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28 March 2024

Own a slice of aviation history

Published
By Reena Amos Dyes

(SUPPLIED)   

 

If a corporate jet is just too small then Airbus could have the answer. Its double-deck A380 – the world’s newest and largest airliner – is being offered to customers in a VIP version known as the A380 Prestige.

At a base price of $320 million (Dh1.2 billion) – rising with customisation – this ultimate corporate jet has about 50 per cent more space than the Boeing 747.

David Velupillai, Product Marketing Director, Airbus, told Emirates Business: “With around 551 square metres of space on two full-length decks, there is plenty of room to realise a customer’s dreams.

“Customers can outfit the aircraft in any way they want. A typical layout can include a large lounge area, two or more bedrooms, areas with seats clustered around tables, bathrooms with toilets and showers, some premium-class seating and possibly some economy seating for support staff.

“However, safety concerns need to be respected, so a swimming pool is out – the water might slosh around when the aircraft banks – and it is important that the materials used meet fire-safety criteria. And because it is important to save weight in an aircraft, heavy slabs of solid material are typically replaced with veneers – of wood or marble, for example – depending on the client’s tastes.”

The Airbus A380 Prestige’s four large-diameter Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines also give it a superbly quiet cabin.Velupillai said: “The A380 Prestige’s cabin is the quietest in the sky. As a passenger you can hardly hear the engines, even when they are at full power during take-off. And it is also very quiet when seen from the ground, making it a good neighbour at airports. Its small noise-footprint makes it welcome at most airports around the world.”

However despite its size and the fact that it can seat 525, the cruising speed of this flying palace is around Mach 0.85, which is equivalent to around 930 kilometres per hour (kph) when flying at an altitude of 30,000 feet.

The Airbus A380 Prestige has been designed from the outset to use existing airports – taking off and landing in less distance, and putting less strain on runways than the current generation of large aircraft.

It can also manoeuvre as easily as other large aircraft. Its powerful engines give the A380 Prestige the capability to handle the most demanding missions. 

This includes unmatched take-off capability at hot and high airports, as well as the ability to continue to its destination in the unlikely event of an engine failure.Its new-generation engines also generate fewer emissions, making it a gentle green giant in every respect.

According to Velupillai: “All the aircrafts that Airbus produces today are truly modern designs that have emerged in the last 20 years. This means that they are shaped by the latest understanding of aerodynamics and by calculations made on the increasingly powerful computers. The aircraft have efficient shapes, which minimise the fuel burnt, making them more environmentally friendly.”

And it is not just the engines, even the technology used in the cockpit is up-to-the-minute. “Airbus’ approach is to embrace new technology. So in addition to fly-by-wire controls, which are now the industry standard, and liquid crystal displays for the pilots, we also have features such as satellite navigation superimposed on a map of the airport – as an aid to help pilots find their way around on the ground,” Velupillai said.

One of the first people in the world to place an order was Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding company and a member of the Saudi ruling family.

The man behind one of the world’s most successful international holding companies has been named twice by Forbes magazine as one of the most astute investors in the world.