The behemoth Airbus A380 has touched down on German soil for the first time, landing at Munich Airport yesterday before departing back to its Toulouse base 5 hours later.
Michael Kerkloh, chief executive at Munich Airport, was naturally effusive: "This is a great day for Munich Airport. We are proud to be hosting a visit by the world's most advanced and largest passenger aircraft."
Munich Airport was the first European airport to receive official clearance for traffic operations with aircraft from the new large aircraft generation, which includes the A380.
A relatively modern airport - it started operations in 1992 - Munich Airport was designed to accommodate this next generation of aircraft. It has runways of 4,000 metres long and 60 metres wide, and taxiways of 30 metres wide, meeting all ICAO requirements for A380 operations.
However, adjustments to the curve radii of the taxiways were required in some areas.
Munich Airport has three terminal positions that can handle the A380 - two at Terminal 2 and one at Terminal 1. Three airbridges will dock with the jet.
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