-
Airbus A-380 - Source: Reuters
An Indian Ocean airline is planning the first regular flights
for more than 800 passengers after buying a budget version of the
Airbus A380, the world's largest airliner, with economy seating
throughout.
Reunion-based Air Austral confirmed an order for two superjumbos at
the Dubai Air Show and said it would operate them between Paris and
the French overseas department from 2014.
The deal will put the A380 into service as the industry's largest
people carrier and comes 80 years after the first wood and canvas
plane touched down on the Indian Ocean island after making the
9,300 kilometre trip from Paris in 10 days.
The A380 entered service in 2007 and is designed to seat 525 people
in ordinary three-class seating or 853 people when its two floors
of cabins are filled with economy seats - giving it eight times
more capacity than Airbus's smallest model, the A318.
So far, buyers of the plane have focused on luring premium
passengers with facilities from beds and showers in first class to
a stand-up bar, with total seating of around 500 people.
Air Austral said its low-cost version would seat 840 people.
"We are convinced that airplanes with good priced tickets will help
explode traffic figures," founder and president Gerard Etheve told
Reuters after announcing the deal on Tuesday.
The economy end of the airline market has performed relatively
better during the financial crisis, but revenues everywhere have
been battered by recession this year.
The budget version of the A380 aims at tapping growth in China,
India and demand from airlines flying ageing Boeing 747s on
high-density routes in markets like Japan, where rival Boeing
dominates air travel.
Boeing's 747-400D, a version of the jumbo jet built for the
Japanese domestic market, carries up to 660 people in one
class.
Etheve said the airline he founded in 1975 had paid less than the
$886 million list price for two Airbus A380s.
The aircraft was tested for the ability to evacuate over 800 people
in cabin emergency tests before entering service.
Air Austral's planes will be powered by engines from the Engine
Alliance, a joint venture between General Electric and Pratt &
Whitney.
The A380 deal, reported by Reuters earlier this week, includes
options for a further two A380s to either serve future Caribbean
routes or more flights to La Reunion.
