Airbus and Heathrow celebrate 10th anniversary of first A380 flight to London
Airbus and Heathrow Airport are celebrating the 10th anniversary of A380 operations at the airport. They began on March 18, 2008 with the arrival of the first A380, a Singapore Airlines flight SQ308 from Singapore Changi Airport, making Heathrow one of the first to welcome Airbus’ iconic double decker.
Heathrow is now the world’s busiest A380 airport with a number of A380 operators with nine airlines operating to 13 destinations on some 50 A380 daily flights. The UAE carriers, Emirates and Etihad Airways have been instrumental in contributing to these figures. The airlines operate a total of nine flights a day — Emirates with six daily flights and Etihad Airways with three — on the A380, from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively to the Heathrow Airport. In January, Emirates signed a deal with Airbus to buy a further 36 A380 aircraft, reaffirming the superjumbo as a passenger favorite for its exceptional comfort and unique travel experience.
Simon Eastburn, director of airline business development at Heathrow, said: “It’s been fantastic to see nine of our airlines welcome the Airbus A380 over the past decade. Ten years from the first flight, this pioneering aircraft has helped us reduce noise and improve efficiency whilst supporting continued passenger demand for longhaul routes. This is one of the most popular aircraft for many passengers so we look forward to celebrating this milestone with them.”
David Dufrenois, head of A380 market development at Airbus, said: “The A380 is essential to the operations of Heathrow, which is today the first hub in the world for long-haul traffic. As 70 percent of long-haul traffic connects through hubs, the unique A380 offer strengthens Heathrow’s passenger appeal over other airports.”
To celebrate the tenth anniversary, Airbus and Heathrow will surprise passengers landing at the airport on an A380 flight from Monday to March 28 with A380 goodies. Ten lucky passengers will also receive VIP packs to continue their journey to London in style, including complimentary porter service at the airport, Heathrow Express Business First tickets to Central London or WeKnowLondon Chauffeur Drive to winners’ chosen address, and a £250 ($350) WeKnowLondon voucher.