Airbus names A380 Delivery Centre in Hamburg after Jürgen Thomas

Airbus has officially opened a new A380 Delivery Centre at the manufacturer’s site in Hamburg, Germany. During the ceremony, held last week, Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO, named the building after Jürgen Thomas, the former head of the Airbus Large Aircraft Division, who was in charge of the development of the A3XX (to become A380) from 1996 to 2001.

“In a world where flying is taken for granted, there are very few real aviation pioneers, but Jürgen Thomas is definitely one of them. The Wright brothers launched the aeronautics industry and almost a century later Jürgen recaptured that sense of adventure, launching an entirely new concept of flight and industrial co-operation. I’m therefore very honoured to name this building after Jürgen Thomas, the Father of the A380”, said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO.

Airbus’ European and Middle Eastern customers will receive their A380s from this new delivery centre, while deliveries to A380 customers located further away will take place from Toulouse. Emirates airline will be the first customer to receive its A380 from Hamburg on July 28th, 2008, while Singapore Airlines had received its first A380 in October 2007 from Toulouse.

The new delivery centre completes the Toulouse Delivery Centre, which accommodates all aircraft deliveries, and the A320 Family Delivery Centre in Hamburg. The five-floor building features about 16,000 square meters of which 5.000 square meters are dedicated for delivery activities such as office space and is equipped with a shop-floor area, customer and contract offices as well as freight and luggage areas.

Conveniently under one roof, Airbus will be able to perform the entire process of aircraft delivery in one place, from aircraft and cabin inspection up to all legal and administrative processes. 20,000 square metres of concrete pavement outside the building will provide enough space for two A380s. The building will also host A380 engineering teams and a staff restaurant.

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