Emirates has taken delivery of its 123rd and final Airbus A380 superjumbo jet.
The aircraft, registered as A6-EVS, is to be based in Emirates’ hub in Dubai.
Emirates was the first airline to announce an order for the A380, at the Farnborough Air Show in 2000 when the aircraft was marketed as the A3XX. This was followed with an additional order for 15 at the 2001 Dubai Air Show.
Emirates – the ‘biggest A380 operator in the world, according to Airbus – said its commitment to the aircraft was “crucial” to the launch of the world’s largest commercial aircraft.
Sir Tim Clark, president of Emirates, said: “The A380 is a truly special aircraft in so many ways. For Emirates, it gave us the opportunity to redefine the travel experience, efficiently serve demand at slot-constrained airports, and bolster our network growth.
“The A380 will remain Emirates’ flagship product for the coming years, and a vital pillar of our network plans.
Clark added: “The aircraft we are receiving today features our latest cabin products including Premium Economy. Compare it to our very first A380 delivered back in 2008 and you’ll see the myriad of enhancements and upgrades invested in ensuring that the Emirates A380 experience is unparalleled. We’d like to thank Airbus and all of our programme partners for enabling us to push the envelope to introduce many innovative ‘industry firsts’, and importantly, deliver the best product for Emirates’ customers.”
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury added: “The A380 has touched the lives of so many passengers by setting new standards in terms of flying and travel experience. I’m confident that it will continue to do so for decades to come with Emirates, which has continuously introduced new services and products allowing passengers around the world to experience the unique features of their A380s.
“I would like to use this delivery milestone to warmly thank Emirates Airline – the biggest A380 operator in the world – for their unwavering trust and partnership. Here’s to many more happy landings!”
Aviation analysts Cirium said there had been 250 A380 aircraft delivered to airlines, excluding the latest to Emirates. There are currently 76 in service, with a total of 165 in storage.
To date, eight A380s have been retired (not including prototype aircraft) while 246 A380 orders have been cancelled over the years.