The runway at JFK just got a bit more crowded with the arrival of Air France’s Airbus A380. The plane, which took its inaugural flight Nov. 21, will now shepherd 538 passengers from JFK to Charles de Gaulle on a daily basis.
“The capacity of the A380 corresponds to the combined capacity of a Boeing 777-200 and an Airbus A340-300, but the direct operating costs are 20 percent less, allowing us to save some 15 million euros a year,” says Christine Ourmieres, U.S. vice president and general manager of Air France and KLM. “Just as importantly, the aircraft is the most environmentally sound and fuel-efficient, with the
lowest C02 emissions per passenger, keeping in line with our commitment to the environment.”
And Air France’s plans keep getting bigger — it will introduce the A380 on the Paris-Johannesburg route in February and will be operating four A380s by the summer season of 2010.
But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Airbus A380? Champagne is complimentary in every cabin.
