Revealed: Airbus A380 first class concepts

Despite Airbus’ decision to stop building the A380 superjumbo in 2021, the double-decker jets will still be flying until well into the next decade – and there’s no denying the impact this colossus of the skies had on redefining the travel experience, especially for high flyers.

The A380 ushered in a new era of private first class suites, chic cocktail bars and elegant lounges, indulgent showers, even a duty-free store thanks to Korean Air, and reached its pinnacle in Etihad’s extravagant three-room Residence suite.

(Sadly, the world never got to see the casino, gym and beauty parlour promised by Sir Richard Branson for Virgin Atlantic’s unfulfilled A380 order.)

And when Airbus formally launched the A380 in December 2000, the plane-maker had already developed its own concepts and mock-ups to give airlines a hint at the possibilities it unlocked.

Airbus' original 'super first class' concept for the A380.

Foremost among them was what Airbus called ‘super first class’, resembling a modern take on the private berths of European railways.

Airbus' original 'super first class' concept for the A380.

Several elements of this A380 first class concept made their way into the real world, beginning with the sliding doors of early A380 customers Singapore Airlines and Emirates.

Airbus' original 'super first class' concept for the A380.

The concept of a seperate armchair and bed, which was later seen in Lufthansa’s Boeing 747 first class of 2011, followed by the A380 first class suites of Etihad and Singapore Airlines.

Airbus' original 'super first class' concept for the A380.

The ‘bed’ actually wrapped around the end of the suite, making it more of a couch or settee.

Airbus' original 'super first class' concept for the A380.

This approach was later revisited by European agency Yellow Window in an early pitch for Cathay Pacific’s Boeing 777 first class, which eventually took form as Air France’s 777 first class.

One of Yellow Design's 777 first class treatments developed for Cathay Pacific.

London-based design agency Acumen has since evolved this to what it calls ‘First Place’, with a leather armchair complementing an innovative chaise lounge which passengers can remain in during the taxi, take-off and landing stages of a flight.

Acumen's 'First Place' concept showcases an elegantly refined future for high flyers.

The A380 upper deck as an upper class club

But there were no middle suites in Airbus’ A380 concept: instead, the upper deck was imagined as more of an elite upper class club.

Airbus kept the middle of the upper deck open as a social space for first class flyers.

Lounges and cafe-style seating in the areas between the suites created a social space where first class flyers could mix and mingle.

Airbus kept the middle of the upper deck open as a social space for first class flyers.

The very front of the upper deck, on either side of the staircase to the main deck, was tapped to provide an elongated lounge nook on one side, with the other side featuring what Airbus described as a “kingsize bathroom” which could incorporate a shower.

A second lounge area was tucked away next to the staircase in this early A380 concept.

Again, several A380 airlines have followed Airbus’ lead, ranging from the original Qantas A380 lounge – which has thankfully since been transformed into a far more appealing and useful space – and the luxe first class bathrooms of Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, for example.

Flush with success: A380 first class washrooms from Singapore Airlines (left) and Qatar Airways (right).

Another flight of fancy was this alternative take on the front of the A380’s upper deck, incorporating a full-service dining counter flanked by several semi-private nooks between curved partitions (all of which was delivered with a very odd aesthetic).

Another concept A380 upper deck treatment from Airbus.

And we simply don’t know what to make of this attempt to convert the upper deck nose into a open-plan mix of chairs, beds and lounges.

Another concept A380 upper deck treatment from Airbus.

Since then, few airlines have shared their own first class concepts, preferring to showcase the real product.

However, French designer Jacques Pierrejean sparked initial inspiration for Singapore Airlines with a series of ‘what if’ treatments to illustrate how first class on a commercial airliner could channel the ‘five-star feel’ of a high-end hotel.

Jacques Pierrejean's inspirational A380 first class lobby entrance for Singapore Airlines.

That included a lobby-style entrance with a standing bar for drinks and snacks – similar in some aspects to Etihad’s A380 Lobby between its upper-deck first class and business class cabins – along with a private dining room.

Jacques Pierrejean's inspirational A380 first class dining area for Singapore Airlines.

As Pierrejean explained to Executive Traveller at the launch of SQ’s second-gen A380 suites in 2017, these concepts were never intended to enter the realm of reality – only to spark the imagination and challenge conventional notions of first class.

Jacques Pierrejean envisioned the Singapore Airlines A380 first class experience as more akin to a high-end boutique hotel.

“Our concept was the idea of a passenger who stays at a (luxury) hotel, he should find this type of hotel room on the flight... with different functions for day and night.”

“In this way, as per a hotel room, you can live onboard free to rest, to sleep, or to work at any time without be disturbed by the general cabin lighting of the aircraft or your neighbours.”

Fine dining for two in this Pierrejean Singapore Airlines A380 mock-up.

As his work with Singapore Airlines progressed, the concepts became more grounded and Pierrejean zeroed in on creating oversized first class suites, codenamed ‘Skyroom’.

These closely mirrored the final product, albeit with more of a European feel which wouldn't look out of place as a first class compartment in a high-speed train as it raced across the continent.

Pierrejean's Skyroom concept for the Singapore Airlines A380 first class, and the finished product.

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