Airbus A380 Opens New Era With First Flight to Sydney

The Airbus SAS A380, the world's biggest passenger aircraft, opened a new era in air travel today by completing its first commercial flight.

The Singapore Airlines Ltd. flight SQ380 left Singapore airport at 8am with 455 passengers and 28 crew and touched down in Sydney 7 1/2 hours later.

On board, the carrier offers suite, business and economy classes.

The suites, created by French luxury-yacht designer Jean- Jacques Coste, have a pitch -- or distance between rows -- of 6 feet, 9 inches (2 meters), and are separated by sliding full- length screens.

Rising Costs

Development costs rose for the A380 after French and German planners used different computer-design tools, forcing workers to install 300 miles (482 kilometers) of wiring.

Airbus expects to sell at least 800 planes in 20 years, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer John Leahy said Oct 12.