Singapore Airlines sets Oct. 25 for inaugural A380 flight
Andrew Compart, Travel Weekly, 8/17/2007
The A380's moment finally has arrived. Singapore Airlines said it will offer its first flight on Airbus' new super-sized aircraft Oct. 25 with a flight from Singapore to Sydney, with a return trip the next day.
Singapore will be auctioning off the vast majority of the seats on eBay for charity, starting Aug. 27, with the remainder reserved for airline staff, media and VIPs.
The A380 can hold up to 555 seats in a three-class configuration, but Singapore opted for 471 in three classes, including an upper class it calls Suites, "a class beyond first." Singapore won't reveal details of the interior, however, until the aircraft handover ceremony Oct. 15.
The auction for seats will be for one-way tickets, with the bidding staggered to finish at various times over a period of just over two weeks, ending Sept. 10.
All of the proceeds will be donated to charities, with a third going to Singapore's Community Chest, a third to Doctors Without Borders, and a third split between two children's hospitals in Sydney.
To ensure bidders are genuine and that bids are not artificially inflated, pre-qualification will be required for bids on packages in the premium classes or for bids over $1,000 in economy class. Information on the bidding process, including how to get pre-qualified, is available online at Singaporeair.com/a380.