First Airbus A380 enters Emirates fleet
Emirates has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380 superjumbo at
the planemakers new Jrgen Thomas A380 Delivery Centre.
 While Emirates may not have been the first airline to receive the new
generation aircraft, it was the first to place a firm order for it eight
years ago.
The aircraft was received by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum,
Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, at an official
handover ceremony attended by President of Emirates Airline Tim Clark;
Airbus CEO Tom Enders VIPs and many other guests.
In July 2000 Emirates became the first airline to sign a firm
commitment and place a deposit for the worlds biggest commercial
aircraft, initially for seven aircraft, with five further options,
collectively worth US$1.5 billion. By November 2007, the award-winning
carrier had placed firm orders for 58 A380s.
We have stood firm on our commitment to the A380, he said. Our
investment in the aircraft, including engines and inflight features,
exceeds ?32 billion, with ?12 billion spent in Germany alone.
Emirates is due to receive five superjumbos in the current financial
year, which ends 31 March, 2009, and receive the remaining 53 by June
2013. The first five 489-seat, long range aircraft will be deployed on
some of the carriers busiest routes including New York, London Heathrow
(1st December), Sydney and Auckland (1st February, 2009).
Caption: Emirates cabin crew indicate the size of the airlines A380
order as they pose outside the first aircraft delivered to Emirates in
Hamburg.
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