Sonara
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- Oct 2, 2008
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:violin:Height of luxury: The super-jumbo brings the stuff that dreams are made of to the UK
Last updated at 1:01 PM on 2nd September 2010
The red carpet was rolled out as the largest and most luxurious aircraft in the world spread its wings in the UK.
As it taxied to a standstill at Manchester Airport for the first time yesterday, the doors opened to reveal the Airbus A380 super-jumbo's state-of-the-art opulence that all but the wealthiest passengers can only dream about.
There's the champagne bar on the upper level to wile away those long-haul hours, and the first class capsules brim with gizmos, not forgetting the fine dining and silver service.
Away she goes: Hundreds of members of the public look on as the Emirates Airbus A380 takes off after paying its first ever visit to Manchester Airport, kicking off the new service to Dubai
Fancy some fizz? The upper deck of the A380 features a champagne bar and lounge for First Class and Buisness Class passengers
And even the toilet facilities are something out of the ordinary.
A little lower down the scale, the business class cabin is still luxurious, and expensive, while those who have to rough it in economy may be pleasantly surprised by the spacious environment that this massive aircraft provides.
Emirates flew the 500-seat aircraft into Manchester at the start of its daily service to Dubai, watched by an enthusiastic crowd who had turned out to watch it glide over the rooftops on its approach to the airport.
It was the very first time the A380 had touched down anywhere in Britain other than at Heathrow Airport, from where she started operating two years ago.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-giant-skies-touches-time.html#ixzz0yPGNmqZo
Last updated at 1:01 PM on 2nd September 2010
The red carpet was rolled out as the largest and most luxurious aircraft in the world spread its wings in the UK.
As it taxied to a standstill at Manchester Airport for the first time yesterday, the doors opened to reveal the Airbus A380 super-jumbo's state-of-the-art opulence that all but the wealthiest passengers can only dream about.
There's the champagne bar on the upper level to wile away those long-haul hours, and the first class capsules brim with gizmos, not forgetting the fine dining and silver service.
And even the toilet facilities are something out of the ordinary.
A little lower down the scale, the business class cabin is still luxurious, and expensive, while those who have to rough it in economy may be pleasantly surprised by the spacious environment that this massive aircraft provides.
Emirates flew the 500-seat aircraft into Manchester at the start of its daily service to Dubai, watched by an enthusiastic crowd who had turned out to watch it glide over the rooftops on its approach to the airport.
It was the very first time the A380 had touched down anywhere in Britain other than at Heathrow Airport, from where she started operating two years ago.
Ian Godden, chairman of aerospace, defence and security trade organisation ADS, said: 'The UK aerospace sector is number one in Europe and second only to the US globally. The Airbus A380 is an embodiment of this success.'
Plush... if you can afford it: While the Emirates A380 features 14 suites for First Class passengers, Business Class have to make do with these pods which fold flat to form a bed
Astonish luxury: Finished in burnished walnut, the pods feature a flat screen TV, mini bar, vanity mirror and bedside clock... but a Business Class flight from Manchester to Dubai will set you back...£2,571.76
Time to freshen up: The flight from Manchester to Dubai takes a little over seven hours, so First Class passengers might want to make use of one of the shower room on the upper deck (flying First Class to Dubai costs... £3,001.76)
One of the crowd of onlookers said: 'Weve all been really impressed with it. I stood on one of the picnic tables to watch it come in.
'It looks really nice it must be good when you can afford it.
'We had a false alarm when a Cathay Pacific plane touched down first that was quite funny.
'Its the kids last day before school and they have really enjoyed it. Its been one of the best days in the last six weeks.'
Leigh-born Sir Maurice Flanagan, founding managing director of Emirates, said: 'Its a proud day for me personally because I am from not far from here and professionally because it shows how far we have come.
'Manchester was the first European airport we flew out of and we used to carry 310 passengers a week. Now its 6,000.'
Airport managing director Andrew Cornish said the A380s arrival was a dream come true.
Welcome aboard: Emirates cabin crew prepare to greet the very first Business Class passengers aboard the giant aircraft
Seats as far as the eye can see: Depending on the configuration the A380 can hold up to 853 passengers, but most airlines have opted to carry fewer passengers but providing them with more space and, hopefully, greater comfort
And an airport spokesman said: 'Everything has gone like clockwork. It was rather quiet when it took off again. But it will be back tomorrow and is now part of the airport forever.'
The huge, double-decker A380 went into passenger service with Singapore Airlines in October 2007, with Singapore starting Heathrow flights in March 2008.
It was originally known as the Airbus A3XX during much of its development phase, but the nickname Super-jumbo has since become associated with it.
The A380's upper deck extends along the entire length of the fuselage, and its width is equivalent to that of a widebody aircraft. This allows for an A380-800's cabin with 5,146 sq ft of floor space - 49 per cent more than the next-largest airliner, the Boeing 747-400.
People watch as an Emirates Airbus A380 arrives at Manchester Airport in Manchester
Firetenders spray water on the giant aircraft after it lands at Manchester Airport
When the CAA Aerodrome Standards Division gave their a approval, the airport joined a select group of only 17 global airports to be certified meaning Manchester becomes the first regional airport in the World to have a regular service by an A380
It provides seating for 525 people in a typical three-class configuration or up to 853 people in all economy-class configurations.
The final cost of each aircraft is £200m
It can carry up to 850 passengers
The plane is 240ft (73m) long, 79ft (24m) high and has a 260ft (80m) wingspan
Each A380 weighs in at 421tonnes
The A380 can cruise at 900 kph for 15,000km
It consumes three litres of fuel per passenger per kilometre and produces 7.3kg of carbon emissions per passenger per kilometre
22 per cent of the Airbus is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic
The Airbus A380 is 85 per cent recyclable
Each airbus is covered in 3,600litres of pain
One of the crowd of onlookers said: 'Weve all been really impressed with it. I stood on one of the picnic tables to watch it come in.
'It looks really nice it must be good when you can afford it.
'We had a false alarm when a Cathay Pacific plane touched down first that was quite funny.
'Its the kids last day before school and they have really enjoyed it. Its been one of the best days in the last six weeks.'
Leigh-born Sir Maurice Flanagan, founding managing director of Emirates, said: 'Its a proud day for me personally because I am from not far from here and professionally because it shows how far we have come.
'Manchester was the first European airport we flew out of and we used to carry 310 passengers a week. Now its 6,000.'
Airport managing director Andrew Cornish said the A380s arrival was a dream come true.
And an airport spokesman said: 'Everything has gone like clockwork. It was rather quiet when it took off again. But it will be back tomorrow and is now part of the airport forever.'
The huge, double-decker A380 went into passenger service with Singapore Airlines in October 2007, with Singapore starting Heathrow flights in March 2008.
It was originally known as the Airbus A3XX during much of its development phase, but the nickname Super-jumbo has since become associated with it.
The A380's upper deck extends along the entire length of the fuselage, and its width is equivalent to that of a widebody aircraft. This allows for an A380-800's cabin with 5,146 sq ft of floor space - 49 per cent more than the next-largest airliner, the Boeing 747-400.
It provides seating for 525 people in a typical three-class configuration or up to 853 people in all economy-class configurations.
British Airways has ordered 12 super-jumbos with the first arriving in 2013, while Virgin Atlantic will receive the first of its six A380s the same year.
The Airbus A380 by numbers...
The Airbus A380 development project cost £8.38bnThe Airbus A380 by numbers...
The final cost of each aircraft is £200m
It can carry up to 850 passengers
The plane is 240ft (73m) long, 79ft (24m) high and has a 260ft (80m) wingspan
Each A380 weighs in at 421tonnes
The A380 can cruise at 900 kph for 15,000km
It consumes three litres of fuel per passenger per kilometre and produces 7.3kg of carbon emissions per passenger per kilometre
22 per cent of the Airbus is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic
The Airbus A380 is 85 per cent recyclable
Each airbus is covered in 3,600litres of pain
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...t-giant-skies-touches-time.html#ixzz0yPGNmqZo
