The delivery of Qatar Airways’ first A380 has moved a step closer after the aircraft took to the skies for the first time during a test flight.
The Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, is one of 13 on order by Qatar Airways.
The airline is set to take delivery of the aircraft in spring 2014, it said in a statement.
The Doha based carrier will become the eleventh airline to join the club of A380 operators.
The aircraft will be used initially on a route to a European destination, with the city to be confirmed at a later date, Qatar Airways said.
The airline’s original order of eight A380 aircraft was made at the Dubai Air Show in January 2004, and an order for an additional five aircraft was made at the same event in 2010.
Qatar Airways’ future home, the Hamad International Airport, scheduled to open in the beginning of 2014, has been specially designed to cater to the A380, with six contact gates designed with specifications required for the super jumbo.
In addition, the maintenance hangar at HIA – which will be the largest in the world – is able to accommodate two of A380s simultaneously.
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker said that the airline is pleased to see the progress being made on their first A380.
“It is thrilling to see the A380 painted in Qatar Airways colours on display during its test flight from Toulouse to Hamburg. We have been awaiting the delivery of our first A380, and are delighted to soon operate passenger services with this fantastic aeroplane.
“By introducing the A380 to our ever expanding young and modern fleet, we are keeping to our commitment of ensuring that our passengers have the best possible experience when travelling with Qatar Airways,” he added.
Over the next few weeks and months, the network will expand with the addition of further destinations – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (September 18), Ta’if, Saudi Arabia (October 2), Clark International Airport, Philippines (October 27), and Philadelphia, USA (April, 2014).
Since first entering service in 2007, 108 A380s are in operation with 10 carriers and have accumulated over one million flight hours in more than 120,000 commercial flights.
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