Emirates Celebrates 100th Airbus A380

As the Dubai carrier prepares for its milestone superjumbo delivery this month, we look back at the double-decker’s operational, passenger and commercial achievements

No matter how many times you see it, the four-engine A380 is an architectural and aeronautical behemoth, an aircraft which puts the ‘s’ into scale; whether it’s parked imperiously at the gate, pounding down the runway, gliding into land or taxiing past a narrow body or corporate jet, there is something about its all conquering size which raises a smile. One Emirates A380 Captain succinctly describes it as “a pilot’s aircraft which handles beautifully, it’s a very capable aircraft with oodles of power”.

Emirates has three A380 configurations: the 489seat three-class; 517-seat three-class and 615-seat two-class (the largest in the sky, although Airbus has certified an 848-seat plane). By virtue of longevity, the three-class is the one that most of us associate with the A380 although the cosey business class layout and lounge at the back of the two-class is gaining favour.