JAKARTA - Fans of the world's largest commercial aircraft can look forward to owning a slice of aviation history, via an Airbus auction that is coming up in June.
Yes, on June 23-25, at least nearly 500 spare parts from passenger aircraft that have ever existed, will be auctioned by Airbus through direct sales and online sales.
Comprising cabin and ladder lights, armrests, trolleys and even cockpit evacuation ropes, which are used to assist in the event of an evacuation, most of the lots placed under the hammer are from former Emirates A380 aircraft.
It is known that about seventeen years ago, Airbus' first A380 took off from Toulouse airport for its maiden flight.
The nearly 600-ton superjumbo marks the start of a new era for aviation, with an aircraft soon to be loved by travelers around the world.
Airlines accept jets, stick their own stamp on them and use their massive fuselage to house showers, bars and even flying apartment suites.
Meanwhile, Emirates has long been one of the world's biggest fans of the multi-level plane, and Dubai's airline now has a fleet of 123 jets, the last of which was delivered late in the year, being the last manufacturer of the A380.
Now, superjumbo fans saddened to see the end of this era drawing near can choose, to have a part of it by being involved in the Airbus A380 auction hosted by auctioneer Marc Labarbe.
Most of those auctioned were from A380 MSN 13, a fleet of jumbo jets that previously flew to Emirates.
After making its first flight in October 2008, the superjumbo flies travelers from Dubai's hub around the world in a three-class configuration, complete with an in-flight spa bath and the airline's famous passenger bar, once promoted by Jennifer Aniston.
Capable of flying nearly 500 people per trip, the jet was decommissioned last year by Tarmac Aerosave, a company focused on sustainable end-of-life aircraft management, with state-of-the-art disassembly and recycling techniques.
"When Airbus came to us with the A380 disassembly project it was a huge challenge, but knowing it was for the Airbus Foundation, knowing it was to keep a piece of legend, gave us real motivation to do something perfectly," said Lionel Roques, vice president of sales at Tarmac. Aerosave, launched The National News February 22.
Some of the other parts included in the sale, such as business class seats, will come from other A380 jets.
To note, the proceeds of the auction will be donated to the Airbus Foundation, which funds humanitarian initiatives. Other proceeds will be donated to AlRitage, an organization that protects aviation heritage.
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