Middle Eastern carrier Qatar Airways’ first Airbus A380 has performed its maiden flight, an initial sortie to Hamburg for cabin fitting work.
Qatar Airways has 10 of the double-deck type on order, equipped with Engine Alliance GP7200 powerplants.
It will become the next new operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of the aircraft in 2014 – the same year it receives the first A350.
Airbus says the A380 will be painted once the jet has undergone cabin fit. Qatar Airways has yet to disclose full details of its interior.
It has previously said the A380 will be configured with 517 seats of which 42 will be in business class and eight in first, but it is unclear whether the carrier has since adjusted this layout plan.
Qatar Airways’ A380 is the first to be built with the full-life wing from the outset following design and assembly changes to prevent cracking problems with the wing-rib brackets.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
