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A380 starts passenger flight test | A380 starts passenger flight test |
(20 minutes later) | |
An Airbus A380 super-jumbo has taken off from southern France on its first test flight with passengers. | An Airbus A380 super-jumbo has taken off from southern France on its first test flight with passengers. |
With 474 Airbus staff filling seats in first, business and economy class, they will be testing everything from the plane's televisions to its toilets. | With 474 Airbus staff filling seats in first, business and economy class, they will be testing everything from the plane's televisions to its toilets. |
Monday's seven-hour flight is due to the first of four this week designed to check all the A380's on-board services. | Monday's seven-hour flight is due to the first of four this week designed to check all the A380's on-board services. |
The first deliveries of the A380 will be made in December to Singapore Airlines, six months behind schedule. | The first deliveries of the A380 will be made in December to Singapore Airlines, six months behind schedule. |
So far 16 airlines have ordered 159 of the aircraft. | So far 16 airlines have ordered 159 of the aircraft. |
'Human feedback' | 'Human feedback' |
A total of 1,900 Airbus employees have been selected for this week's test flights. | A total of 1,900 Airbus employees have been selected for this week's test flights. |
The A380 has two full floors of seating | The A380 has two full floors of seating |
Their names were picked at random from the 15,000 staff who applied for the mission from Airbus offices around the world. | Their names were picked at random from the 15,000 staff who applied for the mission from Airbus offices around the world. |
"These four test flights with real passengers will give us human feedback on life on board this plane which can do distances of up to 15,000 kilometres [9,300 miles]," said chief test pilot Jacques Rosay. | "These four test flights with real passengers will give us human feedback on life on board this plane which can do distances of up to 15,000 kilometres [9,300 miles]," said chief test pilot Jacques Rosay. |
Airbus employs a total of 57,000 people around the globe. | Airbus employs a total of 57,000 people around the globe. |
The six-month delay to deliveries of the A380 has been caused by a wiring problem, and was first confirmed in June. | The six-month delay to deliveries of the A380 has been caused by a wiring problem, and was first confirmed in June. |
Causing a number of difficulties for Airbus, it led to the resignation of former chief executive Gustav Humbert. | Causing a number of difficulties for Airbus, it led to the resignation of former chief executive Gustav Humbert. |
It also contributed to the departure of Noel Forgeard, the then co-chief executive of Airbus' main parent company EADS. | It also contributed to the departure of Noel Forgeard, the then co-chief executive of Airbus' main parent company EADS. |
Mr Forgeard departed after he was accused deliberately selling EADS shares before the delays to the A380 were announced to the markets, something he denies. | Mr Forgeard departed after he was accused deliberately selling EADS shares before the delays to the A380 were announced to the markets, something he denies. |
Airbus also faces possible compensation claims from airlines because of the A380 delays. | Airbus also faces possible compensation claims from airlines because of the A380 delays. |
It further announced on Monday that the immediate head of the A380 programme, Charles Champion, is to be replaced by Mario Heinen, the current boss of the A320 project. | |
Airbus employs 13,000 people in the UK, where it designs and builds the wings for its planes across two main sites - Broughton in North Wales and Filton near Bristol. | Airbus employs 13,000 people in the UK, where it designs and builds the wings for its planes across two main sites - Broughton in North Wales and Filton near Bristol. |
While EADS owns 80% of Airbus, the other 20% stake is currently in the hands of UK defence and aerospace group BAE Systems. | While EADS owns 80% of Airbus, the other 20% stake is currently in the hands of UK defence and aerospace group BAE Systems. |
However, BAE Systems is currently exploring a possible sale of its share in Airbus. | However, BAE Systems is currently exploring a possible sale of its share in Airbus. |