Skymark’s first A380 takes shape
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The first Airbus A380 being built for Japan’s Skymark Airlines is taking shape, with the vertical tailfin having been delivered to the Airbus factory in Toulouse.
The tailfin, which is adorned with the blue and yellow Skymark logo, was painted in Hamburg and transported to the final assembly line in France using Airbus’ Beluga cargo plane.
Construction of the double-decker aircraft will now be completed in Toulouse over the coming months, ahead of the delivery to Skymark later this year.
Japan’s third largest airline, Skymark has ordered six A380 orders, making it the only Japanese carrier to purchase the double-decker jet. It plans to operate the aircraft on international routes connecting Tokyo Narita Airport with destinations in the US.
While the cabin configuration of Skymark’s A380s is yet to be confirmed, the airline is reported to be planning to operate the aircraft with as few as 394 seats in an all-premium economy and business class layout. If realised, that would give it the fewest seats of any A380 in operation – 13 fewer than Korean Air’s 407-seat A380 and a full 144 fewer than Air France’s 538-seat version.
Currently, Skymark currently operates a fleet of 31 Boeing 737 aircraft, and also has outstanding orders for six new Airbus A330s.
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