Japan’s First A380 Customer Boosts Order To Six

June 23, 2011 —Skymark Airlines, Japan’s third largest and fast growing airline, placed firm orders with Airbus for two more A380 aircraft. This latest purchase agreement brings the total number of A380s ordered by Skymark to six aircraft. The Japanese carrier plans to start operations with the A380 on international routes linking Narita to destinations in Europe and the U.S.

The contract was signed on Thursday, 23rd June, at the Paris Air Show, in the presence of Skymark Airlines President, Shinichi Nishikubo, Airbus President and CEO, Tom Enders, and Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers, John Leahy, together with Airbus Japan CEO, Stephane Ginoux.

At the signing ceremony Shinichi Nishikubo said, “The A380 is a remarkable aircraft, setting new standards in air travel, and giving us strong competitive advantages in the international market. Therefore, we have decided to increase the firm order to six aircraft. We are extremely happy to become the very first Japanese airline to offer our passengers a unique and new experience of flying with the A380.”

“We appreciate the strong and renewed vote of confidence from our first Japanese A380 airline customer,” said Tom Enders. “Thanks to its fleet of six A380s, Skymark will benefit from significantly reduced operating costs and leading environmental performance while offering its passengers the highest levels of comfort. The airline will be extremely well positioned to grow as an international carrier.”

The A380 is the most advanced, spacious and eco-efficient airliner in service today. Over 12 million passengers have already enjoyed the unique experience of flying on board the all-new aircraft. The in-service fleet has accumulated by now almost 300,000 revenue flight hours in nearly 33,000 commercial flights. Today, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, and Korean Air operate the aircraft on daily services to Narita Airport.

Following today’s announcement, total firm orders for the A380 stand at 236 from 18 customers worldwide and 51 aircraft have been delivered to six customers.

November 12, 2010 – Skymark Airlines, Japan’s third largest and growing airline, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airbus for the purchase of four A380s, the most advanced, spacious and eco-efficient airliner in service today.

The aircraft will be operated on major international long-haul routes from Tokyo. Engine choice and cabin details will be revealed at a later stage.

Its excellent take-off and landing performance enables the A380 to operate on the shorter 2,500m-runways at Japan’s Narita and Tokyo Haneda airports carrying a full passenger payload and cargo to destinations in Europe, North America and Australia.

“By introducing the world’s most cost-efficient, modern and environmentally friendly aircraft in our fleet, we will offer the travelling public the best comfort in the sky and a new way of flying. With the A380’s spacious and extremely quiet cabin, we’ll enter a new era in terms of economic air travel,” said Shinichi Nishikubo, President of Skymark Airlines.

“We are extremely happy and proud that Japan’s growing and ambitious airline Skymark Airlines has become the first Japanese airline to order the A380 and a new customer for us. This is a historic milestone for Airbus and a breakthrough in this important market. We are delighted to see Skymark Airlines sharing our vision of the A380 as the key aircraft for meeting Japan’s air transport needs,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer Customers.

More than 7.5 million passengers have already enjoyed the new experience of flying on-board one of the 39 A380s already delivered, taking them at present to one of 20 major international destinations worldwide in unprecedented levels of comfort. Today, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air France operate the aircraft on daily services to Narita Airport.

Orders for the aircraft stand at 234 from 17 customers.