The Game Changing Airplane!

In the last two years, Airbus really seemed to be losing it against its rival Boeing!

Showers in first class, airborne duty free shops among the new Airbus’ potential amenities.

After a long wait the first flight open to media finally happened. And the verdict from the media seems thumbs up! The cargo carriers like Fedex etc have cancelled the purchases and gone for Beoing instead.. but the regular Airlines would still go for Airbus A380. In fact Singapore Airlines would buy more of them!

Leahy was tightlipped about the custom features planned by airlines but suggested that some of the wilder predictions — which have included onboard casinos, beauty salons and even hot tubs — were wide of the mark.

There is "a little bit of hype," he said. "The reality will be lounges, the reality will be duty free shops where you can generate some extra revenue." One carrier has already installed a shower in first class, Leahy added, declining to identify the airline.

The superjumbo used for Wednesday’s flight boasted a bar on each of the decks — linked by two large staircases, making it easy to roam around.

Noise was noticeably subdued, even during takeoff at full thrust, when the engine roar outside could have passed for a neighbor mowing the grass half a block away.

The Rolls Royce Trent 900 engines are the quietest now available and, thanks to a wingspan 24 percent longer than the 747s, they are further than usual from the cabin — where advances in soundproofing and air conditioning technologies also contribute to the sense of calm. Outside, Airbus claims that the A380’s "noise footprint" is half the size of that of rival Boeing.

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