In December 2021, the industrial adventure of the A380, the largest airliner ever built in the world, came to an end just fourteen years after Airbus delivered the first aircraft to Singapore Airlines, its launch company, in 2007. But this bijou could resume service in France in an unprecedented way: to become a 31-room hotel with a restaurant.
The project could see the light of day in 2024, near Toulouse-Blagnac airport.
Called "Envergure", it was imagined by an Airbus aeronautical engineer in search of new horizons: "
I thought it was necessarily possible to reuse this beautiful plane
", tells
Le Figaro
Frédéric Deleuze, who has been devoting himself to the project since summer 2020. How?Decryption in 3 phases.
take off
The idea came to him when Airbus was considering a social plan in the summer of 2020: “
I started to wonder what I could do if I had to leave the company.
At the same time, I learned that the first A380s were beginning to be dismantled
,” recalls the engineer.
At first tempted to turn the jumbo jet into an apartment, he was quickly overtaken by economic realities: “
We had to find a project with economic viability, like a hotel
,” explains Frédéric Deleuze.
I wouldn't have seen myself doing this project in any other device.
It needed a certain number of rooms, and therefore space, for this to be profitable.
In addition, the general public is very attached to this aircraft.
It's almost a myth, even a religion at Airbus
".
This new kind of hotel would be located in the northern zone of Toulouse-Blagnac airport, near the new exhibition centre, the MEETT.
"
The goal of the concept and its location is to reach a private clientele of enthusiasts and the curious, and a business clientele wanting a slightly different experience
", maintains Frédéric Deleuze.
Read alsoAir travel: when on-board service was top notch
in flight
A control tower will house the restaurant of the hotel-plane.
Duval Group / Frederic Deleuze
With its two decks 49 meters long, the cabin of the device would accommodate 31 keys.
Two types of rooms with queen-size bedding: Standard for two people (about 16m²) and Deluxe for 3/4 people (about 23m²) and two suites.
A space a little smaller than a classic hotel room: “
Our objective is not to compete with the luxury hotel industry
, describes Frédéric Deleuze.
The idea is to live another experience
.”
A handful of privileged people will be able to fall asleep in the cockpit of the aircraft, a 35m² suite with king-size bed, office space and bathroom with bathtub.
The project also includes a 60-seat restaurant, with a terrace, designed in a control tower attached to the aircraft.
landing
Frédéric Deleuze and his partners must finalize the technical and economic feasibility study of the project at the end of the first semester.
“
We need to find a large piece of land not far from the airport area.
We are in discussion with the local authorities
, ”he underlines.
The “Envergure” teams then give themselves two years to recover an aircraft, convert it into a hotel, for an opening expected in 2024. Future customers, prepare for take-off.
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