Global Traveler celebrated the 12th year of its respected GT Tested Reader Survey awards and its fifth consecutive ceremony at The Peninsula Beverly Hills. The event was held on a scenic rooftop and featured a partnership with Airbus. Recognized as Best Aircraft Type for its iconic A380, Airbus served as lead sponsor and contributed prizes including a timepiece, a scale model of the A380 and a grand-prize trip for two with business-class airfare to Toulouse, France.
The grand-prize winner, Kirsten Schmidt, Public Relations USA/Canada for visitBerlin, traveled with her husband, Andreas Kanonenberg, to Toulouse to tour the A380 final assembly line. Kanonenberg, an independent TV producer, journalist and aviation enthusiast, recounts their memorable experience for Global Traveler.
In Airbus A380 Heaven
By Andreas Kanonenberg
© Airbus
I’m fortunate to travel on the Airbus A380 regularly, but nothing prepared me for the experience of an Air France business-class round-trip from Los Angeles (LAX) to Paris (CDG) and onward to Toulouse for a visit to the A380 final assembly line earlier this year. My wife—who won the trip and insists she never wins anything—generously took me along, which turned out to be the best Christmas present I could imagine.
As a serious aircraft enthusiast and someone well over six feet tall, flying can be uncomfortable on most planes, especially when seated by a window. On the A380, however, I find it remarkably easy to move about: the fuselage doesn’t curve inward like on other aircraft, so I can simply stand and step out of my row with ease. The cabin’s airy, quiet atmosphere, wider aisles and well-appointed interior make a big difference. The lavatories are spacious enough to stand upright comfortably, and the overall ergonomics and thoughtful design improve the travel experience considerably. Ground staff at LAX were warm and welcoming, and the cabin crew delivered excellent service throughout the journey.
After enjoying some sightseeing in picturesque Toulouse, our tour of the Airbus A380 final assembly line was everything I had hoped for. The A380 program is a true pan-European effort, with components manufactured across several countries and then transported to Toulouse for final assembly. The scale of the 38-acre A380 facility is astounding: at any one time, four of these massive aircraft can be assembled side by side. In two immaculately maintained hangars, we observed highly trained teams working with precision and attention to detail, leaving nothing to chance.
The highlight of the visit for me was gaining access to the construction jig—hardhat and all—and getting up close to a British Airways A380 just days from delivery. This privileged access felt like entering a normally restricted inner sanctum, typically reserved for clients and specialists. Witnessing the workmanship and intricate coordination behind each aircraft gave me a deeper appreciation for the engineering and craftsmanship involved.
Seeing the meticulous care and ingenuity required to build an A380 changed the way we viewed the aircraft. On the flight back to the United States, the experience of having been behind the scenes made the A380 seem even more impressive and special than before.