Airbus delivers first A380 superjumbo jet

Oct 16 2007 by Graeme King, The Journal

AIRBUS has at last handed over its first finished A380 superjumbo jet to Singapore Airlines – a massive 18 months behind schedule.

The construction of the A380, which can carry up to 800 passengers, has been beset by persistent and damaging delays.

But the delivery of the first finished plane will be welcomed by workers at the North-East companies who contributed components to the project.

These included Aerospace Systems and Technologies, of Consett, County Durham, Harkers Engineering, based in Stockton, and engine group Rolls-Royce, which employs 400 people in Sunderland.

Singapore Airlines took delivery of the double-decker plane at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, at a ceremony attended by more than 500 people.

It will be flown to its new home at Singapore’s Changi airport tomorrow. The aircraft’s first commercial flight will take place on October 25, when the A380 takes off for Sydney.