A380 makes maiden flight to US
{{date|March 19, 2007}}

[[Image:1er vol de l' A380.jpg|thumb|250 px|left|The A380 on its maiden flight.]]

The [[w:Airbus|Airbus]] [[w:Airbus A380|A380]], the world's largest passenger plane, was set to land in the [[United States|United States of America]] on Monday after a test flight. One of the A380s is flying from [[w:Frankfurt|Frankfurt]] to [[w:Chicago|Chicago]] via [[New York]]; the airplane will be carrying about 500 people.

It is being billed as the first time it has carried a near-normal number of passengers, though most will be staff of [[w:Airbus|Airbus]] and [[Germany|German]] airline [[w:Lufthansa|Lufthansa]].

A second A380 is also travelling to the U.S. on Monday, but without passengers. This will be branded as a [[w:Qantas|Qantas]] flight and fly from [[w:Frankfurt|Frankfurt]] to [[w:Los Angeles LAX airport|Los Angeles LAX airport]]. The first leg of the flight going towards New York will be travelling under a Lufthansa flight number, and is due to arrive at [[New York]]'s [[w:John F. Kennedy airport|John F. Kennedy airport]] at 12:30 EST (16:30 UTC).

The test flights are being used to monitor everything from how easily the plane docks at the terminal gate to the way the in-flight dining and entertainment services work. Deliveries to [[w:Singapore Airlines|Singapore Airlines]], its launch customer, are not due until October - two years late.

Delays of the production of the A380 have cost Airbus more than 6 billion [[w:United States Dollar|dollar]]s. Airbus has warned there could be additional charges to come.

These monetary problems have led to a recently-announced restructuring program at Airbus, called Power8, in which 10,000 jobs go and several factories will be sold to Airbus partners. [[France]] will lose 4,300 jobs, followed by Germany having a loss of 3,700 jobs, while the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Spain]] will see 1,600 and 400 jobs cut respectively.

The [[Belgium|Belgian]] government has announced that it will give up to 150 million [[w:€|€]] (US$ 199 million) in aid to help sub-contractors which supply Airbus and employ thousands of workers.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6465383.stm
|title=A380 making its US maiden voyage
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online 
|date=March 19, 2006}} 
*{{source|url=http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=1071275&pagina_chiamante=corpo%3Dindex.php
|title=First two experimental flights for Airbus A-380
|author=
|pub=World Aeronautical Press Agency
|date=March 19, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUSN1929385020070319
|title=Airbus A380 superjumbo jet lands in US
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 19, 2007}}

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[[Category:Economy and business]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Asia]]
[[Category:Singapore]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Germany]]
[[Category:Belgium]]
[[Category:Airbus]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Transport]]
[[Category:Airbus A380]]
[[Category:Lufthansa]]
The A380 on its maiden flight.

The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger plane, was set to land in the United States of America on Monday after a test flight. One of the A380s is flying from Frankfurt to Chicago via New York; the airplane will be carrying about 500 people.

It is being billed as the first time it has carried a near-normal number of passengers, though most will be staff of Airbus and German airline Lufthansa.

A second A380 is also travelling to the U.S. on Monday, but without passengers. This will be branded as a Qantas flight and fly from Frankfurt to Los Angeles LAX airport. The first leg of the flight going towards New York will be travelling under a Lufthansa flight number, and is due to arrive at New York's John F. Kennedy airport at 12:30 EST (16:30 UTC).

The test flights are being used to monitor everything from how easily the plane docks at the terminal gate to the way the in-flight dining and entertainment services work. Deliveries to Singapore Airlines, its launch customer, are not due until October - two years late.

Delays of the production of the A380 have cost Airbus more than 6 billion dollars. Airbus has warned there could be additional charges to come.

These monetary problems have led to a recently-announced restructuring program at Airbus, called Power8, in which 10,000 jobs go and several factories will be sold to Airbus partners. France will lose 4,300 jobs, followed by Germany having a loss of 3,700 jobs, while the United Kingdom and Spain will see 1,600 and 400 jobs cut respectively.

The Belgian government has announced that it will give up to 150 million € (US$ 199 million) in aid to help sub-contractors which supply Airbus and employ thousands of workers.
Economy and business North America Europe Asia Singapore United States France Germany Belgium Airbus Aviation Transport Airbus A380 Lufthansa