Jumbo A380 Makes Trans-Atlantic Debut to Paris – In Transit Blog – NYTimes.com

At a time when many airlines are postponing costly deliveries of the jumbo-size Airbus A380, Air France is ready for liftoff.

On Monday, it will be the first airline to offer trans-Atlantic flights between New York and Paris aboard the mammoth double-decker aircraft. With more than 500 seats, the airplane offers three cabin classes (first, business and economy), six bars where passengers may help themselves and 22 flight attendants.

The Airbus A380 uses three boarding bridges, requires less runway length than other large planes and also has bragging rights to the lowest carbon emissions levels per passenger, according to Air France. The plane is also significantly quieter upon take-off than other large aircraft.

There will also be a digital art gallery on the upper deck. Its first exhibition will be a teaser for “Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese … Rivals in Renaissance Venice,” currently at the Louvre through Jan. 4. Other airlines currently flying the A380 include Singapore Airlines and Emirates.

The flight will operate daily. AF007 leaves Kennedy Airport at 7:15 p.m. and arrives at 8:35 a.m. the following day. AF006 departs Charles de Gaulle at 1:30 p.m. and arrives at 3:45 p.m. Round-trip flights start at about $700.

via Jumbo A380 Makes Trans-Atlantic Debut to Paris – In Transit Blog – NYTimes.com.