Qantas Receive its First A380
30 / 09 / 2008
QANTAS has received the first of 20 Airbus A380s on order, at a ceremony in Toulouse, France. The aircraft was handed over to the Qantas chief executive officer, Geoff Dixon and Qantas chief executive officer, designate, Alan Joyce by Tom Enders, Airbus president and chief executive officer and John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer customers.
Dixon, said: “When we ordered our A380 in 2000, we said that in addition to giving us the opportunity to reinvent our product, this revolutionary new aircraft offered capacity and operating savings, as well as environmental improvements. Everything we have seen since our initial order has reinforced this view.”
“The A380 set the standards for the 21st century,” said Enders. “More than 380 patents on board underline the aircraft’s leadership in eco-efficiency and innovation and will allow Qantas to continue to grow whilst reducing its impact on the environment. We appreciate Australia’s iconic airline sharing the A380 vision with us from the very beginning.”
Rolls Royce chairman, Simon Robertson, said: “We appreciate the opportunity once again to be an integral player in shaping the future success of Qantas, Australia’s iconic carrier. This occasion marks another milestone for the Trent 900, the market leading engine for the A380.”
Captions:
l-r Geoff Dixon (QFA) and Tom Enders (Airbus)