Paris:
An Air France A380 superjumbo, the world's largest civilian airliner, is to set off tomorrow on the first Air France flight across the Atlantic bound for New York with 538 passengers aboard.
Among those will be 380 aviation buffs who bid for places in an auction arranged by Air France to benefit Children-oriented humanitarian programs. The total amount raised was not disclosed.
Air France will be the first European carrier to fly the A380, the pride of European aircraft manufacturer Airbus and its parent company EADS. The aircraft is already in use by Singapore Airlines, Gulf-based Emirates and Qantas of Australia.
Regular Air France commercial flights across the Atlantic are to begin on November 23. With its fleet of 12 A380s Air France will also serve Johannesburg, starting in February, and then Tokyo.
The commercial success of the A380, having suffered major production and delivery delays, has yet to be secured.
"The A380 program remains a source of concern," said EADS chief executive Louis Gallois.
Progress to date has been "slower than planned" and the programme "has still not stabilised" this year.
The manufacturer delivered its 20th A380, to Air France at the end of October, two years after the aircraft's first commercial flight.
Since October 2007, 10 A380s have been delivered to Singapore Airlines, five to Emirates and four to Qantas.