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Synopsis :

Singapore Airlines launched the first flight of its Airbus A380 on 25 October 2007. It was the first airline in the world to operate commercial services on the  A380 aircraft. In this programme, we hear from SIA representatives about the development of the A380, preparation for flight operations, delivery delays and the memorable first passenger flight to Sydney. SIA placed an order for the A380 in September 2000. It wanted an environmentally friendly, quiet aircraft for long-haul, high capacity travel. During the research phase, SIA gauged the needs of long-distance travellers on things like comfort, entertainment, power supply for laptops and individual reading lights. The airline also developed the concept of suites which gave passengers proper beds, privacy and exclusivity. The cabin crew underwent special training to serve on this double decker aircraft. The company used the delays in delivery to do maturity testing and ensure operational readiness when the aircrafts arrived. On 25 October 2007, passengers from Singapore, Australia and other parts of the world became part of the historical first flight to Sydney in good weather conditions.There was a party-like atmosphere on board as passengers interacted with SIA's management, flight captain and other crew members. SIA plans to purchase more A380 aircrafts for its London and Sydney routes..