Qatar To Get First A380 In Early 2014

The assembly of Qatar Airways' first A380 superjumbo is set to start this month, according to plane maker Airbus.

The European manufacturer said the vertical tail section for the first A380 for the Gulf carrier has been painted with the airline's trademark oryx logo and arrived at Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse.

The painting was completed earlier this week at Airbus facilities in Hamburg and is now ready for assembly. The first A380 is slated for delivery to Qatar Airways in early 2014.

The distinctive Qatar Airways logo is comprised of a violet oryx with silver streaks and the paint was applied over a period of 10 days, Airbus said in a statement.

Qatar Airways will become the tenth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in 2014.

The airline has firm orders for ten A380s and will operate the aircraft on its most premier routes.

More news on the A380

AIRFRANCE to Start A380 Service to Shanghai from September 2013

AIRFRANCE from 02SEP13 is to introduce Airbus A380 operation on Paris CDG – Shanghai Pu Dong route, where it’ll operate 3 times a week. Reservation for the A380 service opened earlier today (25APR13).

AF112 CDG1340 – 0640+1PVG 77W D
AF116 CDG2320 – 1620+1PVG 388 145
AF116 CDG2320 – 1620+1PVG 77W x145

AF117 PVG1040 – 1650CDG 77W D
AF111 PVG2320 – 0535+1CDG 77W x256
AF111 PVG2320 – 0535+1CDG 388 256

As a result of A380 redeployment, AIRFRANCE will cancel A380 service to Singapore from the same date.
AF256 CDG2320 – 1815+1SIN 77W D
AF257 SIN2300 – 0610+1CDG 77W D