SINGAPORE Airlines' superjumbo got the thumbs up from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who toured the aircraft when it arrived at Changi Airport last evening.

Emerging from the Airbus A380 docked at Gate A4 at the soon-to-be-opened Terminal 3 after a visit lasting about 45 minutes, Mr Lee said when asked if he was impressed:

'Oh yes. I think Singapore Airlines has put a lot of work in.

'That the aeroplane is new is one thing, but the thought and the design which has gone into the interiors, the service for the first class or the business class or the economy class - I think it is something different.'

The plane, the first of 19 that SIA has bought, arrived at Changi after a 12-hour flight from Toulouse in France, where its maker Airbus is based.

The extra space offered by the biggest passenger jet ever built did not escape Mr Lee.

He said he especially liked that, despite being 'a bit taller than most people', he could fit into the new economy class seats.

Each seat there is 19 inches wide, about two inches more than those on the existing Boeing 747, SIA's current biggest passenger jet in commercial service.

Business class seats are 34 inches wide, compared to 20 inches on the B-747, which the new giant is meant to replace. Each seat also comes with a 15.4-inch in-flight entertainment screen.

SIA is fitting the aircraft with just 471 seats - 12 suites, 60 in business class and 399 in economy - to offer customers more space and luxury.

Of the 'beyond first class' private cabins that will give a couple the option of taking a double bed screened off by sliding doors and roller blinds, Mr Lee said it was something that could be offered to honeymooning couples.

'It is very nicely done. There is a lot of space. I would imagine most of the time the business class is already very good, so this is something extra.'

Piloting the big bird on this historic flight to home base was a four-member crew led by SIA's A380 chief pilot Captain Robert Ting.

An old hand with 36 years of flying behind him - including hours clocked on the A380 - Captain Ting nevertheless became awed by the significance of the occasion.

He said: 'I just told myself to be a good pilot and to land it safely and efficiently so that I do not disappoint all the people here.'

The flight went well, the weather was good and the jet's departure from Toulouse was on time.

Captain Ting added: 'In fact, we had to hold back a little bit so that we did not arrive in Singapore too early. Apart from that, everything went like clockwork.'

The 56-year-old pilot, who has flown only for SIA, said wistfully: 'This is my first job and I hope it will be my last job. Today has definitely been one of the highlights of my 36-year career.'

karam@sph.com.sg