Skymark Airlines confirms A380 order
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Skymark Airlines, Japan’s third largest airline, has signed a contract for four A380s with Airbus, firming up a Memorandum of Understanding announced in November 2010.
The contract was signed on Thursday 17 February during a ceremony at Airbus’s headquarters in Toulouse, France, in the presence of Skymark Airlines President, Shinichi Nishikubo, Airbus President & CEO, Tom Enders, and Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, John Leahy, together with Airbus Japan CEO, Stephane Ginoux.
At the signing ceremony Nishikubo said; “We believe that the A380, the world’s most cost-efficient, modern and environmentally friendly aircraft with cutting-edge technologies, will provide us with a strong competitive advantage and safe operation. We will become the very first Japanese airline to offer our passengers a unique and new experience of flying - more space, more comfort and a quieter cabin. With the four-engined A380, we are free from ETOPS constraints and can provide flexible operations.”
“We are pleased to welcome Skymark as our newest and first Japanese A380 customer,” said Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO. “The A380 is the most eco-efficient solution to allow Japan’s air traffic to grow in a capacity constrained environment.”
Skymark plans to operate its A380 on routes to Europe and North America, wand has claimed that it will significantly undercut rival carriers’ Business Class fares. Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air France currently operate the aircraft on daily services to Tokyo’s Narita Airport. Starting from 27 March 2011, Singapore Airlines will extend its A380 operation from Narita to Los Angeles, while Korean Air’s first A380 service to Narita is scheduled on 1 June this year.
Following today’s announcement, total firm orders for the A380 stand at 244 from 19 customers. Thus far 43 aircraft have been delivered to five customers.
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