PETALING JAYA: Almost a decade after it was ordered, the world's largest and fuel efficient A380 aircraft finally landed on Malaysian soil at 3.35pm Wednesday, signalling a major advance for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) as it joins the elite A380 club.
The 73m-long A380 can carry up to 494 passengers and offers one of the best seating arrangements of the industry for its first class cabin. It will take to the skies for commercial flights on July 1 on the lucrative Kuala Lumpur-London-Kuala Lumpur daily route.
A second A380 will be added to the system by August, with delivery expected in July. MAS, in 2003, ordered six A380 aircraft and the first delivery was scheduled for 2007. However, there was a five-year delay by the aircraft manufacturer.
MAS takes delivery of the A380, the world's largest and fuel efficient aircraft.
On board the A380 were MAS top brass, group CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya and deputy CEO Mohamed Rashdan Yusof. After the handing over ceremony held in Toulouse on Tuesday, the flight took off at about 8pm (French time) for the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
Soon after its arrival, several MAS employees, including MAS chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof, took a ride to Langkawi, before the aircraft was moved to Hanger 6 for some final touches. The aircraft is also slated to return to Toulouse on June 6 for some additional touches.
MAS is the eighth carrier in the A380 club, the others being Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Air France, Qantas, Lufthansa, Korean Air and China Southern Airlines.
-thestar online.
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