Here it is, the latest runway model from Emirates Airlines - the Airbus A380-800, complete with lounges and showers. It’s new, it’s you!
If you’ve never heard of Emirates, you’re not alone. But they’re growing like crazy and they’ll soon become a choice for international travel from the Bay Area. And you’ll be flying in style, in an old-school way. There was no “cattle-car” environment aboard yesterday when this fully-equipped aircraft arrived at SFO.
Watch the video, you’ll see. And check out Wired’s report also. O.K., let’s go.
The largest aircraft ever to come to SFO immediately gets hazed with water canon. Its wings, built larger than necessary in anticipation of the stretched A380-900 model, have an organic gull-wing look. Click to enlarge:
The new Airbus taxis at SFO, San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in the background. 22 huge Goodrich tires help ease the load on runways.
Look at this – three ways to get on the plane. It’s taking a while for Los Angeles to get their A380 program going. So much so, that Qantas had to lay down the law to LAX. Could Qantas come here to the bay area instead?
“SFO is the first U.S. airport with the built-in capacity to conveniently handle these kinds of passenger planes,” Mayor Gavin Newsom said in a prepared statement. “We are ready for the future of international air travel – which is of great benefit to Bay Area businesses and residents as well as visitors.”
A380 Chief Pilot, Captain Abbas Shaban, pulls up to the newly-embiggened Gate 9 in the International Wing. SFO’s Jim Chiu says that San Francisco is already able to handle three A380 superjumbos at once
The aforementioned Captain Abbas Shaban, having just arrived from New York
A news conference question about air service to Africa from the award-winning BeyondChron.com.
A random shot from the news conference. Do you like these uniforms? Is this a pillbox hat?
All right, all aboard the new plane - let’s go for a ride, after the jump
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