A380 to be named Vienna

A new jumbo jet operated by one of the biggest airlines in the world will be named after the Austrian capital, it has been revealed.

Lufthansa confirmed today (Fri) that one of its Airbus A380 planes will be baptised “Wien,” which is German for Vienna. The German aviation giant – which ordered 15 of the two-storey planes – explained that the chosen jet will touch down at Vienna International Airport (VIA or VIE), where the ceremony will take place, on 22 August.

The A380 provides seating for 525 people in a typical three-class configuration or up to 853 people in all-economy class configurations. It transported passengers for the first time last summer when the German football national team was taken to South Africa to compete in the World Cup. The squad managed by Joachim Löw reached the semi final where it lost to Spain who went on to win the tournament.

Intense rainfall did not keep thousands of air traffic fans from travelling to VIA and Linz Airport (LNZ) around one year ago to witness the landings of an A380 airplane at the airports. The spacious jet touched down at VIA and LNZ as part of a Europe-wide series of test flights. No passengers were on board throughout the sessions which took place a few days before the German national team boarded one of the models to travel to South Africa.

The A380 is 73 metres long. It made its maiden flight six years ago.