Singapore Airlines new Airbus.
The A380 will totally redefine luxury in the sky says SIA spokesman.
Aug 15, 2007
Exciting news reaches us that Singapore Airlines will take delivery of the first A380 aircraft from Airbus on Monday 15th October, at a cermony in Toulouse, France. Within a few days of delivery, the aircraft will fly to Singapore’s Changi Airport: the world’s first A380 home airport when crew and staff will undergo familiarisation with the ‘plane.
The first flight of the SIA A380 will be to Sydney, Australia, on Thursday 25 October, returning to Singapore on Friday 26 October.
This new A380 will be configured with 471 seats in three classes: Economy, Business and the new Singapore Airlines Suites: a class beyond First. The A380’s First Flight will be the first ever occasion to fly in these suites, a product that SIA is convinced will totally redefine luxury in the sky.
Singapore Airlines is also considering an all-business class for its Airbus A340-500 on the two non-stop flight between Singapore and Los Angeles and Singapore New York. SIA’s existing non-stop flights on these two routes with the same Airbus, operate with two classes, business and executive economy. They have been assessing the move to an all-business class configuration for the aircraft, as these non-stop flights have had high loading for business class but a less strong loading for Executive Economy on midweek flights. The change could take effect next year.
SIA already operates one-stop services to both these cities with first, business and economy-class seating. The non-stop SIA flight between the two USA cities and Singapore Los Angles is the world’s longest commercial nonstop service at more than 18 hours and was first launched in 2004.
Meanwhile, the news on the ground is that the Singapore is proposing an extra charge of 20% per room on all accommodation during the city’s first Formula I race in 2008. Furthermore, the 11 hotels located along the proposed circuit will pay a hefty room levy of 30%.
The levy applies to the days leading up to and including the race on 28th September 2008. The extra percentage being levied will repay the government whose coffers are helping to stage the event. The boost to the Government is expected to be an average of S$20 million a year, but the cost of staging the event has been put as high as S$150 million.
Singapore is not alone in charging more for their hotel rooms during the period, other Formula I cities do the same, but some hotels are likely to benefit more from the event than others, i.e. those in close proximity to the circuit, or those with a good view of the track. The hotels are expected to set a 5-day minimum stay rate during the race period. Formula I Race cities generally experience full occupancy during the FI race days.
