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Airbus A380 jet lands at Heathrow

18th May 2006 The the world's largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, has landed at London's Heathrow Airport for the first time.

The plane and its crew are visiting Heathrow to test the airport's facilities before flying out on Friday.

Heathrow Airport is spending £450m so it can handle the A380 when it starts making commercial flights later this year.

Heathrow's new pier 6 has been specially designed to handle the A380's twin decks and the runway has been resurfaced in preparation for the plane.

The jet maker has taken 159 firm orders for the plane from 16 carriers, including Singapore Airlines and Emirates, which will make the inaugural commercial flight on its route between Sydney, Singapore and London later this year.

Further Information:
Airbus Industries - www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/a380/
BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4990780.stm

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