Airbus delivers its first A380 superjumbo to Singapore Airlines

TOULOUSE, France: There were no Jacuzzis or bowling alleys. No casinos or gyms. But the chilled bottle of Champagne perched on an elegantly laid-out double bed said it all.

Singapore Airlines showed off the interior of its first A380 superjumbo jet in an elaborate ceremony here Monday, bringing an end to a decade of anticipation of what the airline has always said would be a step up in the level of quality and comfort in long-haul air travel.

"From today, there is a new queen of the skies for air travel," a beaming Chew Choon Seng, the Singapore Airlines chief executive, told a gathering of more than 500 international guests. And with that, Chew introduced the unique features of his carrier's new 471-seat craft, which, in the premium-class cabin at least, sometimes resembles a luxury hotel rather than an airliner.

Twelve private "suites" created by the French yacht designer Jean-Jacques Coste grace the front half of the plane's lower deck. Designed to maximize privacy, these partitioned nooks are each fitted with fully adjustable leather seats and a separate bed that folds out with a full-sized mattress, draped in crisp cream-colored linens designed by Givenchy.

A 58 centimeter, or 23 inch, LCD video screen hangs on one wall, where passengers can view a selection of up to 100 movies and more than 180 television channels. The same entertainment system includes a word processor and spreadsheet programs as well as multiplayer 3D video games.

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