ATW Daily News

Lufthansa to operate A380 to US, Hong Kong next month

Wednesday February 14, 2007

Lufthansa yesterday revealed details of its plan to take the A380 on a series of route-proving tests next month that will include the jumbo jet's first landing in the US.

The carrier, which expects to take delivery of the first of 15 ordered aircraft in the summer of 2009, said A380 number 007 will arrive in Frankfurt on March 17, then carry approximately 500 "guests" to New York JFK two days later. Most passengers will be Airbus and LH staff. The airline said the aircraft also will visit Hong Kong, Washington Dulles and Munich, although it did not provide the schedule. The tests will conclude March 28.

Lufthansa, which already has worked with Airbus on evacuation, early long flight and cabin service tests, said its route-proving relationship is "exclusive."

Both Airbus and LH pilots will fly the aircraft, while employees from both companies onboard will test inflight systems, air conditioning, lighting, acoustics and other equipment. LH flight attendants will work the cabin.

In Frankfurt, the airline "will rigorously test the entire ground infrastructure for the A380," including comparing turnaround time with its other long-haul types. It began constructing an A380 hangar at FRA last fall (ATWOnline, Sept. 22, 2006).

by Brian Straus

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