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Soon you will be able to fly in your own private suite if you are travelling first class from Mumbai or Delhi to Singapore. And, better still, it will be on the double-decker Airbus 380, the world’s largest commercial aircraft.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced on Monday that it would start using the A-380 on the Mumbai and Delhi sectors from May 30, thus becoming the first international carrier to operate the world’s largest commercial jet to India.
The Government gave permission to international airlines to operate the aircraft on regular flights to India less than four months ago.
While the first-class section in the A-380 has individual cabins with sliding doors and standalone beds, the economy class, too, packs in more luxury, with larger seats and a variety of on-demand entertainment.
The aircraft will carry 471 passengers, including 12 in first class, 60 in business class on the upper deck and another 399 in the economy section on both decks.
Frequency reducedThe start of the Airbus A-380 flight will see Singapore Airlines reduce daily flights to both the cities to two from three.
“The A-380 superjumbo will operate daily to both Mumbai and New Delhi from May 30, taking over from two daily flights that currently serve each city using smaller Boeing 777s. Another daily flight will continue to be operated with B777s. In total, 14 flights will serve each city per week,” the airline said in a statement to travel agents.
SIA will use the Airbus 380 to operate the flight that leaves Delhi at 10.05 pm and arrives in Singapore at 6.10 am the following day. From Mumbai, the A380 will leave at 12.25 am and arrive in Singapore at 8.20 am the same day. The introduction of the A-380 by SIA, however, is just the beginning of a changed flying experience for Indian fliers.
Dubai-based Emirates airlines, which is also keen to start A-380 flights to India, promises a bath in the skies for passengers flying first class.
German airline Lufthansa, too, has shown interest in bringing the A-380 to India, though it is still not clear when these two airlines will get the giant jet on regular flights to India.
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