Emirates A380 is Airbus' 6,000th plane

A new A380 delivered to Emirates this week was the 6,000th plane to roll off the Airbus production line in Hamburg.

More than 200 VIP guests gathered in the city in Germany to attend a ceremony that saw the Dubai-based airline take delivery of its eighth double-decker aircraft.

Visitors were taken on a tour of the A380 and shown its various facilities, including onboard shower spas, first class suites and Emirates' inflight entertainment system.

Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, said it was "particularly significant" that the company's 6,000th aircraft and 25th A380 was delivered to Emirates, as the airline was involved in the earliest stages of the plane's development.

Adel Al Redha, executive vice-president of engineering and operations for the carrier, said: "The A380 represents the future of air travel and our strength and determination to drive forward, alongside Airbus, to meet our ambitious expansion plans and traffic demand.

"If a powerful demonstration of the resilience of the aviation industry was required, today has provided that."

Emirates has placed orders for 50 more A380s, making it the largest customer for the aircraft.

Posted by Clare, 20 January 2010 11:30

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• Dubai
• Emirates