Lufthansa signs for 15 A380 Superjumbos

Deutsche Lufthansa signed recently a firm contract with Airbus for the purchase of 15 A380 Superjumbos.

The new contract brings the total number of firm orders and commitments for the A380 to nearly 100.

Deliveries to the German airline are scheduled to begin in 2007. Current planning will see Lufthansa operate the A380s on high-density routes from its hubs in Germany to cities such as New York, New Delhi, Singapore and Bangkok. Engines have yet to be selected.

Lufthansa’s two main hubs – Frankfurt and Munich – will be ready for A380 operations when the aircraft enters service. Both airport will offer an adequate number of A380 gates according to the airline’s needs.

“With this order, we are signaling a future-oriented investment, which will help strengthen Lufthansa’s position long term in international competition. The A380 allows per seat costs to be reduced by between 15 to 20 percent,’’ said Lufthansa chairman and CEO Jurgen Weber.

On the other hand, Airbus president and CEO Noel Forgeard, said “We are very proud that Deutsche Lufthansa, one of the Europe’s most successful carriers, has selected the A380 for their future strategy. The contract signed in the current environment underscores the demand for very large aircraft as the solution for strong long-term growth in air traffic.’’

The A380 is already a reality with first metal cuts planned in February 2002 at Airbus sites in Nantes and Meaulte.

It will make its maiden flight at the end of 2004 and will introduce a new way of flying for the 21st century. Passengers will benefit from a more spacious cabin and wider seats, including those in economy class, while operators will benefit from its 15-20 percent lower operating costs and enhanced environmental friendliness.

The A380 will meet the latest noise regulators like the future noise ICAO-standard stage 4.

The Superjumbo will thus generate half the noise level at take off while carrying 35 percent more passengers than the largest passenger aircraft flying today.

Lufthansa operates nearly all Airbus aircraft types and is Airbus’ largest customer for the popular Airbus A320 Family in Europe as well as Airbus’s largest airline customer worldwide for the A330/A340 Family with 49 A340’s on order – including 10 A340-60s, Airbus newest and largest airlines.

The carrier also operates a large number of Airbus widebody A300/A310 aircraft.

With the world’s most modern and extensive airliner family on offer, Airbus consistently wins about a half of large airlines sales – 100 seats and above – and currently has firm orders for some 4,400 airlines and more than 200 customers and operators around the globe. Airbus is a joint EADS Company with BAE System. (PNA)