British Airways announces red carpet route for first A380

British Airways' has announced Los Angeles as the inaugural destination for its first Airbus A380, with tickets for the flight now on sale.

The first A380 to be operated by a UK airline will fly on the "Red Carpet Route" to Los Angeles from October 15 2013, following the delivery of the double-decker superjumbo to British Airways in July.

London-based actress Gemma Arterton said: "Working in film means that I spend a lot of time travelling around the world, often to Hollywood. It’s essential to arrive feeling fresh and ready for the day ahead, as I often hit the ground running, and I prefer to travel in style with British Airways.

"It's very exciting that the A380 will be flying to Los Angeles. I think the red carpet route will be very popular."

The second A380 route will be to Hong Kong, and customers can book flights now for travel from November 15, 2013.

A380 enthusiasts eager to be on the very first commercial services should note that dates for these will be announced once plans for training flights are completed.

The airline is also offering holidays to Los Angeles on the new A380 destinations in November including five nights for the price of four at the five star Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach or four night holidays in Hong Kong at the four star Eaton hotel.

The airline's website, www.ba.com will feature information on the new A380 aircraft, including computer generated imagery (CGI) and two short films will be available via YouTube to give customers a feel for the aircraft. Customers can book via the website or by calling 0844 493 0787.

The A380 will be the largest aircraft in the British Airways fleet, accommodating 469 customers across four cabins. Customers in First will be seated at the front of the main deck. The cabin will offer 14 seats and is evolved from the current First class. Club World (business class) customers can choose from 44 seats on the main deck, or 53 seats on the upper deck. These upper deck seats will feature a new 2:3:2 configuration across the cabin. The 55 World Traveller Plus (premier economy) seats will be located on the upper deck while World Traveller (economy) customers can choose seats on both the main and upper deck. Both cabins will feature the airline’s current design, which is now flying on the new B777-300ER fleet.

The aircraft's innovative design makes it much quieter during take-off and landing and more fuel efficient than its predecessors. British Airways has ordered 12 for delivery by 2016 as part of a £5bn investment over five years in new aircraft, smarter cabins, elegant lounges, and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

Keith Williams, British Airways' chief executive, said: "This will be a very special premiere. The A380 is a great aircraft that has been developed with huge amounts of British engineering ingenuity. London and Los Angeles are two world-leading cities, and we are proud to be the first airline to connect them with the A380."

About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations as well as hotels, flights, car rental with Avis and experiences. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

Press Contact:
Amanda Allan
Waterside
PO Box 365
Harmondsworth
Middlesex
UB7 0GB
02087385100
www.ba.com