A380 takes off on its maiden Singapore flight

Singapore, Oct 25: The world's largest passenger aircraft, Airbus 380, commenced its maiden commercial flight from Singapore's Changi Airport today.

A total of 471 passengers were on board the SQ380 to Sydney which left at 8 am Singapore time.

Four hundred and fifty passengers took the seven-and-a-half hour promotional flight, which will return to Singapore at 10.15 pm on 26 October 2007, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).

The CAAS has spent S68 million dollars on modifying facilities at the airports terminals, including new aerobridges for boarding the double-decker aircraft and other related emergency services as well as widening of the runways.

"The A380's commencement of passenger flights marks a new milestone in aviation history," said CAAS Director General Mr Lim Kim Choon.The CAAS and airport agencies have conducted comprehensive tests to ensure Changi Airport is fully ready to support the superjumbo's operations, he said.

UNI