Emirates receives first A380

Emirates received its first Airbus A380 today (July 28th) at a ceremony in Hamburg.

The Dubai-based airline is the A380's biggest customer, with 58 superjumbos on order.

It is set to become an even more important client for Airbus over the coming years, according to Reuters, after signing a letter of intent to purchase 30 additional A330 aircraft and 30 A350s from the manufacturer.

Emirates will launch its new A380 on an inaugural flight from Dubai to New York on August 1st.

This service, which is set to operate three times a week, will make Emirates the first airline to use the A380 commercially in the United States.

Today's development makes Emirates the only carrier other than Singapore Airlines to own an A380 for commercial operations.

Boeing, the manufacturer of the A380's future rival the 787 Dreamliner, recently boasted that sales of the new aircraft are continuing to break records, with almost 900 orders to date from airlines including Etihad Airways.

Posted by Merv, 28 July 2008 15:44

News tags

• Dubai
• Emirates