Awesome, impressive and spacious

By the end of the air show in Singapore, several hundred visitors will have climbed on board the A380. “Impressive” is the most frequent key word used when visitors are asked for their impressions.

The group of Singapore Premium passengers who visited the A380 on Thursday, are business travellers who expect superior comfort and are used to the high level of services delivered by Singapore Airlines. Their frequent trips allow them to compare different aircraft types, and anticipate the level of comfort and extra space the A380 could bring them. For quite a few, the idea of travelling in a double-decker spelled out crowded cabins and long boarding and de-boarding times. But that was before they visited the A380.

For Monica, the visit has changed her view of the A380: “I am impressed by the size and space particularly on the upper deck. Before I saw it, I didn’t want to fly with 500 other people in the same plane but now I will certainly fly in it.”

Indeed most visitors are struck by the two decks which give the impression of travelling on a smaller aircraft, albeit with a lot of extra space.

Fellow visitor Saul shares this opinion: “I fly a lot for my business, between 150,000 and 180,000 miles per year. What is really important for me is space and silence. Next come the facilities on board. Now that I have seen it, I have no doubt the flight on board the A380 will be a pleasant experience”

This is an opinion shared by many of the visitors. They appreciate the extra room to stretch out. “My first impression is how big the aircraft is, particularly the upper deck,” says another passenger. “It looks like a full size aircraft on the upper deck. It’s a long time since we have had something really different to see in an aircraft. They are more or less the same thing, slightly bigger or smaller. But a true double-decker like that is very special and the height you see when you are standing in front of it is really awesome.”

Most visitors have never seen a test aircraft before, so seeing the inside comes as a surprise. “It’s amazing to see what actually goes behind the lining,” says Monica.

Whether they are professionals or just curious, the experience does not leave visitors indifferent. The general feeling is summarised by another SIA premium passenger: “I want to know when the first flight of Singapore Airlines is, to book myself a seat on it. It will be something very special, I think.”