...Will it translate to cheaper tickets, more legroom and more regular flights? I doubt it. For the bigger airports I can understand that they might ease congestion, but the noise must be worse. OK, enough bitching. I'll leave you planespotters alone in your little heaven... The A380 is one of the quietest long-range aircraft in the world, even though it is so large due largely to it's very efficient engines. In fact it produces even less noise than an Airbus A340 (which is the long-range plane offering from airbus we are used to seeing). I hope that answers your question of the noise issue? Fuel burn per passenger is rather low (3l/100km), CO2 release per pax/kilometre is 75g/km which is rather good considering the European car industry aims at 140g of CO2/km (2009). In the longer term air traffic will be reduced thus hopefully reducing delays and ultimately quicker travelling time. Using the configuration of about 550 pax (as most airlines will be doing), we will hopefully see increased leg room, although only marginal for us "plebs" in economy. Whether we are going to benefit from Cheaper Tickets, will be one of those difficult questions to answer!! In the short-term probably not (cover costs etc), and in the long-term...once again...probably not, what with the all too common price-fixing etc. In THEORY we should see cheaper flights... but that is only THEORY I guess!!!! just my 2c
