| Many aviation aficionados have touted the | | | | as the one offered by Emirates, provide fully |
| A380 airliner as the future of the long haul | | | | enclosed first class suites which feature |
| flight industry, with the aircraft offering a | | | | fully flat beds with a built-in massage |
| number of new features that have never been | | | | system, personal mini-bar and a 23 inch LCD |
| seen on an airliner before; including two | | | | screen. All passengers can also enjoy over |
| lounges, a bar, first class-suites, showers | | | | 1,100 channels of entertainment on their |
| and adjoining spas - the first ever installed | | | | on-board TV, audio and movies on-demand |
| on a commercial aircraft. | | | | system. |
| | | | |
| The sheer size of the aircraft is obviously | | | | Passengers travelling on the upper deck of |
| the first feature that most comment upon. The | | | | the A380 can enjoy one of 76 Business Class |
| £167 million double-decker Airbus is about | | | | seats and 14 First Class "suites", while it |
| 73 meters long and 24 meters high, with the | | | | was also recently revealed that the Emirates |
| upper deck extending along almost the entire | | | | A380 would offer showers to its 14 first |
| length of the fuselage and its width the | | | | class passengers - a revolutionary innovation |
| equivalent of a wide body aircraft. In | | | | in the world of air travel, and which will |
| layman's terms, it would stretch almost from | | | | allow them to enjoy freshening up at 43,000 |
| one end of a football pitch to the other, | | | | feet in the air. |
| lengthwise, while its wing tips would hang | | | | |
| well beyond the sidelines. This results in | | | | The A380 aircraft also produces 50% less |
| the aircraft boasting 50% more cabin space | | | | cabin noise than a 747 and has a higher cabin |
| than the next-largest airliner, the Boeing | | | | pressure, both features which assist in |
| 747. In a standard three class configuration, | | | | reducing the effects of travel fatigue. The |
| the plane can carry 525 people, with that | | | | full length upper and lower decks are |
| increasing to 853 people in an all economy | | | | connected by two stairways, which are wide |
| class configuration. | | | | enough to accommodate two passengers standing |
| | | | side by side while also allowing multiple |
| The A380 also features a bulb-less | | | | seat configurations on the Airbus A380. |
| illumination system, with LEDs being employed | | | | |
| in the cabin, cockpit, cargo and other | | | | Some have expressed concern over the |
| fuselage areas. The cabin lighting features | | | | environmental impact a plane of the size of |
| programmable multi spectral LEDs which are | | | | the A380 may have. However, powered by |
| capable of creating a cabin ambience | | | | American aircraft engine maker, Engine |
| simulating daylight, night or any shade in | | | | Alliance's GP7200 engines, A380s have a range |
| between. This technology provides brightness | | | | of up to 9,320 miles and offer better fuel |
| and a service life far superior to | | | | economy per passenger mile than most hybrid |
| traditional incandescent light bulbs. | | | | passenger cars, burning just 3.1 litres of |
| | | | fuel per passenger per 100 kilometres which |
| Airbus' initial publicity stressed the | | | | equates to 20% less fuel per seat than |
| comfort and space of the A380, anticipating | | | | today's largest aircraft. |
| installations such as relaxation areas, bars, | | | | |
| duty free shops and beauty salons. Several | | | | The distribution of digital in flight |
| airlines have indeed added their own touches | | | | magazines will also save 2kg per seat, or |
| to the A380's in their fleet of aircraft: | | | | almost one tonne, per aircraft, helping to |
| casinos, double beds and gymnasiums are | | | | make the A380 one of the greenest aircraft in |
| planned on some aircraft while others, such | | | | the skies. |