming the first airline to introduce inflight mobile phone services on a Boeing aircraft.

Dubai’s award-winning airline recently installed the technology, which allows passengers to make calls and send SMS text messages via their mobile phones during flights, on a Boeing 777-300.

Patrick Brannelly, Vice President, Passenger Communications & Visual Services, said the inflight mobile phone technology will offer greater services and additional communication channels to Emirates’ passengers.

Emirates first installed the technology, which was created by inflight mobile phone technology developer AeroMobile, on one of its Airbus A340-300 aircraft in March - enabling the world’s first authorised phone calls on a commercial flight.

AeroMobile Chief Executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said: “The installation of our system on-board Emirates’ Boeing 777 aircraft is another first for AeroMobile, and clearly demonstrates our ability to offer our technology to airlines using either Boeing or Airbus aircraft.

“There has been overwhelmingly positive feedback since the service launched in March, with between 40 to 60 per cent of passengers switching on their phones on flights where the service is available,” he added.