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January 2008

Singapore Airlines Announces First-Ever A380 Commercial Service to London, and to Europe

Singapore Airlines will fly the A380 on the Singapore-London route, from 18 March 2008, after taking delivery of the third A380 into its fleet by mid-March. The inaugural flight is also the first-ever A380 commercial service to Europe. Onboard the inaugural flights on 18 March, customers will receive personalised certificate recognising their participation in the milestone event, as well as limited edition Singapore Airlines A380 souvenirs and exclusive premium giveaways.

March 2008

The First A380 flight to London Takes Off

Singapore Airlines’ inaugural A380 flight to London took off on 18 March 2008, marking the superjumbo’s premier commercial service to Europe. 17 passengers from nine countries joined in the celebrations by being the first to fly on both the inaugural flights to Sydney and London.

May 2008

Singapore Airlines Launches A380 Services to Tokyo

On 20 May 2008, the world’s largest commercial aircraft departed Tokyo’s Narita Airport for Singapore on its first intra-Asia service. The first flight from Tokyo also coincided with another historic event in aviation – the 30th anniversary of Narita Airport. To add to the festivities, five Japanese couples celebrated their honeymoon onboard.

July 2008

Launch of Second A380 Service to London.

An additional A380 service was launched on 16 July 2008 on the Singapore-London route, increasing the number of Singapore Airlines A380 flights between the two cities to 11 times a week, up from 7. This follows the scheduled delivery of Singapore Airlines’ fifth A380 aircraft from manufacturers, Airbus, in late June 2008.

August 2008

Travel in a New Light to the Beijing Olympics on the A380

Between 02 – 08 August 2008, Olympics bound passengers can choose to travel to Beijing on the A380 for the opening ceremony of the Games. This service, which is for limited period only, will make the experience of travelling to the world's greatest sporting event a truly unique one.

February 2007

Airbus Employees Participate in Cabin Tests on A380 Flight

Airbus employees sampled the efforts of their work when they flew onboard the A380 in a 10-hour flight. In total, 520 Airbus employees took part in the trip which took them to Sweden and Sicily, before returning to Toulouse, France. Various cabin tests were conducted throughout the flight.

March 2007

A380's Brakes Pass the Test

In Istres, France, the A380 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, successfully completed the Maximum Energy Braking Test. The test simulated a typical aircraft taxiing prior to take-off, and the aircraft braking with the engine at maximum thrust. All the results were within the expected safety range.

A380 Lands in the UK

The A380 arrived in Filton, England, on its maiden trip to the United Kingdom with the primary purpose of conducting fuel performance tests. The trip enabled the aircraft to ply past the Rolls-Royce factory in Derby where its Trent 900 engines were made, and to fly over the Airbus factory in North Wales where its wings were assembled.

A380's Airline Route Proving Is A Success

The A380 began its Airline Route Proving exercise to learn more about passenger handling, catering and aircraft turn-around. The exercise involves flying to key international airports and ha drawn large crowds (including the general public, media and aviation specialists) wherever the A380 has landed.

April 2007

Furnishing of the First Singapore Airlines A380 Cabin is Complete

The cabin furnishing of the first Singapore Airlines A380 in production (the MSN003) was completed in Hamburg, Germany. The aircraft, due for entry into service in the later part of 2007, has entered its customer pre-acceptance phase and will soon have its exterior painted in the Singapore Airlines livery.

May 2007

Painting of the First Singapore Airlines A380 is Complete

With its distinctive blue and yellow logo, and the name 'Singapore Airlines' stretched across 33 metres of fuselage, the world's first commercial A380 (MSN003) rolled out of it's paint hanger in Hamburg, Germany. In total, it took 21 days and some 100 painters working around the clock, to paint and polish the 3,100m2 surface by hand.

June 2007

Singapore Airlines A380 Website Gets a Brand New Look

To welcome the world's largest passenger aircraft later in the year, the Singapore Airlines A380 website was revamped with a sleek, new look and more interactive features. Visitors to the website are now able to learn more about the Singapore Airlines A380 journey through a comprehensive calendar of events that led up to the highly-anticipated launch of the world's largest passenger aircraft. New images and videos of the superjumbo were released, along with an enhanced desktop agent and dynamic screensavers available for download.

Commencement of Pilot Training Courses

Eight Singapore Airlines pilots commenced ground phase training to complete their qualification to operate the A380. Training began at the headquarters facility in Singapore and concluded with flight simulator and actual aircraft training at the Airbus Training Centre in Toulouse. At the same time, tests were conducted on the A380 to ensure that the plane would be ready for commercial service.

July 2007

Final Preparations for Delivery of the First Singapore Airlines A380

Singapore Airlines teams conducted pre-delivery tests on the A380 test aircraft MSN007. The tests focused on maintenance, operations, ground handling and other systems. The teams, together with Airbus personnel, carried out the tests in fully equipped cabins.

August 2007

Singapore Airlines A380 First Flight Charity Auction Starts

Seats across all classes on both legs of the world's first A380 commercial flight were auctioned on eBay, the global online marketplace. All proceeds from the auction were split equally among the following charities: The Community Chest in Singapore; Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, both in Sydney; and Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders).

September 2007

Singapore Airlines A380 First Flight Charity Auction Raises Almost S$2 Million

The Singapore Airlines A380 First Flight Charity Auction came to a successful close. Over 10,000 bid were received and almost S$2 million raised for the four charities.

October 2007

The Formal Delivery of the First Singapore Airlines A380

Singapore Airlines took delivery of its first A380 aircraft on 15 October in Toulouse, France. The handover took place at the Henri Ziegler Delivery Centre at a ceremony officiated by Chief Executive Officers Tom Enders (Airbus), Sir John Rose (Rolls-Royce) and Chew Choon Seng (Singapore Airlines), and was attended by over 500 people. The aircraft left Toulouse at 10.30pm local time on 16 October for the flight to its new home at Singapore's Changi Airport.

Singapore Airlines Launches the World's First A380 Commercial Flight

On 25 October 2007, the world's first A380 departed Singapore Changi Airport for Sydney at about 8.15am local time. Most of the 455 passengers on board had successfully bid for their seats as part of the Singapore Airlines A380 First Flight Charity Auction.

From check-in up to the arrival in Sydney, passengers were accorded the red-carpet treatment, which included champagne, commemorative certificates and gift bags in recognition of their contribution to the occasion.

January 2006

A380 Passes High Altitude Tests

The second A30 aircraft has successfully completed a series of high-altitude tests at Medellin Airport, Columbia, at an altitude of 7,000 feet (2,133 metres). A team of 35 engineers and crew spent a week carrying out tests on the engines, systems and materials.

Assembling Continues for the Singapore Airlines A380

Work on the Singapore Airlines A380 is well underway at Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse, France. In total, eight Singapore Airlines A380s are in production, four of which are in the advanced stages.

February 2006

A380 Passes Cold Weather Tests

After the high altitude tests in Colombia, the second A380 test aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, successfully completed a series of cold weather tests in extreme conditions of up to -30 degrees Celsius. The 5-day trial examined the powering up of the aircraft, engine performance and the hydraulic systems after the engines were shut down overnight in the freezing cold.

Singapore Airlines Launches A380 Website

Singapore Airlines has launched a website dedicated solely to the A380. The fully interactive website provides updates on the development of the new aircraft, including information on the much-anticipated A80 first commercial flight. Visitors to the site at singaporeair.com/a380 can also register to receive newsletters.

March 2006

A380 Passes Flight Tests with Flying Colours

The A380 flight test programme, which now involves four aircraft, has successfully clocked up over 1,000 flying hours. Two of the A380s, fitted with heavy test instrumentation, have been successfully carrying out aerodynamics, low speed and flight vibration tests. Meanwhile, the other two are currently in Hamburg, Germany, undergoing cabin installation, and will be used in the upcoming early long flights and route proving.

First Evacuation Test Completed

The first evacuation test of an A380 took place in Hamburg, Germany. In complete darkness, with only half the plane's exits used and none of the operative doors and slides known to passengers before the test, all 853 passengers and 20 crewmembers reached the ground within 78 seconds - 10 seconds quicker than required by the regulations. The exercise was the most stringent ever performed and was overseen by both the US and European regulatory aviation bodies.

May 2006

The First Singapore Airlines A380 Completes Its Maiden Flight

The first Singapore Airlines A380 (MSN003) completed its maiden flight in southern France. The aircraft, with its distinctive Singapore Airlines logo on its tail, landed at Toulouse Airport after a 2-hour round trip flight. This aircraft will be the world's first A380 to enter commercial service.

A Real Test in a Virtual Flight

Nearly 500 volunteers participated in the A380's first virtual flight, which took place onboard an A380 in an aircraft hanger in Hamburg Germany. The aim was to put a whole range of A380 cabin services and amenities through their paces; during the rigourous 5-hour test, 'passengers' were asked to make as much use of the cabin facilities as possible. The test was a huge success; the cabin had provided a sense of space and comfort levels unrivalled by any other aircraft.

Fatigue Tests Reach 10,000 Flights

In Dresden, Germany, the a380 has undergone fatigue testing the equivalent of 10,000 flights since tests began in September 005. The tests are designed to look at the structural behaviour of the aircraft in the stimulated flight conditions, They will continue to run until 2008, where the target of 47,500 flights will be reached.

June 2006

A380 on Course for Certification Timetable

The A380 is on track to receive certification of its airworthiness. To date, the aircraft has performed more than 1,400 flight hours in over 430 flights and 950 take-offs. All the tests performed, including the various ground tests at airports, indicate that the A380 will meet or exceed expectations.

July 2006

Noise Levels are Satisfactory

In Tarbes, France, the A380 performed a series of noise tests as part of its ongoing certification programme. During the week-long trial, which was observed by the US and European regulatory aviation bodies, the A380 performed more than 100 fly-bys, take-offs and landings. Initial results suggest that the noise levels were well within the statutory limits.

A380 Passes Hot weather Test

The A380 successfully completed its hot weather testing in Al Ain, UAE. For five days, in soaring temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius, the aircraft's performance (such as take-offs, landings and ground tests) and systems (such as air-conditioning, avionics and auxiliary power units providing ground power for the aircraft) were fully examined.

Singapore Airlines Orders Additional A380s

Singapore Airlines announced that it has placed an order for an additional nine A380s. The airline has also placed options on another six A380s. The purchases of the superjumbo are in line with Singapore Airlines' policy to continually modernise its fleet, and also reflect the airline's satisfaction and confidence in the aircraft.

A380 Storms Through Icing Tests

The results of the A380 natural icing tests have exceeded all expectations, revealing zero impact on the aircraft's aerodynamics and behaviour. The tests took place in ice-generating clouds and showed that freezing cold clouds had no effect on the aircraft's performance.

September 2006

First A380 Passenger Flights

The A380 successfully completes four long-haul passenger flights. In total, some 1,900 passengers (all Airbus employees) flew onboard the A380. Each passenger was asked to fully test the cabin and its facilities. Together, the four flights covered a distance equivalent to one trip around the world.

Singapore Airlines A380 Lands at LEGOLAND, Denmark

A Singapore Airlines A380 built with over 75,000 LEGO® bricks in eight colours, was unveiled at LEGOLAND in Bilund, Denmark. The model spans 2.9m in length, has a wingspan of 3.2m and is 1m tall. It took the skills of the entire team of professional LEGO model builders at LEGOLAND 600 hours to build the model.

October 2006

A380 Goes Higher and Higher

The A380 successfully completed a series of high altitude tests in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – some 7,500 feet above sea level. This is the fifth developmental A380 test aircraft in the ongoing European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification programme.

November 2006

A380 Completes Its Technical Route Proving

The A380 successfully completed the technical route proving exercise – the least of the statutory trials required for a Type Certification (the official airworthiness certificate). The 18-day trial saw the A380 embark on four trips for a visit to 10 key airports around the world to demonstrate the A380's capabilities to be turned around on a typical non-stop airlines schedule. The aircraft performed as expected at each destination. Further details can be found by visiting www.A380routeproving.com.

December 2006

A380 Secures Double Seal of Approval

In a ceremony attended by senior aviation figures from around the world, the A380 received its Type Certification from both the US and European regulatory aviation bodies, the Federal Aviation Safety Agency. The double seal of approval recognised the technical soundness of the A380, and confirmed that the aircraft was meeting or exceeding all expectations.

January 2005

Singapore Airlines Reveals Its 'First to Fly' Logo

Singapore Airlines unveiled its 'First to Fly' logo (as seen in the left navigation bar of this page). With the tagline 'First to Fly – the Singapore Airlines A380', the message is clear: Singapore Airlines will be the first airlines in the world to operate the remarkable aircraft.

February 2005

A380s Wings Pass Load test

The A380's wings have passes a series of tests conducted to determine how they would react in certain conditions – for instance, when the aircraft has a maximum load.

March 2005

Singapore Airlines launches Its A380 eNewsletter

Singapore Airlines customers and A380 enthusiasts can now register at singaporeair.com/a380 to receive regular newsletters by email. The newsletters will provide updates on the development of the new aircraft, including information on the much-anticipated first A380 commercial flight.

April 2005

The First Singapore Airlines A380 Takes Shape

The first Singapore Airlines A380 aircraft takes shape with the installation of the tailfin adorned with the trademark Singapore Airlines logo at the final assembly line in Airbus's headquarters in Toulouse, France. The tailfin measures 14.1 metres high and 12.9 metres wide.

A380 Completes Its Maiden Flight

The first A380 to take to the air made a successful landing in Toulouse, France after its first test flight lasting almost four hours. Watched by television viewers all over the world, this test flight marks the start of the Airbus A380 flight test campaign, which involves approximately 2,500 hours of test flights on five developmental aircraft. The campaign will culminate with certification by the European and American airworthiness authorities.

A380 Starts Gruelling Flight Test Campaign

After completion of ground tests, the A380 embarks on a flight test campaign lasting 26 months and representing some 47,500 flights. This simulates the various cycles to which the aircraft will be subject to when in service.

July 2005

A380 Passes the Low-Speed Take-Off Test

At the Istres Air Base in Southern France, the A380 completed four preliminary low-speed take-off tests. The tests, known as the Vitesse Minimum Unstick (VMU) tests, demonstrated the minimum speed at which the aircraft can take off with its rear fuselage touching the runway.

August 2005

A Model Plane Arrives at Changi Airport

Singapore' Changi Airport received its newest aircraft – a four-by-four-metre scale model of the new Singapore Airlines A380. The model was unveiled in Terminal 2 at Gate F31- the airports's first A380 -ready gate.

September 2005

Start of 'Wear & Tear' Testing

In Dresden, Germany, over 26 months, a full-scale A380 airframe will undergo fatigues tests simulating wear and tear brought by the equivalent of 900 flights a week, as part of the official testing programme. In total, some 47,500 flights will be simulated – equivalent to 25 years' worth of flying.

October 2005

Structural Tests – A380 On Target

Over half of the required structural tests on the A380 have now been completed. The aim of these tests is to see how the aircraft's structure reacts under extreme circumstances and stress. The A380 remains on course to complete all its structural tests by the end of 2005.

A Second A380 Completes Its Maiden Flight

A Second A380 has successfully completed its maiden flight. The aircraft flew on a roundtrip over the southwest of France with heavy test equipment onboard and landed safely at Toulouse Airport.

The First A380 Passes 100th Flight Mark

The first A380 to fly has now completed 105 flights, clocking up over 360 flying hours. The flight tests are completed ahead of schedule and have shown very promising results.

Successful Airport Compatibility Tests in Frankfurt

The A380 landed in Frankfurt airport, Germany, to undergo a series of ground handling and instrument landing system tests. This was A380's first arrival at a major commercial airport and the exercises conducted in Frankfurt were a resounding success.

November 2005

A Third A380 Completes Its Maiden Flight

A Third A380 has successfully completed its maiden flight. The A380 landed safely at Toulouse Airport after a 3-hour flight programme. This aircraft will be the first to be fitted with a full cabin and cargo systems development and certification, joining the two other A380s in the official test programme.

June 2004

Assembling of the A380 Begin

In Toulouse, France, Airbus engineers have begun assembling the first two A380s. The aircraft, code-named MSN001 and Essais Statiques (ES), will be used for testing purposes only. The A380 MSN001 will be the first A380 to fly when it begins airborne testing, while the A380 ES will remain on the ground for structural testing.

July 2004

Rolls-Royce Engines Pass Critical Safety Test

The Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, which will power the Singapore Airlines A380, have successfully passed the Fan-Blade Containment Test. This is a test to see how an engine running at full speed reacts to a fan blade that has been blown free. During the trial, the Rolls-Royce engine contained the debris effectively, and correctly performed a controlled shutdown.

September 2004

A380 Landing Gear: A-OK

The retraction of the A380's landing gear is successfully tested in-situ on the aircraft for the first time. As well as demonstrating the smooth running of the landing gear, the tests enabled engineers to make adjustments to the landing gear doors.

November 2004

A380 Engine Receives EASA Flight Certificates

The Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines have passed the development-testing phase and have been awarded their Flight Certificate by the new regulatory air authority, the European Aviation safety Agency (EASA). The engine, which will be installed in the Singapore Airlines A380, met or exceeded all performance targets, including fuel burn and low noise emission.

September 2000

Singapore Airlines Orders 25 A3XXs*

Singapore Airlines announced a US$8.6 billion order for 25 of the world's largest passenger aircraft, the A3XX. Singapore airlines will be the first carrier in the world to take delivery of, and to operate, the largest passenger aircraft ever built.

* The A3XX has since been renamed the Airbus A380-800

October 2000

Singapore Airlines Selects Rolls-Royce Trent Engines to Power Its A3XXs*

Singapore Airlines announced that it has selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 series engines to power its 25 superjumbo A3XXs. With a fan diameter of 116 inches, the Trent 900 will deliver 70,000 pounds o thrust. The engine will be designed to meet the stringent noise certification requirements on the A3XX.

* The A3XX has since been renames the Airbus A380-800

December 2000

The A380 Project is Officially Launched

Airbus officially launched its A3XX project and names the aircraft 'A380'.

September 1999

Timetable Agreed on Testing of the A3XX*

Airbus and the US and European regulatory aviation bodies, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Joint Aviation Authorities, agreed on the schedule for the certification programme of the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the A3XX.

*The A3XX has since been renamed the Airbus A380-800

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