Aircraft

PICTURE: Emirates' first Airbus A380 breaks cover in Hamburg

By Max Kingsley-Jones

Airbus has released pictures of the first Airbus A380 destined for Emirates being rolled out of the paint shop at the airframer's plant in Hamburg.

The aircraft, which was ferried from Toulouse to Hamburg for customisation last September, has undergone cabin interior installation and painting at the German factory. It is equipped with Emirates' three-class, 489-seat layout (14 first class, 76 business and 399 economy class).

This aircraft - which Airbus says was rolled out of the paint shop on 14th March - will now undergo modifications that have resulted from the flight-test programme to bring it up to production specification, as well as finalisation of cabin furnishings requested by the customer.

Image credit: Airbus/C. Brinkmann

Delivery of the first of Emirates' 58 Engine Alliance GP7200-powered giants is expected in July, with the type due to enter service on the airline's Dubai-New York service on 1 October.

Later deliveries will be equipped with a medium-range three-class 517-seat configuration or a medium-range two-class configuration with 604 seats.

For over a hundred images of the A380 visit AirSpace's A380 gallery ...