SINGAPORE – How much would you pay to be on board the first flight of Singapore Airlines’ A380, travelling from Singapore to Sydney in October?
Maybe $5,000. Perhaps $10,000. Did I hear $20,000?
Not enough? Then try $50,000.
Soon we will know just how desperate people are to be the first to fly the super jumbo.
Singapore Airlines has come up with the idea of selling seats for the inaugural flight on eBay with proceeds going to charities.
Proceeds of the auction will be split three ways, between Singapore’s Community Chest; the Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead; and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders).
Singapore Airlines CEO Chew Choon Seng said the airline wanted to acknowledge the widespread interest in the new jumbo jet and use the opportunity to benefit worthwhile causes.
“It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience on an aircraft that will mark a new chapter in air travel. And while we will celebrate the event, we also wish to remember the people who are less fortunate and can be assisted by the charities to which all the proceeds will go,” Chew said.
Almost every cent raised through the A380 ticket auction will go to charity since ExxonMobil has stepped in to offer free aviation fuel on the historic flight.
eBay will subsidise the fees and charges from this auction, while PayPal will rebate a portion of its fees and charges to help support the charities.
Pre-registration for the auction is at www.singaporeair.com/a380 where you can find auction details, the date of the flight and the charities to benefit from proceeds.
Every person on the flight will also receive a personalised ceremonial certificate confirming that they were part of the first-ever commercial A380 flight.
