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Airbus Delivers First A380 To Emirates Airline

Written by thomas · Filed Under Commercial 

July 28, 2008

thomas

Emirates Airline has taken delivery of its first Airbus A380 aircraft in an historic delivery ceremony with over 500 guests in Hamburg, Germany. The first customer A380 powered by Engine Alliance engines, was presented to Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline and Group, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum and to Emirates President, Tim Clark by Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO and John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers. Also present was James Moravecek, Engine Alliance President and Bruce Hughes, former Engine Alliance President.

“Emirates was quick to recognise the potential of Airbus’ all new A380 design, with its large double-deck capacity and excellent operating economics. It will be one of the pillars of Emirates’ future,” said Sheikh Ahmed. “With its very low fuel burn and quietness, the A380 also sets new standards in environmental performance. It will definitely help air transportation and Emirates grow, while reducing the impact on the environment,” he added.

At the ceremony, Emirates unveiled its exclusive, spacious and luxurious cabin, featuring 489 seats (14 first class suites, 76 business and 399 economy). For added passenger relaxation, innovative ceiling mood lighting throughout creates a calming starry night sky effect.

“Fulfilling the A380 dream has required vision, innovation, a lot of courage and determination. Emirates shared in this vision early on and today the result is the world’s most modern, innovative and eco-efficient aircraft ever built. The A380 is changing the way people travel. Airbus is proud of all the engineers, staff and customers such as Emirates who have made the A380 a magnificent reality,” said Tom Enders.

Emirates is the largest customer for the A380 with 58 aircraft on order.  Four Engine Alliance GP7200 engines delivering up to 72,000 lbs of thrust each will power the aircraft, with a resultant overall fuel efficiency of only three litres of fuel per passenger per 100 kilometres.

“Airbus had the prescience, around a decade ago, to correctly anticipate an environment of high fuel prices, public clamour for quieter airports, fewer emissions, and less crowded skies.  This is the kind of superior product vision that has served our industry so well,” former Engine Alliance President Bruce Hughes said.

The aircraft’s efficiency and advanced technologies result in higher operational flexibility and outstanding economics, with a range of more than 15,000 km and seat-mile costs 20 per cent lower than its closest competitor.

The A380 will take-off for the United Arab Emirates on July 29, arriving at Dubai International Airport in the afternoon. Emirates’ first A380 commercial service is on August 1st between Dubai and New York, USA. Currently Emirates Airline has 50 Airbus aircraft in its fleet.

To date, total orders and commitments for the A380 stand at 202 aircraft from 17 customers.

Airbus is an EADS company.

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