新奇事件簿 空客停产空客A380

The airplane maker¹ Airbus has announced plans to cease production of its A380 aircraft. The iconic A380 is the world's largest passenger airplane and has been in service for 12 years. When it was launched, it was heralded² as the future of aviation. However, changes in the demands of passengers mean the days of giant, four-engine passenger planes are over. Airbus decided³ to call a halt to production of the 544-seat A380 due to weaker than expected sales. The nail in the coffin⁴ was when the Dubai-based Emirates Airline cut its A380 order by 39 planes. Airbus said it would stop building the A380 in 2021. This will result in significant job losses at companies linked to the plane's manufacture.

飞机制造商空客宣布计划停产空客A380。标志性的A380是世界上最大的客机，已经服役12年之久。A380正式推出时被誉为未来航空。但是乘客需求的变化意味着属于这个巨大的四行程引擎客机的日子已经结束了。由于达不到预期销售，空客决定停止生产544座的空客A380。导致A380停产的致命一击是总部位于迪拜的阿联酋航空公司减少了39架A380订单。空客表示其将在2021年停止生产A380。这将导致飞机制造业公司很多人失业。

The A380 embarked⁵ on its inaugural⁶ flight in April 2005 to great fanfare⁷. Then British Prime Minister Tony Blair called the giant jet a "symbol of economic strength". His Spanish counterpart called the plane "the realization⁸ of a dream". The plane was designed to combat congestion⁹ at airports by reducing the number of planes needed in the skies. However, booming air travel has generated a higher demand for twin-engine planes that can fly non-stop to where people want to travel. Giant, four-engine jets usually require passengers to transit¹⁰ at hub airports. An Emirates spokesperson said the A380 was a "passenger magnet" that was misunderstood and badly marketed by other airlines.

A380于2005年4月开始了声势浩大的首航。时任英国首相托尼·布莱尔称这个巨型飞机为“经济实力的象征”。西班牙首相称它是“梦想的实现”。设计这款飞机的目的是为了通过减少空中所需飞机的数量从而解决机场拥堵的问题。但繁荣的航空旅游业促进了对双引擎飞机更多的需求，双引擎飞机可以无停留飞往目的地。巨大的四引擎飞机通常需要乘客在枢纽机场转机。阿联酋航空公司的一名发言人表示A380是一块“乘客磁铁”，其他航空公司误解了它，他们的推广方式也很糟糕。

1 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

2 heralded   

v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• The singing of the birds heralded in the day. 鸟鸣报晓。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 coffin   

n.棺材，灵柩

参考例句：

• When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。
• The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

5 embarked   

乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事

参考例句：

• We stood on the pier and watched as they embarked. 我们站在突码头上目送他们登船。
• She embarked on a discourse about the town's origins. 她开始讲本市的起源。

6 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

7 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

8 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

9 congestion   

n.阻塞，消化不良

参考例句：

• The congestion in the city gets even worse during the summer.夏天城市交通阻塞尤为严重。
• Parking near the school causes severe traffic congestion.在学校附近泊车会引起严重的交通堵塞。

10 transit   

n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过

参考例句：

• His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
• The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。