TOKYO — European aircraft maker Airbus landed its A380 airplane at Japan’s Haneda airport for the first time Friday as part of an attempt to market the double-decker for the country’s popular domestic routes.
The world’s largest passenger aircraft was on Sunday due continue its demonstration flight to head for Sapporo in northern Hokkaido island, which the maker said was the world’s busiest domestic air route.
The event comes as Haneda, now a domestic and regional hub, prepares Thursday to open a fourth runway and a new international terminal, boosting its role in Japanese capital.
“The smartest way to address airport congestion and to simultaneously meet future passenger demand is to operate a larger, greener, cleaner, quieter and more eco-efficient aircraft,” said Airbus executive vice president of operations Gerald Weber.
The world’s two busiest domestic routes in the past 12 months were in Japan, and the country also had two more inland routes in the global top 20, added Richard Carcaillet, Airbus’ director of marketing for the A380,
Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) are already using Boeing 747 jumbo jets on several domestic routes, and Airbus is hoping the airlines will opt to sign contracts for its wide-body plane.
Air France, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines already use the A380 for Japan routes to Tokyo’s main international airport of Narita.
The first-ever landing of an A380 at Haneda was greeted with a ceremony attended by Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle of Germany, one of the countries involved in the Airbus project.
“For the future, I wish this Airbus flagship that it may become a regular and appreciated visitor here in Haneda,” he said in a statement.
Haneda Airport, located closer than Narita to the city centre, is expected to emerge as a major international hub for Japan.
Airport authorities have, however, limited the A380 to quieter night-time hours, fearing delays during crowded daytime operations when other planes have to wait longer because of its powerful wake.
“We believe that these limitations have no technical reason and we are in talks for them to be lifted,” said Carcaillet.