Qantas' new Airbus A380 roared over Melbourne before touching down at Melbourne Airport for the first time.
The "jolly green giant", so called because of its fuel efficiency, flew from the home of Airbus France to Sydney, via Singapore, on Sunday before landing in Melbourne at about 7.30am this morning to start a series pilot training flights.
The $300 million aircraft, named Nancy-Bird Walton after the Australian aviatrix who flew with Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, came more than two years and two months late. However, Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon has already foreshadowed the purchase of 20 more.
The executive general manager of Qantas, John Borghetti, said the aircraft would make several flights in and out of Melbourne until October 17, including a promotional flight over the MCG during the AFL grand final
"The Qantas A380 will operate its first commercial service between Melbourne and Los Angeles on 20 October, and a range of pilot and ground training, maintenance and promotional activities are planned in the lead-up to this milestone," Mr Borghetti said.
Qantas expects to take delivery of three more A380s by the end of this year and another eight by the end of 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment