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One of the key milestones in the Airbus A380 programme will take place
later today (18th January). The world’s first full-length twin-deck aircraft will be officially revealed
to the world for the first time at a ceremony to be held in the Jean-Luc Lagardere Final Assembly Line hall at Toulouse, France.
The President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Tony Blair, the Federal Chancellor
of the Federal Republic of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder, and the Prime Minister of the Spanish Kingdom, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero will preside over the reveal
ceremony. More than 4,500 guests will attend, including the CEOs of the 14 A380 customers, as well as eminent representatives from the airline community, the Airbus
shareholders, suppliers and other stakeholders, as well as the media.
The A380 reveal will
also mark the launch of Airbus’ new livery. The change in livery, the first since the A310, further materialises the entry of Airbus into a new era. The
A380 is the first aircraft to display the company’s new colours that reflect
its ambitions to pursue aviation excellence long into the future. The new design embodies
Airbus' brand values of creative flair, technological prowess, relationship building and team spirit.
The 555-seat A380 passenger aircraft has a range of up to 8,000nm/15,000km, allowing it to fly non-stop between Europe and Asia, while the three-deck long-range
freighter version, the A380F, will be able to carry up to 152 tonnes/ 335,000 lbs of cargo on standard pallets over distances of up to 5,600nm/10,400km. First passenger operations are scheduled to begin in 2006 when the A380 is due to enter service. In addition, the first
A380F, the freighter version of the aircraft, is expected to begin operations in 2008.
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