ANA turtle set to take flight

AIRBUS has revealed the first of three new A380s ordered by All Nippon Airways (ANA), with a distinctive livery depicting a Hawaiian green sea turtle.

The aircraft was rolled out of the Airbus paint shop in Hamburg, Germany, yesterday and will be the first A380 to be operated by a Japanese carrier.

The livery is one of the most elaborate ever painted by Airbus, taking 21 days to paint a surface of 3,600m2 using 16 different shades of colour.

The first aircraft has been painted blue and will be followed by a second in a green design and a third in orange.

The design is a tribute to Hawaii, with the superjumbo to operate services between Tokyo Narita and Honolulu when it enters service towards the end of the first quarter next year.

“We are excited to showcase the largest passenger aircraft and even more excited about the experience it will offer travellers on the Narita-Honolulu route,” said Yutaka Ito, Executive Vice President of ANA.

“The Airbus A380 will be an important addition to ANA’s current fleet and it will allow passengers to reach the scenic islands of Hawaii in comfort and style,” he said.

The aircraft will now have its cabin fitted out and enter a final phase of ground and flight tests in Hamburg, before it flies to Toulouse for final preparations for its delivery.